hesi

You can't say she is not from a racing background, that has always been one of the issues in the past. Her mother-in-law is Karen Fursdon, whose father is Norm Crawford

Yep, misread

"Five years ago today a tragedy stopped the nation" It is pertinent to racing, because these are the sort of tactics they will use to attack racing

SAFE 2 September at 19:00 · Five years ago today a tragedy stopped the nation. On 14 August 2020, the Gulf Livestock 1 departed from Napier, New Zealand, bound for China with 5,867 cattle and 43 crew members on board. Nearly three weeks later on 02 September, the vessel encountered Typhoon Maysak and sank in the East China Sea. All 5,867 cows and 41 out of 43 crew members – including two New Zealander's – were killed. While this incident was a tragedy – it was no accident. An investigation by The Guardian uncovered that live export vessels are at least twice as likely to suffer "total loss" events from sinking or grounding compared to standard cargo vessels. This is the reality of the live export industry. In 2023, Aotearoa made a world-leading decision to ban live export by sea – a decision which has had a ripple effect around the globe, influencing bans in Australia, Great Britain, and Brazil. But the New Zealand Government wants to undo the ban, putting countless animals, workers, and the environment at risk. Which is EXACTLY why we must protect the ban on live export by sea – to prevent history from repeating itself.

Who is this Nomates character, always seems very negative about racing in NZ, yet always seems to have an answer for everything. Sounds like you must have upset him about something lol

Here’s what we do know so far: In March 2025, it was announced that Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman would be taking over Sought After upon his move from New Zealand RacenetAdelaide Now. There haven't been any subsequent updates regarding his intended preparation, specific racing targets, or debut timetable in Australia. Given the current silence, it’s possible that his campaign is still being planned—or the details haven’t been publicly released yet. Given Moody’s track record and his more boutique, considered approach since returning to training, it's likely they’re charting a strategic pathway for him—but without any specific media or form announcements, the details remain under wraps Just Horse RacingRACING.COM.

In terms of the geographical thing, while the 3 Hawkes Bay days being in the north this year, has so far led to some very good fields, there are only 4 CD acceptors on Sat at Ellerslie. While this is understandable due to transport costs, it does show the need to get Hawkes Bay and Awapuni back up and running, despite what the conspiracy mob say about centralisation of racing in Auck/Waikato, so racing can grow in those regions.

Just remember Chief, form is temporary class and I would add intellect is permanent. If you don't have class and intellect, you can never acquire it as much as you may think you can

I re-checked my figs 22/23 - 72.4 mil (70.5 mil published) 23/24 - 96 mil (up from my fig of 95.5, was out on Nov, Dec and June so re-checked those again. Not sure why it is higher than the published 90.8 mil) 24/25 - 101 mil For the first 3 months of the 25/26 season 25/26 - 21.857 mil vs for the first 3 months of 24/25 20.681 mil, a 5.7% increase I don't know what will happen for the last 9 months of 25/26, but you cannot describe these figs as stagnation. I also analysed the stake money for the South Island in 24/25 23.7 mil out of the 101 mil total, so 23.5% of the industry. Not sure whether this would be viewed as acceptable or not, but certainly not insignificant

Current racecourse to Flaxmere is only about 4km

Ballesty's statement is unambiguous NZTR Chief Executive Officer, Matt Ballesty, said the Hawke’s Bay region remains a vital part of New Zealand’s racing network and is an important focus of the organisation’s long-term strategy.

The trouble is with social media, that 0.5% make so much noise, one could be forgiven for thinking the 0.5% is in the ascendancy, when they are only 0.5% and the other 99.5% just want to get on and make the best of the new opportunities that have come along. Good post, you are learning lol

Go for it, only 10 meetings per season, so straightforward

I make it, stakes paid out 22/23 - 2.53 mil 23/24 - 3.001 mil 24/25 - 3.567 mil Year on year increases 18.6 and 18.9%

I note you conveniently excluded 2022 which was 14K and 2021 which was 12K. Anyone can cherry pick data to suit their narrative

It will go figuratively speaking where it deserves to go, in the bin

If you dig deeper with Becks Nairn on her FB page, she has as friends, the same old names of racing malcontents and conspiracy theorists that regularly post on that FB Thoroughbred site

Just doing something this avo, but will double check one set of figures about the actual money raced for from the NZTR calendar over the last 3 seasons. It allows for abandonments and transfer of races to another venue or date. I have not included money from any of the sweepstake races in each season. At this stage it is 22/23 - 72.4 million (70.5 mil claimed) 23/24 - 95.5 million (to be re-checked versus the claimed 90.8 mil) 24/25 - 101 million Perhaps someone could explain how this is stagnation

Had Entain not entered the fray, the 23/34 amount would have gone from 70.8 mil to about 50 mil, such were the state of the Q1 22/23 figs, then the doom and gloomers would have been deafening

70.5 mil in 22/23 90.8 in 23/24 Approx another 10 mil in 24/25 I make that a 43% increase over the 2 year period, well in excess of inflation and encouraging considering the depressed state of the economy. I'm not sure where you are getting your meaning of stagnation from Curious.

