Murray Fish

more than likely! on the net!!! some will start to act like those Apes in 2001, they will start beating their chest!!!! some will get so excited they will start frothing at the mouth.. And like old Pavlov's Dog, they will start salivating!!

sigh, no wages coming in.... behavior often driven by wasting... maybe you don't realize the unbidden behind many of your raves!! I could continue, but na, I just be backing off...

Or perhaps the rules as they are not working because in the heat of the moment!!! WACK WACK WACK! Perhaps a good place to start might be to ask the question, in which countries are the rules they have actually working? best? I will share my actual opinion! so you don't have to make it up!!!! based on what various riders present and past have said! Bred and train the horse to go into the Starting Stalls. Whips to be carried for H&S. Bred and train horse to run well without the whip being needed!

sigh, fact, I DO make money, (though the last two years all via Dodger$ winning two WS) partly by having a iron discipline and avoiding listening to all the 'hype around value'. If you are talking betting on horses, then you have to have a ability to actually be betting on horses that 'run in the money'! (personally, if I was going to have Racing a area of betting, then Laying bets looks attractive) That is So much easier when the actual runners in a race decrease! The extra CHAOS that happens in all races rather Increases with every runner added to a field! I recon what also happens if you regularly bet into larger fields is that it is so easy for silly 'cognitive bias's' kicking in around 'bad luck' etc.. I 'watch' multi 1000's of races where i don't bet! For any race meeting, the first thing I look for are the races with 10 and under starters!!! Then spend some brain power looking for the form races leading into the race! But for me, the real key is how they Present on the Day, how they prelim, how they look around at the start, 95% of my bets go on then! Other than say a Melb Cup, I almost always stick to Win bets 15% take out. If I was needing to punt to make a living, then I recon the Show bet is the way to go! To me that is actually the brave bet over time. The take out rates for Q and Tri etc are vulgarly large! You are welcomed to throw money into them! Having said that all, 'each to their own'. To finish, if you ever find yourself in Dunedin with spare time, look me up! also, my days with anything to do 'racing' is steadily counting down...

I would be the opposite! I prefer to actually back winners and find that it is way easier when the fields are smaller and so-call weaker!!! best value = winning bet!

Does anyone know how racing now deals with cannabis use, it any positive reading comes via a medical prescription? would a rider or stable hand or track rider etc have to declare so use? would the test be made public?

It would be interesting to compare and contrast how Waikouaiti which used to have Jan 1st, Now Riverton on that day. Waikouaiti moved to Wingatui (was it Jan 9th?) with good fields and stakes, but didn't seem like that many on course! The old Waikouaiti is gone, a few jockeys have mentioned it was never that safe!

