Nowornever

That describes every gambling institution in the world that takes bets on racing not only NZ

Grass tracks starting in a month. I am getting excited 😁

Why do they not take that on board and do something about it then? HRNZ: “Let’s grow the sport!” Also HRNZ: ignores the one idea that would actually grow the sport. From what they have come up with lately I think their big idea for ‘sustainability’ just means running more races with fewer horses for less money, and last as long as we can doing that.

Just making it up as they go along. I have never had a survey asking what would encourage me to bet more or buy into more horses. Have they asked anyone related to the industry in betting or ownership/training apart from the purdons dunns telfers? I bet the top half a dozen stables want bigger races with bigger stakes and anyone lower in the pecking order wants more in the bottom end. Unfortunately the more powerful stables probably get priority.

TAB will hardly notice any difference in harness turnover to a normal Thursday. On the bright side Auckland might get bigger fields.

Owing to insufficient entries the Waikato BOP meeting to be held at Cambridge this Thursday has been abandoned. Auckland TC Nominations will remain open until 3pm today.

What is happening to the prices. Lots of horses opening way over true value. Some horses getting out to 501 on the fixed then back in to 51 a few minutes later. Might be some desperation at the TAB on the way the markets are opening and then fluctuating that wildly. Bookmakers on TV talking about 70K losses on one race 50K on another, not sure whether I believe them that it is actually true or not. Was at the TAB the other night and my mate tried to put 10EW on a horse paying 301 and it said waiting approval and the race jumped before it let the bet on so not sure you can actually get any bets on at those big prices.

Sometimes all you need is a change of scenery. Horse had ability just hadn't been trying. Looks like they got it's mind back on the job.

Well many of the trainers I have talked to are not happy with the situation on handicapping either Two of our most prominent trainers Mark Jones and Michael House have been quite vocal on social media about this as well recently so it is not quite as rosy as you are suggesting.

I’m entering my lawn mower for the next Young Guns final—apparently all you need to do is be in the right place at the right time!

I presume if Canterbury grass tracks were not propping up Auckland then the Canterbury meetings would not have to be cancelled. Sounds about right.

Has ability and I backed it a few times at big money for Robbie. Not surprised to see it shorten but you are right they over react and it does not take much money to move the market.

Makes a mockery of the system. How can a trainer be in two places at once, it is all smoke and mirrors.

Don't get Brodie started on the mile racing for all the pacers races lol

When was the last time you saw Blair Orange back on the fence on a reasonable horse and not get room? In fact it is very rare to see him on the fence at all unless he is in the trail or draws one the second row on a mobile. The bad drivers are usually not even trying to win or in their mind do not think they can win and drive accordingly. They do not have a plan of attack, do not know others horses abilities and are just happy to run up the fence and go through the motions.

Will all trainers now start nominating their horses for Friday, Sunday in the hope of winning Friday and putting a junior on for a free go in the same field. Why wouldn't you. Sunday fields might be decimated by scratchings if the horse doesn't win Friday or is a there a stand down rule for scratchings?

I bet into the race Friday thinking Origin was going to be off 20m and was going to struggle. Luckily the junior gave it an impossible task and and it all worked out well.

Yes not very often every decision a driver makes in a race is the wrong one but shows it can be done. 1st mistake was not coming off the fence with a lap to go (Not very often you win from further than four back the fence) he would have had the 1x1 for the whole last lap. Runs first or second. Blocked everywhere he went from the 800 to the post. Why is Origin not off 20m in the trot?

Lots of red flags Sale would not cover debt What happens if sales do not go ahead? Still no guarantee of that happening. Seems to be a reliance on third party funding - Steele said “The club also hoped to get money from various grants bodies... HRNZ itself was not giving the ATC any money, he knew of six funds the club could access.”

A couple of key takeaways I can see here. The club’s financial health is shaky enough that the bank has substantial control over decisions which is worrying in that bank driven sales often lead to accepting less than ideal terms. Another worrying sign for stakeholders is club priorities are now probably secondary to satisfying bank requirements.

