nomates

So the status quo then , surely they have to wake up at some stage ( NOW ) and realise that they have to do something different than following the same path as the last decade or two . Here's hopeing .

Standard bully boy tactics , my understanding is they want to close Hawera as well and move everybody to New Plymouth . Give it 2 seasons with nearly all Taranaki racing based at NP and the track will be stuffed , then what . They just don't get that most of the tracks are barely handling what they have now . I'm not knocking NP racing by any means , they have great community support , always a great atmosphere when iv'e been there no matter a premier day or industry day .

Your already ahead of 99% of the gang already there , you have genuine hands on experience of the industry to go with your actual passion and knowledge of NZ racing . 5 people that fill the above criteria and we would be half way to sorted . Guarenteed the next CEO will be of the same ilk as JA and his predecesors . Hire someone with a passion for racing , put them on a lower base salary with good performance bonuses based around achieving tough KPI's .

God i'm getting sick of this topic , simply because the circles (noose) are getting smaller and smaller . The bit that pisses me off the the most is the life blood is being sucked outa the industry 'fast' and they just don't seem to get the bigger picture . Saundry kept saying this could take 4/5 years , to bloody long , we're on our knees now . I can't tell you the number of people in know that simply have gone from multiple horses to a small share in one or none . These were hands on owner trainers in a lot of cases . Mostly older with no intention of getting back in , i'm one . All horses gone , it's great , no more early mornings getting up to feed horses or clean paddocks . My wife loves it , money not spent in last year went on 6 week overseas trip to UK , after christmas the renovations that have been on hold are getting done , happy wife , fantastic life . But don't get me wrong if i'd seen any and i mean any light at the end of the tunnel i'd still be involved . Thru all the talk of track closures and synthetic track , which as most people know will solve nothing , the one thing they could have done but haven't even considered doing is what any struggling business does first in times of hardship " retrench " . John Allan considers it a success that he has stemmed the flow of staggering industry costs from going any higher . It was mentioned on weigh in that costs to run NZRB ( RITA ) and the individual codes have risen from 11 million to 24 million . Saundry never even flinched , why hasn't he and JA looked toward their own business models and start trimming the fat . Last i heard 124 people on $100k or more , sorry but even i could go in and streamline their model and make some savings for this struggling industry . Why is Saunders and JA sitting around just waiting for legislation and other people to help their businesses , can't they come up with some of their own initatives , they have enough people on great money , brain storm , at least show us your trying something other than standing around shrugging and holding your hands up . PLEASE , PLEASE , PLEASE , i'm suffocating .

Errol ( EB) Skelton passed away over the weekend . Errol was a member of the famous " Skelton " family . A true legend and a huge character , a well loved member of the NZ racing fraternity who's reputation as a horseman was second to none . Won most of NZ's premier races as well as his fair share in Australia over many decades . Almost as well renowned as teller of great tales and racing folklore , no chat with EB was a short one and certainly never boring , so much knowledge helped me many times . To Lois and family my sincere condolances . The sun shines a little dimmer today .

Their a gutless bunch , watch fixed odds on any NZ race and watch a fav shortning to the extent that other prices should be going out , but they wait and wait and then after official closing time and the last couple of horses are going in suddenly prices lengthen . Almost as if they can say we did move the prices not our problem you didn't wait , how many bets are missed by people who are trying to get best price . Costing themselves turnover .

The way that the new platform has been set up and the way day to day information has been missed , information that is misguiding and misleading , and a platform that is misery to utilize shows that the people behind this business have no interest , no feel , no understanding or knowledge regarding gambling on horse racing , it comes through glareingly on this the TAB website . It's a bit like me setting up an operating theatre for brain surgery .

He should fecking talk , why be surprised and disappointed at a " team leaders " lack of knowledge when as the NZRB leader his knowledge of NZ racing would as sparse as water in the Sahara .

" Managers " , not sure i'd call them that , they're a bunch of suits ( guns for hire ) earning a salary whilst having very little personal investment in the business they are working in , they could be growing lettuce in pukekohe as long as they are earning well above the average wage . they will walk away from our industry as quickly as they would growing lettuce with out so much as a backward glance or the slightest sigh of " I COULD HAVE DONE BETTER " .

Would love to have a break down of the costs that amount to $37,500 , as you say these costs are raceday costs not venue costs . The interesting bit for me was the line about the lack understanding of the level of investment required by NZTR to keep 48 venues fit for purpose . OK enlighten us then , but we already know from Reefton about NZTR's level of investment in keeping his venue fit for purpose , i also have a fair idea about how much they invest keeping my local tracks afloat . There is a level of contempt about the way they say people have engaged in making submissions regarding their venues but are lacking understanding of NZTR investment , that yet again shows their attitude of arrogance towards the participants of this once great industry .

