Murray Fish

Time will tell, at least its a bit of fun for some with a lot of spare $$$ to throw at a vanity project! Personally, I'm all keen to see the day play out! hopefully on a safe summer track! weather looking OK Auckland, New Zealand Weather Forecast | MSN Weather

oct 18th...

As in? neurodiversity - neurological spectrum?

lol I think colon is running on a pretty rich rocket fuel at the mo!!! Imagine if the filly runs a big race, IMAGINE a WIN!!!

hype/propaganda v reality One of the historical realities of horse ownership is that actual reality of how hard it is to get a horse to the track! let along winning a race! Actually! wining black type so difficult! Hence I've struggled to understand the logic behind ENTAIN buying up all those horses for their Stable! I wonder how much the budgeted to lose doing so? Can the beat the odds!

we went to the sept/oct meetings and both times we took our own broom and lent it to others that came into the stand as the day went on... General Admission First Release: $25pp | $45pp on the day | Senior citizen Gold Card rate applies (50% off the advertised 'on the day' price at the gate on the day) | Under 15s free will the tab be offering odds on sell out or not? Last meeting didn't look great with it seem like the stands were empty! sigh, I just be so hoping the weather gods play fair and the best track in the country delivers on the biggest day ever!

I see that there are 9 races already, would there be room for a 10th? It's going to be interest day, how many will turn up on course? Mass advertising in the ODT for months, often full pages! I've heard different people attached to the club say 7000, others 10000.

I think I got caught up in the hype!!! talking the race, the actual race, I be looking forward! Hopefully the give the Au horses the visitors draw!

he should say Feck em! scr!

It was aimed directly at Tab! I meant every word in it! happy to share similar in person with him! Would love to debate in a public racing forum! All power to the drink aid! Re Head Office getting involved! that can't happen! no staff with the needed institution memory any more! Having said that, there has been some very creative digital images being produced recently.

I had the ear of Head Office back then, and championed HO to be pro active! Minimal effort was put in, but without self discipline from some! excuses were found to stop it! Recently on a Facebook thread, a technocrat from HO jumped into a thread (stating he happened to work at HO) and that x was the fact of the matter! Simple and refreshing! but sadly not the norm!

tiz a hard thing to 'walk away' from! I have kept in by a thread the last few years! Have held in! As much to be in 'team CWJ', that, and for shit like having 100'000s of racing photos etc! Hate to think how many racing books? 400+? I would be well gone. Its been interesting to notice that as I have slowly but slowly been alienated over the years by certain CEO of clubs, always for the sin of being critical! Especially around track safety! I've gone from being on course many times a year to almost! I would hate to think over the years how man newbies I've taken on course! I once use to always being getting badged 'for a tip', almost never now! all that said! I am actually excited (as a punter) about the big Day at Wingatui and then Champions day at Auckland! sadly I not be on course for either!

*spreadsheets or turnover figures I recall how back in 70/80/90 the betting numbers would be know quickly after every race by the secretary! All betting figures now mostly hidden away it seems nowadays! I wonder who the faces were? were they seen as they lifted their heads out of one of Entains big 'please stick your nose in this trough', lol, a couple of good mates get invited to them!

