Taku Umanga

All Telfer horses scratched at Manawatu

Just posted online by Barry Lichter: Fears about the future of the Auckland Trotting Club were reignited today with news that the Chinese buyers of its Pukekohe training property have failed to meet the payment deadline. In a development which ATC president Jamie Mackinnon described as “disappointing” in a newsletter to members, Mount Hope Limited did not come up with the outstanding $90 million due last Friday. With the club between $70 million and $80 million in debt and accruing interest of more than $500,000 a month, the $100 million deal was seen as its sole lifeline. But Mackinnon said the club remained hopeful that Mount Hope would still settle, its lawyers saying they were still committed to buying the land and were actively seeking offshore finance. Mackinnon said the club had now issued Mount Hope a notice requiring them to settle within 12 clear working days. At the expiry of that period the ATC could then elect to exercise it rights and remedies under the sale agreement, which includes Mount Hope forfeiting its 10% deposit of $10 million. “On a positive note, the ATC still owns the land, has achieved a Unity Plan Change, and, we have already repaid part of the Club’s bank debt from the $10 million deposit.” Mackinnon said the sale agreement provided for penalty interest to accrue at 14%pa. Mackinnon said the club was exploring a plan B in the event Mount Hope did not front up with the money. In an earlier September newsletter, Mackinnon attempted to defuse rumours that Mount Hope would not be settling the deal on time, saying no extension of settlement had been sought. Mount Hope’s lawyer had advised the movement of funds out of China was proving difficult and Mount Hope would be seeking alternative finance should that continue. But the default should come as no surprise given China’s unprecedented crisis and the far-reaching effects of the collapse of several of its real estate giants. In August, a developer walked away from a $30 million land deal in South Auckland, forfeiting its $5 million deposit. Mackinnon previously said if the Chinese buyer pulled out of the Pukekohe deal, the club would still be OK as it could then keep the $10 million deposit and put the property back on the market with the benefit of the zoning having been changed. But industry experts say the chances of the ATC getting anywhere near $100 million for the land are remote, that figure considered “enormous overs” even when it was inked and the market being considerably depressed now. When the Chinese deal was struck, the 35.2 ha of land, before rezoning, was valued on the ATC’s books at $29 million and Fletchers had offered only $35 million. The implications of a lower sale price could be catastrophic for harness racing in the North Island. Even if it could stave off closure, the club would not have the money to build a new training centre, a vital feeding ground for its already depleted horse numbers. The ATC, which lost at least $108 million on its failed apartment developments, is understood to be meeting with its bankers to consider the development.

Sharing a barn at the Rakero Racing property in Fernside, North Canterbury.

Hasn't KEAYANG ZAHARA already got a slot with Breckon racing?

Twilight $8k Wednesday meetings start at Addington on 9 October .....

Pretty sure it's been that way for a long time .... the summer racing circuit was always away from Alexandra Park

Lincoln Farms property has been sold to developers but leased back for now. Pretty sure Derek Balle's place has likewise been sold and leased back for now, as has Eddie Clarke's. Matt White is based out Clevedon or Ardmore way on the same property as John Dickie.

150 School Road, Yaldhurst, Christchurch City - For Sale - realestate.co.nz

Posted on July 13 by Garrick Knight on his Harness Purists Facebook page: "Top pacer Don't Stop Dreaming has been shifted to Hayden Cullen's stable, following 3YO ownership mate, We Walk By Faith last week. per Greg O'Connor, Trackside NZ"

$221 turnover according to a M House post of Facebook land.

Yabby Dam owner sending some across - that surely will help Tuesday numbers 🤪

The 47 nominations for this week's meeting probably answer your question.

Telfers (I think)

Yep - one tap too many cost one of my nags a 2nd placing at Cambridge back in the day

$15 winner ....

Stable changes between 18/04/2024 and 16/05/2024 (hrnz.co.nz)

Ashburton trials today = 61 starters Rangiora trials today = 67 starters Along with three race meetings in Canterbury this week (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday). Cambridge races Thursday night = 83 starters (and three of them are from Canterbury). Good luck with Tuesdays in the new season!

Dear Taku, Harness Racing NZ is releasing the 24/25 calendar at 3pm today, but we wanted you to have an advance copy of the media release and the calendar we'll be sending out at that time. It's not the usual calendar release - it's the first step in a major set of changes designed to inject fresh life and confidence into Harness Racing. They've been developed after intensive work together with our wagering partner, Entain. More meetings, more races for low to middle grade horses The calendar is our biggest asset, and we need to use it in a way that will grow wagering. Together with Entain we've made major changes that will be of significant interest to you. The key points are: Alexandra Park will have 45 race meetings in 24/25, up 14 from this season, and a total of 422 races (up by 128), mainly on Friday Cambridge goes from 28 to 41 meetings, with 338 races (up by 88), mainly on Tuesday Manawatu has an extra 7 meetings taking them to 19 for the season and 142 races (up 50) Addington will have 65 meetings (up from 58) and 611 races (up from 557) Timaru goes to 5 meetings (up 1) and 49 races (up 10) Winton will now have 13 meetings (up 2) and 125 races (up 17) Invercargill goes to 15 meetings (up 2) and 136 races (up 9) For all other clubs there is no change from 2023/24. Friday Night Lights Our wagering partner's Managing Director Cameron Rodger tells us "we are big believers in the Friday Night Lights brand. With our recent move to Free to Air, and with the investment we are making in our Trackside Broadcast we believe there is an opportunity to create a high quality, highly marketable harness racing product that appears in living rooms consistently each Friday night with Alexandra Park and Addington racing together." Major new initiatives are Coming With Entain, we've developed a major new programme of initiatives built around the new calendar. Again, these will be of benefit to clubs and kindred bodies. Watch out for it in mid-May. We're at a critical juncture in our history, and future. This is the opportunity we've long been waiting for.We need to grab it with both hands. Phil Holden Chairman

Agree totally

He used to work for them at Pukekohe. For a short while anyway.

Sell Alexandra Park, resurrect Avondale with an all-weather track inside the grass track, and race twice a week. Build some barns for trainers and find some way to increase horse numbers ..... before it's too late!

Show Me Heaven & Act Now – Maryborough Withdrawals & Investigation - Harnesslink

Temporary move due to trainer injury

Duh - that fact totally slipped my mind - cheers.

His first tote win incurred no rating penalty (he stayed on 48) which I don't understand, and his second win incurred the full 8 points. He hasn't dropped back because he's consistently finished in the top 4 since. Overall, I can't see how he's been unfairly punished (probably the opposite unless the free win can be explained). There are ways to get points discounts, like putting a concession junior driver on to earn half points only - if the owners choose not to, so be it.