to the question: "re the above I am now interested in, including around the world, as well as NZ. Use among professional athletics? doe some use more, say for ones that are involved with sports that involve danger and speed? race car drivers? jockeys? motor bike riders?" Cocaine use among professional athletes, including those in high-speed and high-danger sports, is a documented issue governed by strict anti-doping rules. The clearest documented cases are in horse racing, where there is official acknowledgment of a potential problem. ### 📊 Cocaine Use in Specific Sports Here’s a summary of the information available for the sports you mentioned: | Sport Category | Key Evidence & Cases | Official Stance & Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Horse Racing (Jockeys)** | Multiple jockeys suspended for positive tests. A disciplinary panel stated concern that **"cocaine may be endemic in racing"**. | Zero-tolerance policy. Use is considered dangerous due to the high-speed nature of the sport. | | **Motor Sports** | 1. **Historical Allegation**: A former F1 doctor once claimed cocaine use was "rife," but this was strongly denied by drivers.<br>2. **Linked Crime**: A notable 1980s racer (**Randy Lanier**) funded his career through large-scale drug trafficking. | The FIA conducts random drug tests; no F1 driver has ever tested positive for cocaine. | | **Motorcycle Riding** | A study of fatal crashes found that riders who used alcohol or drugs had **higher odds of not wearing a helmet**, indicating a link between substance use and risk-taking behavior. | Focus is on public safety and accident prevention rather than professional competition doping rules. | | **General Professional Sports** | Cases exist (e.g., in Australian Rules Football). The **World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)** prohibits it **in-competition**. | Classified as both a **stimulant (S6)** and a **Substance of Abuse**. Bans can be reduced if out-of-competition use is proven. | ### 🧪 Why is Cocaine Banned in Sports? Cocaine is banned in competition for three main reasons, even though its practical performance benefits are debated: * **Potential Performance Enhancement**: It is a stimulant that can increase alertness, energy, and confidence while reducing feelings of fatigue. * **Health Risks**: It significantly raises heart rate and blood pressure, which is especially dangerous during intense exercise and can lead to heart damage, stroke, or death. * **Spirit of Sport**: Its use violates the ethical principles of fair competition. An important distinction is between **in-competition** and **out-of-competition** use. An athlete who tests positive on a game day faces a harsher penalty (up to a 4-year ban) for potential performance enhancement. If use occurs out-of-competition and is deemed recreational, the ban can be as short as one month if the athlete completes a treatment program. ### 💡 Finding More Information While the search results provide clear evidence of use, they don't give overall prevalence statistics for these sports globally or in New Zealand. Most data comes from publicized positive tests or studies on related behaviors (like the motorcycle study). If you are interested in **specific anti-doping rules** for a particular sport or country, or want to explore **public health data on drug use and risk-taking**, I can help you search for more targeted information. Would you like me to look into either of those areas?

Cocaine use in New Zealand has seen a significant increase in recent years. While it is less common than other drugs like methamphetamine, its use is growing rapidly, particularly in certain regions and among specific demographic groups. ### 📈 Key Usage Statistics & Trends Recent wastewater testing, which measures drug residue in sewage to estimate community-wide consumption, shows a sharp upward trend. | Metric | Q3 2025 Data (Latest) | Comparative Context | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **National Weekly Consumption** | **6.4 kg** per week | 43% above the previous year's average | | **Per Capita Use vs. Australia** | Lower than Australia | Australia's per capita consumption is over **4 times higher** | | **Long-term Increase** | Substantial growth | Consumption surged by **229%** in recent years | ### 👥 Who is Using Cocaine? The available research provides some insights into the user demographics: * **Higher Income Groups**: The 2025 New Zealand Drug Trends Survey indicates that cocaine use is **disproportionately higher among people in higher income groups**. * **Regional Concentrations**: Use is particularly high in major urban centers and specific regions. Recent data points to very high per capita use in **Queenstown**, **Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau)**, and the **Bay of Plenty**. * **An Emerging Market**: Despite the growth, the Massey University survey notes that cocaine remains an **"emerging drug"** in New Zealand's overall drug landscape. ### ⏱️ How Often is it Used? Evidence suggests a pattern of occasional, rather than habitual, use for most people. * **Low-Frequency Use**: The frequency of cocaine use is generally **low compared to methamphetamine and cannabis**. A UN report cited by financial news also notes that wastewater analysis suggests most users in the Australia-New Zealand region consume the drug **occasionally rather than habitually**. * **Context of Growth**: The surge in total consumption measured in wastewater is linked to **increased supply and availability**, allowing more people to use it, even if infrequently. > **Important Note on Statistics**: There are conflicting figures on overall prevalence. A global ranking site claims 0.13% of New Zealand's population has a cocaine use disorder, while a UN report cited by a financial news outlet states 3% of people (aged 15-64) in Australia and New Zealand used cocaine in 2023. The latter figure is likely more reflective of any use (including occasional), while the former refers to a diagnosed disorder. ### 🌍 Context: Supply, Harm, and Support The rise in use is happening against a backdrop of increased international drug trafficking and public health efforts. * **Increased Supply**: Authorities attribute the growth in the domestic market to **increased supply from international criminal networks**. Recent major seizures, like the 4.2-tonne intercept in the Pacific in February 2026, highlight the scale of the trade targeting the region. * **Harm Reduction**: If you or someone you know is using drugs, it is important to know that **free and legal drug checking services** are available in New Zealand. These services can test the chemical content of substances to help prevent harm from adulterants. I hope this overview gives you a clearer picture of cocaine use in New Zealand. If you are interested in more detailed data about a specific region or the trends for other drugs, feel free to ask.