Building a future for New Zealand racing: In conversation with Fitt and Rodger Written by Dane McLeod Edition Article 10 min read Lachlan Fitt, the deputy chief executive and chief financial officer at Entain Australia, and Cameron Rodger, managing director of Entain NZ, will be finishing up with Entain after making a considerable impact on the rejuvenated New Zealand industry. We caught up with the pair to learn more about the decision and their future ambitions. Cover image supplied New Zealand racing has always been built on passion, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of progress. Few understand this better than Lachlan Fitt and Cameron Rodger. Over the past few years, they’ve been at the coalface, steering the industry through wagering modernisation and reform while wrestling with its deep-seated traditions. Their journey through Entain has been one of ambition and transformation, but as they step into the next phase of their careers, they reflect on what has been achieved, what still lies ahead, and why the future of New Zealand racing hangs in the balance. A defining era at Entain When asked if there was a specific moment or project at Entain that made you think, “Yes, this is why we do what we do?” Fitt and Rodger were contemplative in their replies. For Fitt, the rewards of his work at Entain weren’t measured in spreadsheets or turnover figures; they were found in the faces of the people the industry supports. “The whole experience of being able to partner with the New Zealand industry over the last couple of years has been an incredibly rewarding time," he reflects. “In particular, it is when you see and hear about the impact we’ve been able to have on the lives of individual participants across the racing and breeding industry that it makes you proud of the significant commitment and time sacrifices you’ve made to try and provide a positive future for all across the industry.” Cameron Rodger and Lachlan Fitt One of the crowning achievements of that partnership is the upcoming Barfoot & Thompson Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8. Fitt is confident it won't just be another race day, but a statement for the industry. “This day is meant to be a celebration of New Zealand racing, and I hope the industry continues to build on it in the years to come," says Fitt. “It provides such a great platform—an aspirational target where every owner should want to have a horse racing. It showcases all the headline horses in NZ in one spot on one day—what more could an industry marketer ask for?!” For Rodger, his defining moments were more cumulative; a series of conversations, connections, and moments that underscored the real purpose of his work. “Rather than a single moment, it’s been a collection of experiences—conversations with trainers, breeders, and owners who’ve shared how the changes we’ve been part of have positively impacted their businesses and futures. Racing is built on the passion and resilience of its people, and knowing we’ve helped create meaningful opportunities for them makes all the effort worthwhile.” The industry’s fork in the road Despite their achievements, both Fitt and Rodger know the New Zealand racing industry still faces a reckoning. We asked, if they had full control over its next move, what would they do? For Fitt, the answer was unequivocal. “It is without question fixing the infrastructure—racing venues and surfaces, and training infrastructure to support the industry's growth. I believe there are some clear and obvious opportunities that could be pursued to address this issue, but the whole thing needs leadership and it needs focus.” The urgency of infrastructure reform was reinforced again this past weekend when racing at Otaki Māori had to be abandoned due to track safety concerns, validating the decision for the Group 1 to be run at Ellerslie. It was another reminder of how fragile New Zealand's racing landscape remains without proper investment in tracks, despite the significant financial boost that has poured into the sport following the Entain and TAB NZ partnership. This isn’t an isolated incident, and the New Zealand industry appears collectively frustrated with the continual issues. Last year, the G1 Arrowfield Stud Plate was relocated from Hastings to Matamata due to unsafe track conditions. It marked the second time in three years this meeting has had to be shifted. The grandstands at Hawke’s Bay were deemed earthquake-prone, casting further doubt on the long-term viability of other key racing venues. At the core of this challenge is the governance model itself. The ‘community’ approach to race club administration, once seen as a strength, now poses a risk. Those passionate but often lacking formal training in areas such as track maintenance are tasked with preparing surfaces for elite-level competition and preparing racecourses for major racing events. The Messara Report identified this as a key issue back in 2018, and yet, little has changed. Rodger backs this up further, and drives home the need for an open-minded approach to solutions. “The industry needs to stop relying on quick fixes and instead commit to a bold, long-term strategy. The biggest opportunity lies in modernisation and efficiency—developing world-class racing venues, improving scheduling, and creating a racing calendar that builds anticipation and engagement. “Too often, energy is spent protecting the status quo rather than embracing new ideas. With the strong platform it now has, this is the time to take smart risks and drive real change. Or else the opportunity will pass it by.” The non-negotiables New Zealand racing has always walked the tightrope between tradition and change, and nothing exemplifies this more than the long-standing issue of self-serving decision-making. The industry, for all its deep connections and sense of community, has often been held back by competing agendas. Fitt doesn’t mince words when addressing this challenge. “I think one of the biggest issues present in racing in lots of markets is self-interest. People often forget that the industry is funded from the same pie, and if everyone focused on how to run the industry in the best way possible to grow that pie, then actually everyone would have the chance to be better off.” Tracks deemed unfit for racing, grandstands falling apart, and patchwork fixes to long-term problems have long plagued the industry. But for how much longer can it hold up? “For New Zealand, without fixing the infrastructure and without the removal of the self-interest that has impacted progression, nothing will truly ever fix the long-term viability of the industry for all participants,” said Fitt. Rodger agrees, and zeroes in on a solution: unity. "The industry suffers when decision-making is fragmented, and self-interest takes precedence over progress. Whether it’s clubs, breeders, trainers, or owners, everyone must recognise that the industry can only thrive when it grows as a whole. “Long-term sustainability requires strong leadership that can unite different stakeholders, shift the focus from individual gains to collective success, and drive the industry forward with a clear, strategic plan.” The road ahead With a new focus on racing and breeding, Fitt and Rodger are entering a chapter where they can directly influence the industry’s future. For Rodger, the move to racing and breeding is driven by two things: the people and the country’s legacy. “The breeders I’ve met and come to know well—Mark Chittick, Roddy Schick, John Thompson, Brendan Lindsay—are not only leaders in their field but also some of the most hardworking, genuine, funny, and down-to-earth people I’ve ever met. Their passion is infectious. “Despite being a small, geographically isolated country, New Zealand consistently produces elite-level racehorses that perform on the world stage. That’s something I take immense pride in as a Kiwi.” For Fitt, the next five years marks a return to what he’s always loved—getting closer to the breeding industry. “My passion was always racing, and I was fortunate to have had a decade-long career in the wagering industry that allowed me to pursue a career that was directly adjacent to my core passion of racing. “During that time, my love of the breeding side of the industry continued to grow and has now reached the point where I believe we have found an opportunity to meaningfully contribute in a direct way within the breeding game.” Learning from outside the industry As New Zealand racing stands on the precipice of transformation, it's valuable to ask: have you ever looked at another sport or business model and thought, “Why aren’t we doing this?” Fitt has long observed how other sports have evolved to better engage audiences and create commercially viable products. “Great question, and the answer is yes on lots of occasions. It has been interesting to watch how other sports have evolved their product to make them as marketable to the consumers of the sport as possible,” he says. He points to recent progress in New Zealand racing, citing initiatives like the NZB Kiwi and Barfoot & Thompson Champions Day as steps in the right direction. “I believe racing still has a long way to go in evolving the presentation of its product, but we have seen some encouraging changes over this season in New Zealand. The TAB Karaka Millions night is also a great example of ways to present and market your product that I believe has some real learnings for the industry that could be implemented elsewhere.” Karaka Millions Raceday | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock Rodger, meanwhile, draws inspiration from a more unexpected source: the UFC. “UFC is a standout example. They’ve mastered the balance between entertainment and competition, creating an unmissable product without compromising the integrity of the sport.” It’s a model he believes racing should be looking to emulate. “Racing needs to strike the same balance between tradition and entertainment, ensuring our biggest events feel like must-attend spectacles. Around the world, the most successful sports prioritise storytelling, engagement, and star power, and racing has all the ingredients to do the same—it just needs to be packaged the right way.” The five-year vision With all the potential and challenges ahead, we asked Fitt and Rodger to look five years into the future. What do they hope to have accomplished? Fitt doesn’t hesitate. “The list is long, to be honest! There is so much that still needs to happen in New Zealand to get the industry to the point where it is maximising its potential. “I guess most specifically in terms of what we will be focussing on in the short term, I hope in five years we have been able to substantially increase the level of investment in broodmares in New Zealand and have done that by attracting new capital into the industry. And if we’ve done that, we should have also created more opportunities for our stud farms to invest in a greater number of high-quality stallions.” Mares at Waikato Stud | Image courtesy of Waikato Stud For Rodger, success is about tangible, lasting change. “The most rewarding part of my journey so far has been contributing to meaningful change in the industry, and I want to continue building on that.” His focus remains on ensuring New Zealand racing is viable for future generations. “In five years, I hope to look back and see that I’ve played a further role in shaping a stronger, more sustainable future for New Zealand racing—one where the industry is in a better place than it is today, with more confidence, opportunity, and momentum behind it. If I’ve been able to make a real impact in that regard, that would be a success for me.” The next five years will be defining—cementing whether the New Zealand industry can evolve to meet global standards or remain stagnant in the face of change. For Fitt and Rodger, the mission is clear: to push the boundaries, embrace new ideas, and shape a future where New Zealand racing and breeding thrives for generations to come. Fitt and Rodger are undoubtedly two leaders the industry is fortunate to have on its team.