I actually recorded the monthly figures so anyone can check Aug 2024 - 5,691 mil Sept - 6,386 Oct - 8,604 Nov - 11,493 Dec - 9,900 Jan - 15,205 (3.5 included for the 3 KM races) Feb - 9,829 Mar -18,129 (3.5 mil included for the Kiwi) April - 6,647 May - 5,806 June - 5,292 July - 5,104 TOT = 108 mil

I actually went through the 24/25 calendar online at NZTR month by month, and the 108 mil was the total stake money competed for. As I said, I subtracted off the 7 mil for the 4 sweepstake races to get 101 mil, which is pretty much what NZTR is saying, "more than $100 mil in 24/25" I make that a 43% increase in stake money over the 2 years. I will do a breakdown month by month and also a % of how much was competed for in the South Island, when I have time

23/24 - 90.8 mil (up 20.3 mil from 22/23) 24/25 - 108 mil but for simplicity's sake, take out the 7 mil from the 4 sweepstake races to leave you with 101 mil Here’s what NZTR itself has published about stakes for 2024/25, with the closest thing to a total and the key levers behind it: Total funded stakes (headline): NZTR says total funded stakes increase from “more than $90m” in 2023/24 to “more than $100m” in 2024/25. Doesn't seem like stagnation to me

Thought you might say that

Here is supposedly the finalised 'open letter from Antony Knowler, which will, figuratively speaking go straight in the bin. For a start stakes have not stagnated, has he been asleep under a tree Also when you state your position, The reforms demanded are immediate, decisive, and non-negotiable, no one is going to take you seriously. Means well, but amateurish attempt Open Letter to the New Zealand Racing Establishment Several weeks ago, I formally addressed the authorities responsible for New Zealand racing with a detailed account of systemic governance failures, fiscal mismanagement, and structural inefficiencies. To date, I have received no response. This silence is not merely disappointing; it is a stark demonstration of either indifference or contempt for the very industry you are charged with overseeing. Let it be stated plainly: the current leadership has failed. Owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys, and punters sustain this sport with their passion, skill, and resources. Yet they are forced to underwrite a system designed to protect the positions, privileges, and salaries of administrators. Boards, committees, and executives continue to operate with minimal accountability, prioritizing self-interest over the survival of New Zealand racing. The evidence is undeniable: • $13 million annually spent on Racing Integrity. • $14 million annually spent on New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. • Combined, $27 million every year — $11,000 per race — is extracted from participants and dissipated into bureaucratic inefficiency. • With 4,300 starters last season, each horse effectively bears $6,279 in administrative overheads before prize money is considered. A nine-race program consumes approximately $100,000 in governance costs before the first horse enters the birdcage. This is not oversight — it is institutionalized waste. Funds that could sustain prize money, maintain tracks, and develop grassroots participants are instead diverted into inflated salaries, excessive consultancy fees, and redundant administrative structures. The consequences are severe and direct: • Stakes have stagnated while costs rise. • Smaller owners struggle to remain viable. • Breeders face diminishing returns, discouraging future investment. • The next generation of trainers, jockeys, and industry professionals encounters a system rigged to benefit administrators rather than the participants who make racing possible. It is impossible to overstate the culpability of the current boards and executives. Integrity is treated as a marketing slogan, not a principle. Transparency is ignored. Accountability is avoided. NZTR, RIU, and TAB exist to protect themselves, not the industry. This is governance that actively harms the sport it purports to serve. The reforms demanded are immediate, decisive, and non-negotiable: • Board restructuring: NZTR’s board must be capped at five members, with term limits and openly contested seats to prevent the entrenchment of insiders. • Consolidation of integrity functions: Overlapping units must be merged into a single, independent, efficient body. • Mandatory transparency: All salaries, fees, and bonuses of directors, executives, and consultants must be published. • Cap administrative costs: Combined overheads of NZTR, RIU, and TAB must not exceed 5% of turnover. • Redirect resources: Every dollar saved from administrative efficiency must be returned to prize money, infrastructure, and grassroots development. • Performance-based leadership: Contracts must be conditional on results, with immediate termination for failure. No extensions, no golden handshakes. • Independent international review every three years: Insiders marking their own work is unacceptable; external expert assessment is required. These measures are not radical; they are the minimum standards of responsible governance and fiscal accountability. The continued failure to implement them is an active act of negligence, not passive oversight. To those currently in power: understand this clearly — your inaction is destructive. The industry will not survive endless delays, inefficiency, or self-serving administration. You will not be remembered as leaders; you will be remembered as the custodians who allowed New Zealand racing to wither and die under your watch.