Does anyone know how racing now deals with cannabis use, via medical prescription? would a rider or stable hand or track rider etc have to declare so use?

na, the courts are for feed the Lawyer$! Reality 101 Law trumps policy or rules! @Chief Stipe There are two parts that jump out at me! 1, that to me is not actually that important!!!! re "small number are so incessant with their remarks.", is there Libel at play! Misogyny in play? *down the rabbit hole* Tick, tick, tick. Usually their own toxicity persons themselves and sadly often people closely associated with them.. give them rope... 2, Personally, I have way more concerns for some of the NASTY that some Jockeys have to put up with, especially some of the woman riders and media players!!!! My fb acc has multi 100's of 'Jockey Friends', some of the post they have highlighted have been way beyond criticism! Best of luck 'prosecuting' them, more often the are young and male and can often have some organic connection to racing, that adding to their Entitlement to Rave! Often that lack real insights into their ravings.... Personally, I have come across it!!!, via a person, with a connection to a Club! they got of the official photographer a photo of me and partner outside the birdcadge, turned them into HATE MEMES with NASTY Sexual shit implied!!! and posted them up!!! sigh, 10 years later I have yet to have the pleasure on meeting him in person!

yip, I'm sure it can be a challenge for many riders with social media accounts! Even more so for a Woman! Speaking to a 'aussie jockey mentor' about it, one suggest is that they have a private acc and a public and if possible the public one should have someone else reading and filtering! of course most riders are not in a position to that!

10,000% wrong road to go down... just let him keep funding his horses! sigh, he posts on a 100% Racing (FB) Group that doesn't get much pick up by the big 'algorithms', if any at all!!! He has his supporters! Let him Howl!!!

pardon!!! ps. almost feel like playing up just to see what happens!!! I'm sure I could come up with a few shit bombs!!!

punter?

It use to be, that by being of course! you have agreed to the rules! back in a day it all that stuff used to be written somewhere in most racebooks! But as usual! one needs to steep back and ask why to they focus on this sort of thing! what is the Kaupapa behind it! In whose interest? At a guess, its to show that they are doing something! The odds of them pacifying a few that they are concerned about is $1.01. for a couple it would be BADGE OF HONNOUR! if they are challenged!!! Odds on it would turn into a shit storm! and the old "Streisand Effect" would kick in! If would fall off the 'racing media' into the main media.... The Streisand effect is a phenomenon where attempts to suppress, censor, or hide information backfire, resulting in the unintentional, widespread publicization of that information, typically via the internet.

