Special Agent

In simple terms I think racing needs to be made relevant, and cool again. I think our leaders are under estimating the power of the smaller clubs and surrounding communities. The people on here want to see the best horses and jockeys. The people we need to entice on track just want a memorable experience.

After reading your comments this morning I've been thinking about Chris today. Can anyone ever recall him being grumpy?

Shops and roads were mental today with all that last minute Christmas shopping. After trackwork this morning thought I'd grab a couple of things. What a stupid idea! Queues outside The Warehouse waiting for it to open. Then the supermarket was jam packed. The shops are closed for just one day for crying out loud. Some marketing genius needs to transfer that urgency to the Boxing Day races. I'm trying to think back to what created anticipation for weeks leading up to the carnival at Ellerslie. It's a different world of no newspapers where you might share and discuss at smoko. The age of the device can be a secluded experience. One thing is for sure, there does appear to be less disposable cash, the Boxing Day sales will no doubt be in full force again. This all impacts on life, and a day out at the races. Clubs need to be much more organised with pre-paid packages, and more inventive with everything on offer.

My answer to the question is YES.

These types of injuries take time and patience. It will be frustrating for Lily, as it has been for jockeys in a similar position but, she's young with strength and courage. If she has to miss a season or two, what does it matter?

Were you on the Levin committee Chief when Hastings was being considered as the venue for the Classic meeting? It sounds like you know all the business of LRC over a multitude of eras.

Apart from the free rent at Otaki that is obviously rubbing you up the wrong way, what is your beef with Levin? I don't know any group that is holier than thou so, I'm not sure what you are implying.

Who told you Awapuni was ever an option? If there is a rate for a facility or service which has been negotiated by the parties, and is more than the going rate, where is the problem? Maybe you should offer your consultancy services to Ben at Otaki.

I would imagine Otaki would send Levin an invoice for course rental which would be paid. I'd also imagine it would be the same rental amount paid by Kapiti Harness and whichever RACE club have utilised the course. Has Otaki suggested Levin specifically don't pay their share?

Central trainers also forewarned the lack of a sustainable funding model for the Awapuni synthetic. Most CD trainers did not want the track installed. However, it looks a mandate for Awapuni trainers to support the polytrack now as they rent facilities from RACE. As for a substantial increase of horses trained at Awapuni, despite the inflated numbers on the application to the Provincial Growth Fund, it was never going to happen. There are no longer studs of any significance in Manawatu, and leading jockeys and trainers are domiciled elsewhere. Growth must be close to zero making the use of government growth funding a failure. We are continually told by NZTR that those in the industry must band together for the good of all. I think there is an anomaly. Breeders have representatives on most racing boards and advisories, plus there is a definite inclusion of a selling facility at Greenfields. If it's good enough for all owners to contribute a percentage of stakes to horse welfare it may be time for breeders to do the same for an infrastructure fund. The breeders need horses to race for their core business to thrive. A tarif/tax/deduction of sales and service fees would help build up a fund, over and above any sweepstake races. A percentage applied to all income would allow for those who receive the most to contribute the most, rather than a select few clubs giving up their asset. The breeders could offer ongoing contributions, whereas the clubs can only sell their tracks once e.g. Feilding, Marton, Bulls, Paeroa etc.

On a smaller scale even Kurow has squash courts that double as jockeys' room.

Our parents would tell us it's living beyond your means. Very frustrating. We've heard all the speeches about pooling the money and experts managing this fund. I am not overly confident of this being the best idea ever. I think the horns should be pulled in a tad and racing needs to look at the basics. How on earth could nothing have been learned from the AWT's? THERE MUST BE AN INVESTMENT INTO ONGOING MAINTENANCE. Cambridge has no stand. Does it stop trackwork, trials or racing there? One thing I note from the article on the new facility is that there is going to be some sort of sales complex. Would this mean an investment from New Zealand Bloodstock? Maybe the sale of Karaka also goes into the fund. Would you consider that non-core business that has been talked up as a necessity?

