Special Agent

I too remember one of the last days at Amberley pre race riding our entrant around bareback without a skull cap, you know like we all used to do. Staff at Worksafe today would be having kittens. Were the horses quieter, better educated or had more time spent on them? I'm not sure I'd be keen riding some of the horses I've seen at races nowadays bareback, oh probably not at all, there are some stroppy ones around.

What is that saying our parents used to say? If bullshit was music, they'd be a brass band. The nonsense never stops!!

I don't and never will buy the notion that "there are too many racecourses in New Zealand". As Freda said, compared to what? If a racecourse sits all year for one or two race meetings, so what? Yes, we know Kumara makes money but, let us remember it has the coast's plum Saturday date. Also, it is rubbish to say all clubs no longer have volunteers, have no money in the bank and do not engage with their community. That is what NZTR want you to think. Some of these organisations have far too much to say about how clubs should be run, many of the mouthpieces having had the influence of Australian, English, Canadian and South African cast offs. And where are those learned bodies now??!! It is abundantly clear that there are definitely not enough racecourses as there have been very few available for use when problems have arisen. RACE has to be the all time worst example of club and racecourse management. I haven't seen many TAB promotions that have been self funding and have lasted the test of time. I find it amazing too that any criticism by customers is regarded as moaning. The attitude is all wrong and whilst nobody is listening, nothing will change, evolve or be fixed. Some speak of how the best communicating trainers are giving the public what they want. Funny then that the trainer almost devoid of any communication skills, Kevin Myers, continues to run a successful business with horses and owners coming out his ears. Maybe culture is the word I've been searching for in respect of the Australian racing scene. The racing participants on the whole come across as more professional. The horses on the whole look better. The crowd is full of young well dressed people. The living wage is probably better than our's. Yes, we can continue to compare ourselves and our industry to the one across the ditch but, apart from the few that can compete at carnival time (and I'm not saying we should not all strive to improve and be the best we can be), is there any reason why we can't do our thing our own way?

Why is this regulation not used more regularly to combat a lack or glut of horses in one particular rating band at any given meeting? All races are subject to the Standard Regulations for Race Meeting Regulations, as set out in the Racing Programme Guide, which includes the right for NZTR or the Club under regulations 15.1 at any time to alter the terms and conditions of any race, including the stakes and/or its grading.

Answer:- Wagering and ownership. It's in their DNA. Australians bet more per capita on racing than those in any other country. One in every 254 Australians own a share in a racehorse.

OMG. There wouldn't be many statisticians who could dress those facts and figures into anything positive.

Some are trying to make racing a whole new world. Last time I looked the work behind the scenes is still the hard work, and sometimes boring, it ever was. Many in racing do not abide by this new age crap, and really do not have any time for it. After all, time on earth (to me anyway) is precious.

Clubs used to give out the password (there were various sectors like the press) at the Secretary's Office but, it would make sense for Entain to now offer the service.

You do know that what Chris Waller has is not contagious, don't you.

More vendor buy backs on the horizon?

You pay your money and take your chances.

Right up there with Stable Audits.

It's the back slapping and sneering at anyone else's comments that gets me.

What I like is the fact that Glen Boss is still relevant to the apprentices. He's still in good shape and loves the industry. Fantastic when the top guys continue to give back.

I wouldn't agree that "most" agreed.

There are nearly that many going around at the point to point tomorrow following about 21 flat events.

It is a good time to be talking with everyone you pay regularly. I nearly fainted when a letter came from the power company this week. My weekly payments are going down $16 per week. The family laughed when I said to turn the lights off if you aren't in the room. Every effort is important.

It's like Groundhog Day.

Are you being serious, or is the comment tongue in cheek? Exciting if your horse likes the synthetic. They may take time to flourish but, some of the other innovation races have fallen short in a few areas.

Just on staff, all of the troubles associated with stable employees on a Sunday, must also apply to tote staff, float drivers and any oncourse staff.

I agree wholeheartedly with these comments which represent the crux of the problem. A fair and safe track should be provided at each and every race meeting, NO EXCEPTIONS. Why was Karaka Millions night not called off, and why was the track not inspected after each race at the last meeting? Because the Stipendiary Stewards WERE NOT doing their job due to too many outside influences. Likewise with jockeys telling the Stipes their mounts slipped in the running. If the Stipes did what they are paid to do they should be questioning the jockeys before they've weighed in as they would have ALREADY SEEN THE SLIPPING. The only reason trainers are being left out of any discussions on race day is because the Stipes do not want to hear the truth!!!!

I'm not bagging what Te Akau do. Their results speak volumes. I'm just saying a change in scene and different training methods work too, as the likes of Kingston Flyer and Richard Stomper show.

If your track/club is not losing money and/or is not relying on industry funding why should you throw your hands in the air and give it all away to those who are already well in the red?

Weneedashock

Sounds like the Titanic of race tracks.