reading this, it suggest that getting this generation doesn't and isn't going to have as much disposable income and as other previous generations! Double the average unemployment and $26,000 in debt. The triple-whammy crushing a generation’s wealth How high inflation numbers affect us VIDEO CREDIT: THREENEWS The labour statistics released this week painted a stark picture of how tough the economy has been for many New Zealanders. A total of 165,000 New Zealanders are currently unemployed, contributing to the highest unemployment rate recorded by Stats NZ in a decade (5.4%). Those overall statistics are stark, but the devil is always in the details when it comes to this type of data. The numbers showed that the unemployment rate for workers under 30 is 12.5, more than double the overall figure. That information is already concerning enough, but it can’t be viewed in isolation. IRD data shows a staggering 622,892 New Zealanders currently have a student loan, with the average burden sitting at $26,075. It takes a New Zealand-based worker approximately five years to clear that debt. Student loan debt has risen 37% since 2013, when the average loan was $19,076. As the cost of living and education increases, so too does the debt burden young people are carrying. This isn’t just about the current impact on young New Zealand workers, but what this could mean in the coming decades. We’re looking at a situation here where young New Zealanders have fewer work opportunities in an era of enormous technological change and greater debt as they start their lives, raising serious questions about the challenges they face in building wealth. In some ways, we’re asking them to play a tennis match every generation has played, but forcing them to start a set down against a robot that’s been shaped in the image of Roger Federer. The compound effect Mark Smith, a senior economist at ASB, says that while the prolonged recession has been tough on every generation, but we’ve seen younger generations more acutely affected. “The economy is currently 30,000 jobs shy of what it was in late 2023, and a sizeable chunk of at least three quarters of those job losses would be for those aged under 30,” he says. “It’s almost a forgotten generation out there.” ASB senior economist Mark Smith says young people have been hit hard. It’s easy to brush this aside and offer the stoic reminder that it’s always been tough (it has) and that they have time to bounce back (they do), but this overlooks the broader impact this will have on these people and the economy in the years to come. The longer it takes these workers to get real-world experience, the longer it takes them to become productive contributors to the economy. It’s often said that it takes a new employee around six to 12 months to reach full productivity, and it might even take longer for a worker learning the ropes for the first time. “The lack of opportunity will have the impact of potentially lowering the speed limit of the New Zealand economy because you have a cohort of people who’ve been out of the labour market and not had the chance to come through and pick up new skills.” In economic terms, this is called labour market scarring, and the impact stretches well beyond just one generation. It’s something every New Zealander should be concerned about. A shrinking education premium The trade-off with an expensive university education was that it gave you access to opportunities and career progression that wouldn’t have been possible without the years spent in tertiary education. Shamubeel Eaqub, the chief economist at Simplicity, tells me the rule still applies, but not in the way it once did. “The premium of having a degree is not as high as it used to be,” Eaqub says. “The wedge between somebody with a level 3 qualification and somebody with a bachelor’s degree is getting smaller over time, but the cost of the qualification is increasing,” he says. This issue is only accentuated when you add in the complexity of technology, making it more difficult for young people to get into the workplace in the first place. “Imagine the classic big law firm, where they have a few partners at the top and many young interns and young lawyers at the bottom in a pyramid model,” says Eaqub. “But with the advent of technology, we're likely to see far fewer young people at the bottom, so it becomes more cylindrical rather than pyramid." You’ll essentially have more people competing for a smaller number of jobs, which means many will face major delays in getting into the workforce. “That start in life is important. You learn something about how to work, how to be at work, and make choices about what kind of career you want. Fewer people will have those opportunities early on in their life.” Yes, they will eventually catch up, but the lost time means student debt lingers, savings stall, earning potential doesn’t increase and the buying a family home gets kicked further down the road. “The earlier those losses are, the bigger the cumulative deficits are,” says Equab, explaining that because wealth compounds over time, a late start can drag down an entire portfolio over a life time. So where does this leave young workers? Tim Fairbrother, a certified financial planner at Rival Wealth, has written an excellent column for Stuff explaining that a young a young person doesn’t need a finance degree or six-figure salary to start building solid foundations. His recommendation is for young people to develop good habits as early as possible to ensure they can better navigate their way through a world where wealth is built quite differently from what it was in earlier generations. At a time when work opportunities are less stable, Fairbrother says young people should be getting into the habit of building an emergency fund as early as they can. Good budgeting habits are tools you can carry with you through life. While the wait for a job can be painful, the idea is not to splurge when you do start to earn a salary. Contribute to KiwiSaver, save what you can and look to get on top of your debt as soon as you can. Fairbrother also encourages young people to gain an understanding of compound growth as early as possible. “If a 19-year-old saves $20 per week until age 65, with an 8% annual growth rate (compounded weekly), they will have saved $47,840. Yet with compounding interest, they will end up with approximately $452,011.73 by age 65.” But this all remains so contingent on the ability of young people to enter the work force in the first place. No silver bullet There is no simple solution to these issues. As the nature of work changes in the face of rapid technological development, competition for those first rungs on the career ladder will only become more fierce. The good news is that the tough times over the last 18 months are showing signs of easing. Growth is returning to the employment market and we are seeing a lift in job listings around the country. But economies are cyclical and there will be more tough times ahead, which will again hit our younger generations. This issue isn’t about older generations against younger generations. It’s a debate about productivity (how fast we get there) and the ability of New Zealanders to build wealth over the course of their working lives. As artificial intelligence really beds into society and further disrupts the employment market, we will need some bold, long-term thinking about how to ensure we keep our work force still has a clear path to prosperity. Relying on the advice of Elon Musk that we shouldn’t bother saving for retirement probably isn’t going to cut it. - Stuff