I realise that Cranbourne is the "go to" thoroughbred facility in Victoria now but, unlike the new envisioned state of the art facility in the Waikato, Cranbourne already existed as a racecourse so didn't have to be designed from the ground up. This is a huge undertaking being funded by disposing long established training and racing facilities. Now we have a taste of what expert work looks like at various venues far and wide, it should take more than the words from a few suits for us all to aimlessly jump on board. Proceed with caution.

Easier to jam up your computer than tap you on the shoulder at a Lotto outlet.

I've often thought about what TAB accounts would look like with limits applied. I suspect the Lotto limits are online only, but don't know.

We are onto Project Stamina now. As the emails to participants today show we all have the opportunity to be involved and make comment.

I think we are looking at different situations across the country e.g. Avondale vs Levin. First there is the actual (not projected) value. Then look at where they are situated. Finally look at the value of each to the industry. Someone said earlier about comparing apples with apples, case in point.

Lack of strong charismatic leadership ... you got that right! Have you noticed how the most useless people at anything have such tickets on themselves? The best people seem to be the ones whom no one even realises the great work they do. Lack of capital and expertise ... one is not much chop without the other.

That's not even $7million per track. That might have been a lot of money once but, I don't believe it's a large amount to upgrade much in 2026. Where does the money come from to maintain the venues going forward? Assets can only be sold once. I think it's short sighted.

A new term has tickled me, "knowledgeable whiner". The penalties need a definite revisit by someone or some body. The obvious groups to address the inconsistencies are the NZJA and NZTA. For all we know they may already be working on these behind the scenes. I seem to recall at one stage jockeys were given the choice of suspension or fine, not sure if that was in all cases. Like the knowledgeable whiner intimated, the first step is to apply the correct charge. And, even though the whipping thread has been sealed, we really are a part of a two faced industry, and it's definitely been mentioned multiple times. We have rules about what you can and can't do with the Persuader and some are appalled with the policing of the rules here yet, it's absolutely fine to sell, watch and bet on horses in a jurisdiction where use of the whip seems to be at the jockeys' discretion with an "anything goes" attitude.

Definitely need to include less formal areas. I've spoken to the odd lawyer who can't wait to ditch the suit and tie as a dressed up day at the races feels like a workplace uniform. Otaki and Trentham utilise food trucks. You need to have a decent amount of cash on hand though because that food is not cheap. Again I'm really keen on as much of the hospo being pre-paid so money in the wallet is for betting. If food trucks are used instead of oncourse catering work out a system whereby tokens can be exchanged for food. It's all doable. I think Otaki and Tauherenikau have sizeable ovens. The committee at the latter definitely cook up fresh food throughout the day. I haven't been to a hangi fundraiser yet where the food is properly cooked but, Otaki would be the obvious venue for this food type. Something a little different, and authentic.

Unless you have been to the races with family from a young age I think a day at the races as a form of entertainment can be a foreign idea. Social event usually means going as a group, and generally consuming alcohol. Clubs really must be responsible hosts and ensure food is available. This is where the race day packages are a good idea. I think all of these packages should include food. If they are sold a fair way out it gives the customer time to budget for drink, food and betting. I think all race day packages should include betting element of some kind ... punters club, easy bets, or betting vouchers. I think a host or racing personality should be assigned to each group to explain racing jargon and bet types. A lot about racing is confusing. You won't get repeat custom without a good experience.

Remember the focus on the whip rules when first applying to amateur riders whereby they cannot take their hands off the reins when slapping them on the shoulder.

And they are being bred here yet, NZ greyhounds are being desexed before being passed on. Some of them would have a bit of age on them when they perform that surgery too.

It's great, isn't it. Politicians vote on closing an industry down without a thought of any consequences. I wouldn't know who is doing the work. I think there are still some in denial and hoping it won't happen.