Murray Fish

what was the propaganda/publicity spend on both events?

The beauty about gambled money lost! is it's gone... move on! and of course! Never bet the rent money! I be a big follower of MLB, 162 games a season, it does teach one to accept a L, then move on! Nice to know I don't owe a cent and be living in a very good paddock,I hope your losses have not done to much harm! Good to know that any L'$ I have had along the way have never affected others! Pondering my historical W/L re my gambling on Racing??? Millions turned over! lost for about first 15 I reckon.. got lucky, and got to go/work 75+ meetings a year, great for actually getting to Know the Form! very thankful for being educated, via being able to travel to sai meetings, with some serious winning jockeys! a couple were very skilled at labelling a horse about to go well! still good mates with some of them 40 years later! jump to the present! I almost now don't bet on nz racing out of spite! anything else you think I should be mentioning? hey! are you any any good at Pool! I'm looking for some money matches! willing to travel to play ya if you say so!

my tuppence worth about that other place, which I have not gone to for years, resend for negating that place, TOXIC Leadership! School yard crap...sigh.. Once, back near the beginning of 'cafe, I would have like to think I added some value via the Racing Quizes I ran via Abit Roughhouse (I had a few other 'names', but they were only ever 'used' for a big of fun piss taking). I some ways I'm surprised its still around? Re that fella Brent! Our paths have crossed.. via the likes of the Morton Debarked.. also a bit of behind the scenes stuff with CWJ having need of assistance! We did find out that we had a interesting out of racing common person, a person connected to his PhD! Also! he has been brave enough to visit us here in d town in person! More Power to his Pen I say! Can't Believe they have some ankle bracket on you currently!!!! May I ask the attraction of visiting there?

Hasting St for us, early 60's was a free time for feral kids like us in that area! cheap to play local sports! rather 'knew' I Had to leave in mid 70's, the start of a rather big adventure! still on one 50 + years later!! hate to think how many race meetings I have been to! how many races that i have watched!!!

come on matey! The world needs to know the world views of a great like you! multiWorld Masterbating Campion I believe! 🥸

a Waltham boy am I!!!

I happen to know that area real well, the stomping ground of my childhood! Have a cousin who doesn't live far from where this photo is taken, sigh, his section will be under, hopefully not under...

forgot to add to my previous post.. while there was a measurable decline in lots of important stats as the industry entered the 90, (especially in tracks etc) there happened to be some very good horses! ones winning many of the better G1s over the ditch, though, as real world costs escalated, it became more and more economic sense for a skilled trainer to on sell. Some Trainers got lucky that their stables could be developed, I know of smallish trainers cashing out for Millions! others say like Woodville almost walked away.. Way less actual good horses over the last 30 years, IMO

not wanting to appear prickly!!! Lets go back a few more decades I can share on then/that, as I was donkey deep involved! the last really big Boom was pre the Share Market Crash of the Late 80's... amongst other things that destroyed quite a bit of 'racing investment'.. as the economic reality of the neoliberal policy that were started by Labour in 84/88 were being bedded in, along came the Nats and the Ruthless Ritchson Budget of the early 90's, the week benefits were cut back $20 there was a immediate drop in TAB turnover.. also, if you start again at say mid 80's and say racing go X % of the available disposable income that is available then! thatnow is way way down and continuing to scrink! some bounce back via sports better and some pokies A$$$ Jump to now! and if you look in todays paper it was pointed out that "The Financial Services Council’s (FSC) latest Financial Resilience Index found 55% of New Zealanders – equivalent to just over two million people – worry about money either daily or weekly." where is that coolaide! having said that! I'm with @TAB For Ever now, where can one find some simple fund and joy via Racing! we be all keen, 5 day road trip coming up! two race days!!! https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/more-than-half-of-kiwis-worry-about-money-weekly-as-financial-pressures-remain/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawJ-vf9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETE4VXpGSVQzM1VMNndZTVVhAR4qKquvpxTtySNJVcQUNjU3bMpPCnhPeAoIXD1Onyxc84z6xAWW5OXzf9Rb4w_aem_9YpuQJ9yhy2I1Uqzi1bAOA#Echobox=1745888788

sigh, they have never really counted that much,,, believe it or not.. often people that can afford the horse of being involved with horses tend to be on the more conservative end of the spectrum. most just slowly reduce their inve$tment slowly over time.. same with many now elder punters..

