Mark D

Glad I missed that

So where does this appear Tommy?

Thanks HS.

The "tremendously respected" phrase is one that should be deleted and replaced with something like "well liked" because that is what it is. As in most "sectors" and in particularly in the racing sector there are those who you "work" with, who you like, are your mates, have a drink with etc etc who you are favourably disposed towards (biased ie not impartial) who get the benefit of the doubt. There is no place for it - especially where health and safety are concerned.

So is it the same for Kurow? Heard the tailend of Davey Mac saying it would be crazy to do away with it. Yip that's NZTR's modus operandi Davey. Amazing track for once a year.

Good fields, good crowd, track in great nick - better close that down.

Got it in one DB

Yeah good point Huey. I remember when I was involved in breeding we paid a substantial sum (around 30k) for stallion service only to turn up to the sales a couple of years later and that stud was selling the stallion's progeny at the sales with no reserve! They were/are a big stud witgh plenty of progeny so it was a case of unders/overs for them but it was a killer for us.

Been watching Kiwi Bred a bit this year and Emily does some good pieces with certain breeders. One thing that strikes me is their total obsequiousness in relation to the Messara report, Winston etc and the need to work together to slavishly follow these far right/far left recommendations (whether you view them as communism of unfettered capitalism - take your pick). Of course one of the reasons that thoroughbred racing is in such a pickle is because of the selfish funding programme that TR has followed for years now ie excessively funding group and stakes races to benefit themselves at the expense of "normal" races that proportionately "earn" their stakes far better than these economically disastrous G&S races. TR racing is now only being run because of the stolen revenue from the pokies. IMO the breeding industry is in for some hard times - Hong Kong is not the mecca it once was because of the unrest (and this is not going away), Singapore is slowing down and Australia is facing climate change disruption on a major scale. As long as Winston is in power they could continue to go cap in hand to him but the signs are that his coalition (senior and others) have given him as much as they want or can. Maybe they can go to NZB but they might get Andrew Seabrook's standard reply - "you didn't think this was going to be easy did you?"

Yip you're right Mardi (Rod) they're still persisting promoting FO over the Tote which is bizarre given the Rate of Return (guaranteed) of the Tote exceeds FO.

Very sensible move - community assets not to be used to benefit "racing" in Dorkland and the Waikato.

Isn't the NP racecourse at risk too - largely because Carey Hobbs and his mates stuffed things up. Also while it may have the facilities the racetrack is poor and just can't handle the racing or to so they put the rail out so far as to make racing a farce. I don't know about the tongue of Bernie but he certainly hasn't got a brain, heart or soul the same as his board

Thought they (clubs) mostly charged them direct to owners these days? And this is the NZTR settlement account which doesn't charge track fees. Anyway it is this mob that got the free racing dumped so as to increase their percentages - so no sympathy from me.

Mate told me he went to an Owners and Trainers AGM and it was announced that there is $1.7m owing to the NZTR settlement account reportedly mostly by trainers. Not sure if this is correct as these are bills paid by the owners - would mean that trainers were owners as well. Anyway I think given the parlous state of the racing industry and subsequent hard times for trainers any forceful action would likely force trainers out of business and the industry can't afford that.

Thieves

Yip always enjoyed my trips to Wanganui. Often gets bad treatment by the NZTR but one of those clubs who wisely keep out of RACE.

Note I would probably not cater for a few times a year buyer but I was for 30 odd years a 2 a week purchaser of the Turf Digest and also the Friday Flash, Informant on a weekly basis. So it shows how my lack of interest has grown over the past couple of years and it all comes down to a lack of leadership and outdated thinking amongst the heavyweights of the industry especially at the NZTR who are a pitiful lot.

So on the one day a year I now need a Best bets (annual boys punting day at the pub) can't get a best bets - local Tabs all sold out apparently!

Best thing since sliced bread apparently 0- but will they allow (negative) discussion on how big the slices are and who's doing the cutting. I think not.

Yip the worst I can remember - still be silly to count him out just yet. There has been turnover in some of the people running the stables but that has happened before. Things have gone up and down but from what I have heard they are on the up

Oh yes Freda they can - overvaluing intangible assets is a great accounting trick

One thing I have noticed "lately" is that on the website the next 5 races to go "tab" now includes the No TV races. Of course years ago it used to but then the bright sparks at the TAB changed it. I recall when I complained to the TAB that this meant that punters were unaware of these races coming up they replied that they did that because the customers preferred it and pointed out (totally impractical )ways I could get round it - like printing out the schedule at the start of the day. Glad to see they've finally seen sense - presuming that it was deliberately.

Sure but don't expect for that opinion to be popular among the proletariat

True but the racing world is not alone in feeling that the facts about them are skewed not balanced etc etc Don't think that a massive "anti-racing" conspiracy exists - on the contrary for most of its existence the opposite has been true because of racings' connections to power. Hence when the tide turns a bit the antipathy towards the Greenies etc emerges. Don't these people know their place!

And from the "i knew it couldn't last file" today's Dom has two pages - both have the same fields.