If it was based (on so called rational economics...) Avondale's $$$ is appealing! But I presume doing that will create a massive shit storm!

Based on the provided text, here is a summary and an analysis of the writer's perceived personality, style, and intellect. Summary of the Article The writer criticizes two figures in New Zealand racing (nicknamed "Ralphy" and "Dummy") for their longstanding refusal to give media interviews, despite being fined for it in the past. They accuse them of freeloading off the industry. The writer contrasts this with major professional sports leagues (NRL, AFL, NBA), where refusing media commitments leads to severe penalties. The core argument is that NZ Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) should adopt similar compulsory interview rules to align with the "real sporting world." Analysis of the Writer's Personality Confrontational & Blunt: They do not mince words, using terms like "corrupt," "freeloading," and "sulky bottom lips." Frustrated & Impatient: There's a clear sense of exasperation over a situation that has lasted "over 10 years." Cynical & Disdainful: They view the subjects as having an entitled mindset ("thinking the world owes them a living"). Authoritarian: Believes in strict, enforceable rules to compel compliance, showing little sympathy for the individuals' perspectives. Analysis of the Writer's Style Informal & Colloquial: The style is more akin to a rant or a passionate social media post than formal journalism. It uses nicknames ("Ralphy," "Dummy"), slang ("get in the real world boys"), and fragmented sentences. Provocative: Language is chosen to provoke a reaction and express strong disapproval (e.g., "most corrupt person," "freeloading"). Comparitive: Builds its argument by drawing a direct contrast to the policies of major, successful sports leagues. Repetitive for Emphasis: The phrase "real world" is used three times to hammer home the central point about adopting mainstream standards. Analysis of the Writer's Intellect Practical & Worldly: The argument is grounded in a practical observation of how other major sports organizations operate. The intellect here is applied, not theoretical. Industry-Knowledgeable: They assume reader familiarity with a decade-old scandal and niche figures, suggesting deep involvement in or following of the NZ racing industry. Persuasive in a Direct Manner: While not academic, the writer uses a clear, cause-and-effect structure: Other sports punish this behavior, so should we. The intellect is focused on efficacy and precedent rather than nuance. Lacks Nuance/Emotional Intelligence: The style prioritizes forceful argument over balanced analysis. There is no exploration of why the figures refuse interviews or consideration of potential complexities, which a more detached intellectual analysis might include. Overall Impression: The writer comes across as a seasoned, frustrated insider in the racing industry. Their style is aggressively opinionated, their intellect is practical and precedent-driven, and their primary goal is to effect change by shaming individuals and the governing body into adopting stricter, more conventional policies.

x 1000% But I *Know* that is never going to happen except for the odd meeting.... it can't happen because there is no strategy in play to do that properly! then you have the Directors ( who I admire technically), but they don't know how to set cameras in decent places! as in seeing the arse end of a horse heading into the distance.. I could rave on for a while on that subject!

pardon! ps, I have one simple word for a couple of the cretins! UTU!

yes!

What a grouch looking horse his was when he was at his peak!!! Pouncing around the parading ring like The Boss! Then went out and done the same on the track!!! a real racing Monster! a sad demise.

as in getting to the root cause of any issue!

excuses! na. you mention workplace, racing riding and the lifestyle that goes with it if very challenging! yip, dumb is dumb, but! move on....