Actually, re that bold bit! Not true, while a track manager acting on head office protocols does play some role! They don't chose the historical reality that is there are now decades now of under Investment! in so many tracks! Facts like that came out in my serious research into long term investments etc in Industry! 30 years ago!!! Every critical number has got worse! Except increase in Wages and Propaganda! I think we are now seeing some compounding problems coming from this Underinvestment!

I lived for 6 months in Hong Kong back in '79, it really does take a while to get used to not so much the heat but that dam humidity!

29c 89 humidity pheeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwww.... tough if you are not used to it!! Best presented horse won, aided by yet another top ride by D Lane!!

Holding Govt power in NZ has it seem in the modern area be producing some interesting compromises! Having a racing minister is quite new! The Nats have Never care about 'things racing' (lol, just look who has represented them with that role!!) or gambling in general, <--- that's for the many losers out there! Its been a nice trade off to let Winnie out and about sucking c,,, They know its a sunset industry!

Pardon! that old elephant in the room problem! the jockeys have been legged up! to go around! to Prove that the tracks was not safe! sigh... When the next big crash on the track happens with this sort of back story about now it seems so many tracks! Jockeys should not be used as TrackTestDummys!!! Talking about finding a needed Voice! What has the Jockeys Assoc been saying????

proud to be able to say that I had been to a meeting on everyone of them!

when I was full time with camera and went there for 100+ meetings, 80's into the 90's, 'Our" best WFA races were being fought out on 'safe' racing services... <--- dear I say, pre Over watering on said tracks! that has continued to this day!

As someone eluded to earlier not many are putting their hand up to be interviewed. yip, and perhaps especially so if Engrish be your 2nd or 3rd language!

I have seen it slowly crept in over the last 40 years! As the need for 'centralism' was being put in place! Over the years, Racing has gone from having Local Workers with lots of local knowledge etc, to a more and more centralized jobs, away from the actual 'coal face', this leading to roles for more and more technical roles etc.. Over time different CEO have brought in different people, Often picked because they have not been involved with racing! sigh! having said all that! I currently really know very little about 'in house politics at Head Office', once did!!

by chance we hope to be on track for their next meeting, will file a track report if the net is running on course... gee, i think it was 51 years ago that i was on course there!

There has always been this sort of strange internal force at play with 'Trainers needing to play favor$ with the rich owners who have paid the big dollar$, the Jockeys are becoming to Owners for 'the ride' and also to the Trainers for a ride. There is always a needed positive narrative by the Trainers to the O's! and the Jockeys have to be nodding their Hats to the T's and O's! Still shown in some jockey vernacular! Collectively, there is a needed hegemony over T's and J's not to be Too critical... now where is that Cool Aid! ps. Have we today see just another minor tragedy as nz racing marches into the sunset?? very minor in that no human or horse was actually damaged.. or is as Marx once said history repeating a as a Farce

curry favour with some stud with many mares....

Where's Charles Atlas when you need him! ps. @TAB For Ever how would a collage boy deal with getting some sand kick their way! 🥸