Coming from the likes of you that be a compliment! 😎 I'll pass on your kind thoughts to SCRC

Typical shallow shit from you! any smart leadership will have their heads around platforms that allow organic feedback! What has been lacking has been the backbone and political nous and intellectual skill to use these social media forums! Of course! anyone that has a understanding of racing history and how as a Industry! especially Head Office! has lagged years behind in the move into the digital area! You reap what you sow! and no amount of snide wailing from the likes of 'shallow peti-bourgeois Pollyanna' like yourself can change that! One does have to wonder what you have chose to continue to sneer and talk smack around SCRC and D? From the outside, they seem to have a active local population trying to make things work!

the poison chalice Job of racing, the provincial track manager and their off sider or two! The modern bane of watering the track with a length of hose! that needs to be moved x distance, x amount of times, all different cambers and winds etc to deal with. I know of one track that is prone to a wet spot, that has lead to problems! sigh, a tough day at the office for Kane today!!!

only 16 there today!

not to sure if this will work? https://www.facebook.com/100002419548128/videos/609773558607473/?idorvanity=424229018789803

very true... hard to get better... hard to pay the bills... if visa allow, better off riding work over the ditch!

enough for a flash funeral!!

I would still like to know how safe are my punting $$$ held in TAB accounts?

Two locals with the breeding - Williams/Bates and Kennedys - to be jockeys offed it over the ditch to learn their trade.

oh, is there one?