From Barry Lichter Auckland Trotting Club president Jamie McKinnon today assured trainers that they would not be left without a training track if members voted tonight to sell Franklin Park. And while he would not reveal details ahead of the special annual general meeting, McKinnon told Pukekohe trainers the club was close to signing a deal on a new site which it planned to lease and develop at a cost of $20 million. McKinnon revealed the buyer of Franklin Park as Oyster Capital, a New Zealand company whose director Cam Wilson was a specialist in developing large properties. Oyster Capital still had four months to complete its due diligence on the property which would go unconditional at the end of October or early November so until then there was still a risk it might not go ahead, he said. The club would not be “dead in the water” however if Oyster Capital decided not to proceed as it had another party who was interested in buying part of the property. But if all went to plan, Oyster Capital would then pay a deposit and there would be two further payments after that, allowing trainers the use of the tracks until October 1, 2026. “That’s not negotiable but depending on where they're at with their development and consent process - they need to go for a boundary realignment - we could negotiate to stay longer if need be. But we don't think we're going to need any longer.” McKinnon did not confirm the purchase price - believed to be $70 million - but he said the club had managed to negotiate a better deal than originally offered by Oyster Capital. “We got it up to something respectable that the club's happy with and, more importantly, the banks happy with it as the bank's calling a lot of shots over the club these days.” McKinnon said the deal would leave the club short of being able to pay off its bank debt, given it was not getting the $100 million from its first deal, which fell over. “The club is going to put some of its commercial properties on the market to help fund the shortfall with the bank and we're hoping there'll be a surplus from those.” The club also hoped to get money from various grants bodies, with the help of Harness Racing New Zealand CEO Brad Steele. Steele addressed the often fiery meeting himself, stating that while HRNZ itself was not giving the ATC any money, he knew of six funds the club could access. He had already lodged an application with the Government’s $1.3 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund, but was still waiting to hear if it was eligible. Thoroughbred racing had previously accessed the fund for $100 million. Steele said he was “pretty certain” the ATC would be able to tap into some of the $100 million Entain had paid to the TAB on the passing of legislation for ge-blocking. “Some of that is already ring-fenced for sport, but there's still a large amount of money left. I'm encouraging the TAB to allow some of those funds to be applied to infrastructure needs for harness racing. They haven't said no and they haven't said yes.” Steele said that as a Queenslander he had no bias and his job was to ensure harness racing flourished in both islands, but particuarly in the North Island with its population base. “I'm all-in, in terms of supporting the North Island. Yes, we do cop a bit of stick from Canterbury in terms of the money that we're investing. But it's worth it and it's the right thing to do. We need to get the North Island pumping.” Steele said he believed the country needed three training centres and priority number one was the North Island. Despite repeated pleas from trainers on how far they would have to travel to the new training centre, McKinnon would not reveal its location, except to say it was within half an hour of the present track. “We're signing a memorandum of understanding with them, probably next week, and then we’ll go through the finer details to nail down exactly what we're going to do and how it's going to work.” The intention was to lease the land and invest $20 million to build a track and 20 barns, similar to Menangle outside Sydney. McKinnon said the entire complex could be set up quite quickly with a track put down next summer. Stonewall Stud owner Steve Stockman had come up with the design with factory-built barns, each with a walking machine. Asked about the wisdom of investing $20 million on land it did not own, McKinnon said there would be a renewable 35-year lease. Lincoln Farms’ boss John Street said he was sworn to secrecy over the location of the new training centre but assured trainers they would be “thrilled with it”. McKinnon rebuffed suggestions the club should be selling Alexandra Park instead of Franklin Park, revealing that, while land around the course could be sold and developed, the track itself was a nationally protected venue. Under the Auckland Unitary Plan it was a special zone. McKinnon said while Auckland Thoroughbred Racing had recently voted to sell the galloping track opposite Franklin Park, the ATC did not have the money to buy it. But he was aware of the need to cause as little disruption as possible to the Pukekohe locals, knowing families had invested in housing and schooling.

Well the thing is how long do you keep funding a business that is continuously losing money. Do you just run it into the ground until all the assets are gone? That seems to be the route they are taking at the moment.

Yes I think I will go with Methven, Banks Peninsular and Ashburton.

Sounds like exactly what completely rooted the TAB with previous NZ Post employees running the show for a few years getting a fat salary but making the stupid decisions that started the decline into what we have today.

It’s not a slight on the talent in the north—just a simple preference for the kind of races that make for a good bet. So nothing personal, and nothing against Barry (legend, by the way). I just like a bit more meat on the bone than a 1.20 winner at Auckland. They can race as much as they like in those 5 and six horse fields but they will not get my money and by the look of the pools on those events not many other people are liking them either.