Mark D

either

Don't think you'll get much enlightenment out of Aidan asking Deano a bunch of patsy questions. No substance to wither of them.

I'm up. The names may change but the story remains the same.

So this is what happens when you spend all your reserves. $3.8m loss on Bonus Bets - these guys are incompetent but we already knew that ttps://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120423822/coronavirus-tab-in-crisis-over-sports-cancellations

Because NZTR have decided that those with stable hand licences are immune from Covid 19

What it will mean is that when the racing industry does collapse Jackson and co will have a convenient excuse. Nothing to do with us. Out of our hands etc. Bit like a human dying of cancer suffering a heart attack. Cancer was not the thing that killed em

Predictably this response from the NZTR is just plain stupid RaceInfo Meetings Meeting News Important notice – Covid-19 Meeting News Important notice – Covid-19 Trainers, stable staff and jockeys attending Trentham and Tauranga on March 14 are reminded they MUST have their licence cards as they will be asked to produce these to gain access to the Birdcage. In light of Covid-19 access to the birdcage at both meetings will be restricted to jockeys; trainers with horses racing; their staff; and essential race day personnel ONLY. There is also a reminder to ensure that you follow the Ministry of Health guidelines regarding hygiene and self-isolation when required.

Thanks Tonka but my post was really about a wider issue the Brandon St TAB was supposed to be an aside but I went on a bit too long on that. There will always be cost issues but it is how you react to them and what other factors you take into account in developing your long term plan is the issue. The big factor, I believe, in the Brandon St closure was that the landlord (Bobby Jones) wouldn't allow the pokies to be in the building, and because this has become a prime if not the main consideration as to whether the TAB have branches or PubTabs, they couldn't justify it. That is also due to the fact that they have ignored, and in some cases treated with disdain, their existing customer base for the past 20 years because they wanted to be seen as modern, hip etc rather than focused on the long term viability of their business. That is,they have thrown the baby out with the bath water.

Big deal. A shadow of it's former self.

For many decades "new people" to the administration of racing, particularly the TAB, have wanted to get rid of the NZ punter stereotype white male, Best Bets in back pocket, smoking a roll your own in a smokey back alley TAB or on course leaning against the bar drinking a watered down beer with a whisky chaser. Nothing wrong with that, it needed updating and to move with the times. However in doing so they alienated a whole generation of people and did away with various traditions and methods by which these people enjoyed a punt and a day at the races which they used to drag their kids and friends to and thereby bring new customers into the game. There was always going to be a downturn but these administrators exacerbated it into a downward spiral and few new customers were attracted. Short term cost cutting policies were introduced (cut phone betting, close TABs etc. Note I found out in a recent visit into Wellington City that the Brandon St TAB had been shut leaving the inner city office worker who used to flock to these TABs in their lunchtime etc without one - only Courtenay Place a plastic TAB with screens etc and no paper and Newtown in the capital city) which have a long term effect. THOSE CUSTOMERS ARE NOT COMING BACK

$179k Win $119 place for the Cup. Better than the Derby and half the stake. Only a massive loss rather than an astronomical one. Used to have the infield full on Boxing Day and New Years day - look at it now. Participation is almost non-existent

As the great Neil Young once sang "there comes a time" and the time has come. Pitiful crowds, pitiful turnover (tote on the Derby last Saturday was Win $157k and Place $89k and while they are supposedly doing more on the FO these days the commission earned would not come within a bulls roar of paying for even a third of a 1 million stake). Arguable that it was worth a gamble to move the race dates and attempt to create a Cup Week in Auckland and while there were some reasonably positive early returns (and I went to a couple of the early ones) it is an enormous strain on the viability of the industry (if there is one left after the last decade of bizarre decision making). Pull the plug now.

A few (misguided) influencers on here https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119704872/billionaires-among-the-full-list-of-donors-supporting-nz-first

I have my suspicions that the Greens would have not supported Peters land grab provisions of the Bill anyway but with him pulling the plug (haha) on the rebates for EVs I am sure that is definitely the case now.

Can't spell but can see into the future RIU @riuorgnz · 3m Auckland GRC 1st March 2020 - AUCKLAND CUP. UTHOR BALE (4) - The RIU can confirm that a review of the decision to stand down this greyhound for Failing to Pursue the Lure in its heat has been lodged with the JCA and will be heard on Thursday the 27th February.

And they can't spell but to be fair to them it's probably the insidious autocorrect (American based) at work Ashburton TC - Race 3, which was stopped by Stewards, has been abandoned as the field had raced for more than 1000 meters.

Why is it that the RIU continue with the absurd practice of 1. Take a pen reading at 6.30am 2. Have rain before the start of race 1 3. Review the rating after race 1 after the punters have done their dough. Matamata downgraded two rating grades after the 1st race

Yip Barry you're being negative again

If I was actively involved - And I'm not - I wouldn't be relying on the select committee process as it can be "managed" by interested parties but contacting every individual MP pointing out what a travesty this Bill is.

Aaah good old Murray Blue! Remember the time he had a court case against NZTR and he told rthe Court that they (NZTR) planned to take away the racing club and he was told "you're dreaming"! Agreee with everything he said and there should be a long line of people hanging their heads in shame starting with Winnie.

Not a good sign but just to keep Barry happy its happened before. February/March have always been a time when the horses racing have been low but I can't help but think that it has been exacerbated in the last few years by the "programming" of the big races at Ellerslie at this time of low numbers. RaceInfo Meetings Meeting News Avondale Races Cancelled Meeting News Avondale Races Cancelled Due to a lack of horses the Avondale Races for Wednesday 19 February have been cancelled. A Mdn 1200m and Mdn 3YOF 1400m (Pearl Race) have been added to the Counties programme on 27 February. NZTR and the club are open to dividing a further race at Counties if necessary.

Positively negative Barry. I post the truth whether that is positive or negative. You delude yourself

By the looks of Barry's posts - in the bar alongside him

Your memory is failing you Barry

Looks like Te Rapa has the same issue today - more camera angles than spectators it seems