nomates

He might want to use that as his argument but the reality is most of these clubs have been surviving without any assistance from NZTR for a number of years , on as you say gifts and massive amounts of volunteer hours and goodwill so it's only an issue for them now because it suits their agenda . OSH etc have been around for long enough now for it to have been an issue long before now if was going to be .

That would be the first and only question that has to be asked , Reefton knows what NZTR give him to maintain his track , so any answer would be very interesting . They might have the person responsible for the new FOB platform because that person sure knows how to " shine a turd " .

Perhaps before wading into these conversations with questions perhaps you could inform people what the costs incurred by the ' governing body " are to maintain Reefton or any other of the tracks listed to close . Perhaps if you had provided that information first " REEFTON " wouldn't have given you a rap over the knuckles .

Mate really , not cruelty , only if the horse requested it be used , try hanging onto a hot wire next time your on a farm then you'll get some idea what it does to a horse , might change your mind .

What years at Mana were you , '74 - '77 for me

Sometimes the biggest NILERS are the one's who continually spout about how big their shite is and how it smells better than everybody else's , when all it ever was was smelly shite .

Agree , but should never be employed in first place as very few have any sort of racing knowledge and i'm talking even basic understanding of racing . As far as salaries go i always choke when i hear that we have to pay salaries that match the private sector to be able to attract the right people , well that stratagy has been a failure for well over a decade. Same in the public service , the private sector expects results to match the large salaries . I know someone that has worked under JA , not the post office , they have pretty much the same attitude regarding him as the majority of racing participants . There is absolutely no accountability at either NZRB or NZTR . I honestly would love to spend 2 hours with any of them . Would be the most fun i've had in years .

Preaching to the converted mate , but when the people within this industry who hold some sort of power aren't prepared to make a stand for the battler's what chance for the small folk . I for one would happily sit down and talk to the powers that be and give them some of life's realities at the grass roots , but would they listen to me or others like me not a hope .

Sorry mate can't agree with most of what you say , yes fewer are breeding because of lack of incentives . In my opinion throwing more money at the top end won't fix the issue , the quality at the top is thin now , won't see too many from last saturday making it to elite racing in Aussie . You want more owners in NZ start by treating them like the precious commodity they are , get stake levels to place where owners feel like it's not just an endless tap to race a horse . Start giving starters incentives , free nom's and acceptance fees in most grades along with paying the jock's fee as most successful racing juridiction's do . In other words get stake money up and share it across the board so new people won't think the have to get a top liner just have a chance of making a buck .

I'm stoked for you i know how hard it is to get a good one , my last one is now 4 hasn't raced yet but won her first trial as 2yo over 2 years ago , trialed as spring 3yo running 2 2nd's when not wound up with form in front and behind her strong but nothing but issues since , back in work but now a day to day prop , so far so good but no more , if i was in your position wouldn't hesitate . The twats that run NZ racing clueless and the supposed miracle solutions aren't going to change anything in a hurry , and iv'e always been a half glass full guy but have had a guts full of the poor management and watching the people who could put pressure on sitting and doing and saying nothing . Good luck with your horse .

The grass root problem is owners or lack of , there are plenty of horses to be had if you haven't got the largest budget . Watch Sunday's sale , even the k2 sale plenty of horses passed , you can argue vendors not meeting market but biggest issue is lack of people buying . K2 and K3 have historically been the NZer's sale but people not getting into horses because of current climate going forward . I've been in the game 40 years never seen it anywhere close to this bad , last 5 years has been a complete nose dive . I'm on my last horse unless i see significant progress by end of this year then will look to Aussie , not holding my breath . I'm sick and tired of being treated like shite by policies of NZTR and TAB and can't see anything changing .

I'm not against closures on the whole but track closures wont make a jot of difference financially to the bottom line at NZTR . The ones listed for closure are for the most self funded by training fees and volunteers so closing them won't save NZTR any dosh , my 2 local tracks survive along these lines . It will cost us horses , trainers , owners and future racing staff and punters . Close down racing in smaller communities and it will shrink the whole product .

