Huey

The worst part here will be they will do anything and everything to justify producing those AWT tracks, they gave themselves a huge pat on the back yesterday off the back of holding one race meeting. To me (and also some of the unfounded propaganda) this shows how desperate they are for these to prove their worth, one only had to listen to the gushing praise of Rodley , trainers and jockeys almost rehearsed at times. I just can't get my head around them if the Australians don't rate them, as someone else pointed out on the other site NSW don't have one , thats rather telling imo. Despite what anyone says the punters have got to love them surely, that is for them to work out, despite what anyone else thinks of them. But here is hoping something works in the industry for the people that will be putting the show on (hopefully) in years to come, cause not much appears to be.

I watched it and after a couple of races it was what I expected, very boring racing. I hope it works out for all concerned and if others enjoy it then good luck to them, it needs to work out for the industry sake. The coverage today was like watching an infomercial for NZ racing though, hopefully they cool it a bit on the hype. I hope everyone isn't going early crow too . Here is hoping for all concerned its the racing nirvana its made out to be.

How much are the presenters going out of their way to claim this is the best thing ever!

Because nothing is based on any analytical data its all just guess work and finger in the air. I've often wondered why they couldn't announce before a race meeting which races or that a certain number of races will be split at a meeting if there are X noms. As you say just absolutely clueless. Get ready for the massive PR drive over the next few weeks regarding racing on the exciting new AWT !

Don't worry the PR around it will all be good, that much for certain.

Exactly right Freda and there is no way the big clubs will reciprocate that subsidisation even the ARC , they will want something for it nothing is more certain. Despite the fact many of them are incapable of surviving without subsidisation and when the public work out their fun xmas racing is just some standardised diluted fare instead of the country summer racing they have supported so well over the years, well you'd expect interest in the sport to fall through the floor. Not to mention participation levels which will be negatively impacted by this approach taken by the likes of NZTR. I struggle to see how anything being done is good for the future of racing in this country, like all good businesses the industry should have been stripped down to the levels where is worked financially , instead they have chosen a route to rid the industry of the parts that keep it in motion.

I wouldn't be surprised if they got rid of the turf at Awapuni in favour of the AWT, nothing surprises in this industry anymore.

Yes I'm very suspicious of anything the Australians haven't progressed with, they seem to get a lot right in the way they run their industry. But look out we'll show them with some great kiwi ingenuity and outstanding Australian leadership ... not!

Yes our AWT are better than the tracks that have sustained the industry for years, well thats what many would have you believe - I fail to understand why. I've always been an advocate for better planning and better use of existing assets, unfortunately we've never had any decent leadership to enforce this thinking as the parochialism rife in the industry wouldn't allow it .

Exactly the point I've been trying to make to many, we all know how the pyramid scheme will be kept going via the provinces, give them a hiding from a racing perspective then make the argument they are no longer worth keeping going ... Kachingching!!!

I understand that is the premise behind it, but increase interest to the extent they can run ave. $100k races? Seems a bit outlandish to me. and yet we seem to be heading in the opposite direction.

I'm sure something has been done , based on what many are saying about the presentation, I'd also be somewhat more confident the ARC are more competent in this space than NZTR are. The aspect I struggle with though is what is in it for the ARC? They are potentially going to be subsidising loss making races via diversified investments they have made and therefore out of the kindness of their hearts for the benefit of the industry? yes they would have the catering functions side , but being realistic would that be any different to what they have now? I mean just because you put a Strath in and increase prizemoney does anyone really think outside of existing carnivals that the crowds will flock back to racing?

Of course we wont get to see betting figures unless they are startling good, but if they are not or are about the same I still don't get the whole point of the AWTs? I thought they were sold on producing a better betting product and giving more opportunities to more horses? and as you've pointed out being the cover for abandoned meetings. One would expect like the trainers, punters will need some time to acclimatise to the new surface. The feedback I've heard from riders on the AWT has been very positive, so here is hoping the entire venture works out for the industry.

Putting on extra races shouldn't be an issue as the betting turnover should comfortably make them financially viable, if not then aren't we just in the same place we have always been?

Well you've got to ask what impact this would have on the AWT patronage if it did happen, as you've point out Freda most will simply ship out to the new Strath track, possibly leaving some white elephants behind? One thing is for sure the days of country racing and smaller clubs holding race days is fast approaching its end, not sure the new approach will lead to any greater involvement in the sport than the grass roots has created but then these people with power point presentations know far more than most of us do.

Yes fields were good, but looked like half the field in most races never had a hope unless the horse got to the outside fence.

Someone tell me why anyone would race at Wanganui in the winter ?

I agree, have some sympathy for the Steeple race , but perhaps the stake should be adjusted, but the amateur race was an easy call a long way out.

Seems about in line with the half year which is up I believe, hopefully for their sake they can sustain it. One thing the industry has been screaming for cost savings for years, the industry appears to have been right it doesn't take a genius to realise there was plenty of money there for savings and thus distributing to the industry? Surely, pretty obvious stuff. I'm really interested to see if they can sustain or improve betting numbers without Covid bounce & with several of the changes made in the local industry, particularly on nzracing. Next year as a comparison with this should gauge that.

Currently there are only 3 riders listed to ride in that 6 horse field. You cannot make up how inept the administration is running nzracing it just defies belief! Who in their right mind would bet on this race?

A 6 horse field, who saw that coming! Just think the people that programmed that race are running our industry ffs! Dont worry plenty of exciting 970m races on the way -yippee!!!

I cant see incentives working, especially if as NM says the horse doesn't perform on them or worse still it's not good for them in some way, we wont know for a few months of meetings how they really going to go,I guess one thing they cant make nzracing any more boring than it has become, surely?

I didnt hear that about Rodley and Popplewell, love to hear the logic as to my mind their notion is absurd! The AWT will suit next to no current winter horses imo.

It's pretty clear to me the only way there will ever be significant stakes increases in NZ racing is via asset sales, I'm guessing the fool's in charge know this also and thus we are having these shenanigans as a means of justifying such decisions, one just has to look at the lack of turnover info/ detail available to realise this.

The answer to that is very simple, distance racing doesnt suit the big syndicate stables and their model, i.e. expensive get up and go types that churn syndicate members in and out & thus $s.