nomates

It's always hard for new or inexperienced owners to understand what's being told to them , if someone is hyping unrealistically then it's on them . I always found being up front and not bullshitting and being realistic of a horses ability was the best path . Saying that some owners don't like being told the truth .

We have been deluding our selves for many years regarding the true worth of our black type races . Our G1's are a joke , in comparison to Aus our G1's are at best G3 , bar the Derby , and even then the form from our derby can be suspect , as this years was . As for people justifying their costs , plenty have been getting fat off the teat that is the owners supposedly bottomless pockets for many years now . Some will adjust to cater for the long term but i suspect just as many if not a lot more will work on the theory of continuing to suck as much as possible out a dying industry . Owners have been getting gauged for many years .

Does his parents know he's in NZ ?

The young fella that's on now , don't know his name , looks like he left college recently , not sure of his experience , but not sure that is a pre requisite anymore .

Unfortunately that's the problem JB , we're racing enthusiasts , we never put the cue in the rack , we're eternal optimists , as an owner we're gonna get another one because this one could be the one , and as a punter we keep going because we keep telling ourselves we'll clean up next punt . Some would say stupid or slow learners or suckers or all of them , unfortunately it's just in blood for a lot of us . Putting the cue in the rack usually never occurs to us , or if it does not a thought we entertain for long .

Which is what everyone said was their biggest concern and the one area they felt could give the industry the quickest boost . Still waiting .

Get your point , but at the time i don't know anyone who didn't give a sigh of relief that finally we had some one with with NZ racing nous that would be able to pinpoint the responses required to start fixing our problems . Now to a man they can't understand how we misread it .

Considering the racing industry was treating his appointment like the second coming , major disappointment almost doesn't cover it .

Cheers , that much to remember , but same shit , different bucket .

Well tell us about yourself in regards racing , not your achievements , as Mikie wanted off you the other day on the trotting forum across the road . The history that makes you so knowledgeable in regards where we are going wrong in questioning the powers that be .

That's a cop out , they went in knowing the industry was in the shit , you said it , it was part of their brief , " to make the significant urgent reform needed to revitalize the racing industry " . You really are a friggin INFOmercial .

Maybe not , but the review process could easily have covered all levels of the business from the beginning . Thereby giving the industry some confidence that they were serious in making significant change , funny how 18 months down the track that industry participants are still questioning what they have or trying to achieve . You wrote in it response to a question a couple of months ago , it's always stuck with me , it was you . Interesting it was the first thing you addressed . Now your just following their rhetoric that COVID brought this on racing .They had no income but they also had no racing to fund , and i'm pretty sure they received subsidies for the necessary period . As for cash flow problems , perhaps if the RITA board had started implementing cost saving reforms and reducing the bloated wage bill from the get go , you know , part of their brief , the " urgent significant reform to revitalize the racing industry , the obvious cash flow issues , wouldn't be so obvious . Perhaps the fact they needed a govt bail out to cover bank repayments suggests that the 12 months leading up to COVID hadn't been a success for them sorting out the bloated beast . And your RA RA support amuses us no less .

Are you suggesting that the previously dysfunctional body is no longer dysfunctional , it's as bad as ever , the culture towards participants hasn't changed , you say D Mc has put out more info than the previous lot , but it's all fluff . He was supposed to be the racing man that understood racing and it's issues and change that culture , nothing has changed . And that the restructuring they have under taken to right the business that " WAS " previously being run into insolvency has been a roaring success and got the industry back on it's feet . What would you call it now . Where have you been , the restructuring they have done has only saved 16% of the bulging costs that were drowning the industry . And don't come back with , they are reviewing senior level staff , because that should have been done from the start of RITA's inception . And don't get me started on the dismantling of information to punters , along with the withdrawal of radio coverage , that's going to grow revenue . This is why people , like me , are BAGGING them , and i have , as well as many others , tried have communications with them , their not interested . They were supposed to come in and rectify the position , instead they have just added another concrete block to our feet to help keep dragging us down . You just like a bit of balance , well here's a suggestion on how to get a bit of balance so you can understand the " baggers " , get your arse out of bed every morning at 5am , work your arse off all day , every day , and every day watch as the people paid to manage your industry slowly bleed it to death , all the while taking more and more to manage the industry , all the while not listening to industry participants . Or as an owner watch as your asked to pay more and more to stay in the game all the while watching as returns are eroded by bloated costs and poor vision that is draining industry funds . Or club members who volunteer hours and hours of labour to their club just to see their raced dates go , or their track trying to be sold out from under them . I know you own horses , or did , but you didn't stick it out in thorobreds for long , went to harness , all because of an extended period of wet weather frustrated you , really , you shouldn't be preaching to people who have their lives invested in this industry .

He doesn't have to jump high to clear that bar . Jeez your arms must be close to falling off swimming for so long against the tide of general opinion within the industry . You almost come across as an INFOMERCIAL for RITA .

No legal obligation , but a moral obligation , to inform the participants that are busting their arses to produce a product to try and help keep the industry afloat , so if nothing else they have a knowledge of the financial position of their head body , to have an understanding of the job ahead . They do have a stake in the future of the industry after all . As for next seasons stakes , i would have thought if things were going to remain as last season they would have made a point of getting that out as it would have been a positive . Most of the owners/trainers i have talked to are expecting a decrease , just hoping not to big .

I get your point , but actually i don't find it funny anymore , it's just feckin sad .

How is PBTC going to Hastings supporting it's local connections , do you think their sponsors are going to stay on board . The point is they wont be supporting the industry because very few members if any will travel to Hastings to watch "their " race meeting , their president said this , along with all the locals who will stay at home . They wont have a bet to support their local club because they mostly wont be able to access form for " their " meeting , if they do have a bet they wont be able to hear the races on the radio , if they cant afford sky they wont be watching them at home . They certainly wont be able to access a day at the races which for many young people is their first and annually their only ability to witness racing up close , the ones who grow up to be the next generation of punters , some them might even have got the bug to get into the industry . But who pushed them into this situation . The coal face participants supported this meeting along with Wairoa , used it as an educational tool for young horses having a trip away . Many of the participants are disappointed that this week has been shelved . There are wider implications to taking racing out of the provinces , Hastings may get a small gain from getting another raceday but the damage to the greater product is much more . As for your last sentence , iv'e got no idea what your on about .

PBTC have said that when they race at Hastings they don't expect too many to travel down from Gisy , what the fucks the point then . They will simply become a token race club . As many at RACE already are .

Here's a novel idea for self sustainability , how about the racing industry get the product right , RITA/TAB get their product right , then introduce sustainable revenue growing plans for the TAB . At the same time starting to appreciate that the punter , small and large , are their number 1 priority and give them the tools to punt more . It's not hard , i believe it's how it basically worked in the bad old days .

Last sentence " says the directors have extensive racing knowledge and experience " , then lists them starting with Mckenzie . I'd assume they would stick with Mckenzie as CEO .

That's what it said on NZTR site , Mckenzie and directors .

Doesn't matter for short term , Mckenzie and rest of board extended thru till 30th June 2021. Happy times .

Well eventually , that's true of any form of committee if it can't keep bringing fresh faces on . They obviously felt that was not going to happen in their case . Hence their decision .

OK i'd assume the was a limited time frame they were going to be able to keep going if no new blood prepared to get involved , at least they have a reason for getting on board with decision .

Thanks , then i can understand the reasoning and the clubs are on board with the decision . The best part is they were part of the process so they have clarity , unlike many others .