Agree with everything said but what the whole industry has to understand is that "the good old days " are gone and racing as well as many other pursuits have to work with those changes . The whole social landscape has changed and unfortunately for us when this change began many years ago those charged with guiding this industry were too busy patting themselves on their backs and lost sight of the future and what would be required to navigate those changes . I've had first hand experience of the industry just sitting on it's hands or just plain not interested . Best (worst ) quote i ever got given when suggesting something was being done wrong " just the way it's always been " . That quote came from a multiple group 1 winning trainer , i walked out of his office saying " pigs at a trough " . We now need people who can understand the product , both the racing administration and the betting sides , not postmen , not lawyers or any other suited persons , people who may well be those types but first and foremost they are racing people . It's not just racing that the suits are fecking up .

As i said on the other thread this is what you get when you have people with no actual hands on experience making decisions both in regards the racing side and then the gambling side , JA would have never dipped in his pocket and had a bet and i would put money on this , poker with matchsticks doesn't count . The IT people that have produced the new FOB turkey are in the same boat but also the people who have been making decisions at the TAB for numerous years now , they just have no feel or understanding for the game , NONE , NONE , NONE . Saying that we have no one to blame but ourselves , from the owners assn to the trainers assn to the individual clubs and breeders , theyall sat on their hands , could never get together for the sake of the industry , too much self interest , too many individuals feathering their own beds so didn't want to rock the boat . Even now when the ship is already tilting no one prepared to say " right whatever happens i / we are going to take one for the team " . Every one that counts still not prepared to rock the boat in case it hurts them .

NZRB and NZTR are both running around in ever decreasing circles hoping to survive as long as possible and therefore hang on to their inflated salaries and perks . As the circles are getting smaller and smaller drawing them faster and faster into the abyss unfortunately the racing industry participants are being dragged down the hole as well . This is what happens when people with no experience ( hands on experience ) of a particular industry continually get control .

The process is flawed , no consultation with people at the coal face , perhaps you can tell us what positive solutions embracing the the change will bring us . I am not against change but it must be done in consultation with the people at the coal face who are the ones that have to deal with the changes made .

Me wonders if their are now going to have a look at this issue because you have raised it with them . The standard of riding in this country is atrocious and has been for many years , i'm thinking if it hasn't been addressed by now chances are you've just been given some lip service . Saying that good to see Innes get 5 weeks for the fall at Trentham and his appeal dismissed , maybe just maybe they are going to get serious with issue because the riders aren't listening .

This guy epitomizes everything that is so so wrong with management of our industry . Time has come for decision making to come from people with racing flowing thru their blood and start employing people to fill the other rolls that their skills allow . NO racing knowledge NO say .

" What i can't find " , let me see , where $40+ MILLION went is a good a start as any . I'm no IT expert but surely this shuffle up is'nt all you get for that much dosh ? .

" They finally get the change they demanded " , what change ? this new site is just a shuffling of the deck . Not a sports punter so maybe some one can enlighten me as to whether there has been major improvements there but as for the horse side of things not finding it difficult to use but hasn't filled my life with joy and sunshine with change , pretty much same shite different bucket .

The ultimate chinese wall , move a bit of shite around , brighten it all up with some color , add a couple of new options and bada boom the fools won't know what hit them . Seriously some body please tell me this hasn't really cost north of 40 million . Whoever has copped the cash for this has walked outa the building looking continuously over their shoulder thinking some one's got tap me on the shoulder soon and say " sorry , mistake writing out the check , can we have that one back ?" . No prob though all NZRB KPI's ticked with this new site .

The powers that be would never for a fleeting second have even considered consulting or asking opinions of the multitude of experienced regular punters around this country . They and their consultants and IT experts know best in their opinion so why on earth would they lower themselves and bother to listen to mug punters . You will find NZTR also live on this higher plane .

As i said good luck attracting newbies if old clients are struggling .

Well now that i've had a good look over the racing site and a cursory look at the sports (doesn't appear to much difference in the options being given for EPL) then i'm wondering what they've spent the other $39,950,000 on ? , nibbles and drinks tonight for a job well done .

Yep same as before but reckon you should get a prize for finding it . I always thought improving things meant making things simpler to use .