11 April 2025 Statement from Peter V'Landys At the outset, I must respectfully note that many of the assertions you have referenced are grossly inaccurate and appear to be based on misinformation or exaggeration. By way of example, I was entirely unaware of the Ray Thomas interview with Gai Waterhouse, did not view the program at the time and, to this day, have not seen it. As such, any suggestion that I, or anyone at Racing NSW, had any involvement in SKY’s decisions regarding that interview—including its content or timing—is completely without foundation. Additionally, the figures cited in relation to the Form Guides published in the Daily Telegraph and Sydney Morning Herald are significantly overstated. To clarify: TAB funds 75% of the cost of the Daily Telegraph Form Guide, while Racing NSW contributes less than 25% — and Harness Racing NSW also provides funding. Racing NSW does not contribute at all to the Sydney Morning Herald Form Guide, which is funded by a different wagering operator. Racing NSW’s role in that context is merely to facilitate the f low of those funds. Therefore, the notion that Racing NSW expends “millions” on these form guides to influence media coverage is entirely unfounded. These form guides are a key driver of wagering activity, and their funding is principally borne by wagering operators. Please see below my responses to your specific questions: Q: Do you cultivate friendships with decision makers in the media and politics, in the hope that it will pay dividends down the track, benefiting you and the organisations you lead? We note you have said this is the case in a previous interview with Mark Bouris in 2022. A: I consider it an essential part of my role as Chief Executive of Racing NSW and Chairman of the NRL to build constructive relationships with media and political stakeholders. This is a standard and expected aspect of any senior executive or leadership role. Suggesting otherwise would be unrealistic. Q: Have you or anyone from Racing NSW ever intervened to influence the media coverage concerning yourself, Racing NSW or the NRL? A: No, I have not. I have never contacted any media representative with the intent to influence coverage of Racing NSW, the NRL, or myself—other than to correct factual inaccuracies, as I am doing here. It is also worth noting that I am regularly approached by media for my views or commentary on various issues relating to racing and rugby league. Q: We have been told you telephone high-ranking media executives to complain about negative media queries which suggest an item is forthcoming which may be critical of Racing NSW and/or you personally. Is this the case? Please refer to my response above. Q: As per the question above, it appears these contacts are for the purposes of managing yours, and Racing NSW’s image in the media. Is this the case? A: Again, I refer you to my previous response. Q: Did you or anyone from Racing NSW contact anyone at Nine/SMH with respect to the SMH story of 19 March 2025 examining the Sky Interview? A: As stated earlier, I was entirely unaware of the Ray Thomas interview with Gai Waterhouse and have never viewed it. I did not contact anyone at Nine or the SMH. Any contact made by Racing NSW would have been solely to clarify that Racing NSW had no involvement in the interview, its content, or its timing. Our sole objective is always to ensure factual accuracy. Q: Did you or anyone from Racing NSW contact anyone at Sky Racing with respect to the Ray Thomas Sky Racing interview? Prior to its eventual broadcast, did you or anyone at Racing NSW discuss the content of Gai Waterhouse's interview with Ray Thomas? A: Please refer to the previous response. Q: Gai Waterhouse has [said] the result of your 'control' of people in the racing industry in NSW and the pressure you and Racing NSW exert is a culture of 'censorship' in the media. How do you respond? A: There is absolutely no censorship of media coverage by Racing NSW or myself. As noted above, the financial details regarding the Form Guides have been misrepresented. Racing NSW’s contributions are limited. Suggesting that media coverage is bought or manipulated is both inaccurate and unfair. Racing NSW engages routinely and openly with stakeholders across the industry, including through annual reports, strategic plans, and regular meetings of the Racing Industry Consultative Group. Q: Do you use the resources of Racing NSW or the NRL to cultivate relationships in the media which may lead to POSITIVE coverage of those organisations, or yourself? A: As stated earlier, fostering productive relationships with media is part of any leadership role. These relationships support fair and balanced coverage—a standard practice across all major sports and industries. Q: Have you used your relationships to influence the coverage of the Rosehill Racecourse sale debate? A: No. Q: What is your response to Gai Waterhouse's remarks at the Rosehill Racecourse inquiry (July 2024), where she said: "It’s a bit like the elephant in the room isn't it...you have a very powerful CEO in Mr V’landys and he controls racing and he controls everyone in racing...you only have to look at the newspapers now and the media coverage...it's very controlled...we don't have the true picture at all" A: As stated above, I reject any claim of media censorship or control. Racing NSW operates transparently, consulting broadly with stakeholders including the NSW Trainers Association, with whom we are in near-daily contact. Our strategic plan and comprehensive annual report are regularly published and accessible. Q: We understand that behind the scenes you have been advocating in favour of the proposal to sell Rosehill Racecourse. How do you respond? A: I have always been clear and transparent in stating that I would support the proposal if the $5 billion valuation is achieved and if the Australian Turf Club can demonstrate viable alternative arrangements for hosting the affected race meetings. It is vital that ATC members are fully informed and presented with both sides of the argument before making any decision. Q: We understand that in the corporate box at Royal Randwick, the menu typically includes a seafood starter, followed by fish or steak and Crème Brûlée, with your preference being a plate of chips. Is this correct? A: Anyone who knows me will confirm that I do have a fondness for hot chips and my girth also highlights that. I might also add that mini meat pies are served after lunch and are very well received by all attendees.

https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/racing/105175616