And so it begins , the resurrection of thoroughbred racing in NZ . Me thinks not . Well done Reefton on gaining a short repreive for your club , hopefully longer than next season . Funny how they say there are still improvements to be made by your club but in this whole process of trying to find savings for racing have never chosen to look at themselves . There will be a few sausage rolls going round at head office this avo along with patting themselves on the back for a job well done .

Reefton , you have shown more forward thinking in those few sentences than anything that has come out of NZTR or NZRB in the last 5 years . Imagine if we could get just 10 people of a similar depth of passion and base understanding of horse racing into positions of decision making on the future of thoroughbred racing , the game would definatly have a brighter future . I'm sure confidence levels would go through the roof at ground level .

Our AUGUST body should have sufficient funds , in fact more than sufficient , to cover such events irrespective of whether this funding can be covered by the extra gambling . Their job is to do things in the best interests of the industry . Yet again they have failed the core participants . WHAT"S NEW .

The bit i don't get is they split the mdn 1950 hwt , now i'm not bagging these horses but going forward the next generation of horses is more important to give chances to , the mdns in large part have had a few chances but a large proportion of the 2yo's were looking to have their first start . Also i believe a few were probably eliminated as there were more numbers than the 18 carded . If the suits had the best interests of racing in mind they simply card an extra race for 2yo's but i'm sure they will have their obtuse spin on their reason for not doing this . Yet again it's owners who take the hit .

And they wonder why owners have had a gutsful . Rotorua has the rail out so running fields of 10 , they get enough 2yo's nominated to split into 2 races but no , not the brains trust that is NZTR , they decide to run 1 race of 10 with 8 ballots , fecking diabolical , could have had 2 fields of 9 and given everybody a run but no owners can just keep stumping up till the next chance . I know an owner of one of the ballots and he is spewing . This just beggars belief .

Whilst i do agree i also know that when stakeholders have been able to have input they have put self interest ahead of the whole , the removal of free racing a few seasons back a perfect example , head of the trainers assn at that time pushed that agenda and i don't recall too many trainers at that time standing up and saying NO not the right thing for the " INDUSTRY ". People at the coal face haven't had real leaders for a long time .

" PISSED " or " FECKED OFF " are words i think i would use but then having most things i loved about racing slowly undermined by suits breaks my heart . I genuinly feel true racing peaple could solve all or most of the issues dragging racing down but like most things that are wrong with the world , suits in all forms think they know best .

Well done Reefton and your commitee , unfortunately there is very little commonsense and reality at NZTR or NZRB , so i fear your report will be read in a very dark room which will allow them to report they have found little of consequence , which will allow them to push thru their agenda irrespective of the consequence to the multitude of small players . I have felt for a long time that they have a fixed agenda which they will impliment come hell or high water , they have a mindset that they are all knowing and the minions should just sit back and let them get on with it , irrespective of the " lip service " consultation process . This will be the death knell for NZ thoroughbred racing in NZ , just as the $50,000,000 " PILE OF SHYTE " FOB TAB site will signal the end for the funding of NZ racing . I applaud you and your committee and wish you every success .

Get your facts straight , Winx raced at 5.40 pm , 45mins after derby , even i'm not melon enough to not want to watch Winx , as it was we didn't even get much a lead into Winx race as the last at Ellerslie was run at 5.30 pm . Saying that the way you describe our best young talant battling it out in our premier 3yo race about sums up the appathetic attitude thats got our racing in the state it's in . You don't happen to work for NZTR do you .

Well i don't know maybe it's just me , but i watched what i thought was NZ's premier 3yo race which was a great spectacle only to be treated to a post race coverage that was no better than a 10k mdn at gizzy , feckin disgraceful . Crossed to Rosehill for 3 mins leading to some middle of the road race , they just don't get it . Still haven't shown Marsh's interview . Maybe i just don't get it .

Whatever the case the programming can be a bit hit and miss , in the CD at least . Speaking of poor programming the Waikato Gns just run Sat and now the Avondale Gns running this Sat , who came up with that schedule leading into the Derby 2 weeks later . This sums it up for me , why couldn't Te Rapa run 2 Sat's ago and New Plymouth Sat just gone , no expert buts seems a more logical progression to me plus both races stronger for it . Is there a reason i don't know , perhaps someone could enlighten me .

May be incorrect but if done centrally might be with local input . I do recall certain trainers saying they were on programming committees , perhaps they went to HQ for these meetings and the scones and tea .

Good luck working with lot , your made of sterner stuff than me . Make sure you take one for the team and set an example by insisting on a reduced salary for the good of racing .

Don't know if it would make much difference whether they had the info or not looking at how random the programs can be , i've seen the same grade race programmed 2 days in a row then nothing for a month or more or other grades having so many oppertunities over a period that they can't fill the fields . These programs are set by local committee's but seems like the people on the committee have just arrived from outa town .

Part of possibly the best forward pack Scotland ever put on a park .