Special Agent

"Indeed if you look at the winners to date there aren't that many "small" breeders on the list." Nobody can argue with what is printed in black and white. Quite an eye opener at how little small breeder involvement there is.

Good stuff.

Thanks for acknowledging my words on the whip. Weren't all those great trainers amazing to listen to and learn from. You don't need to mind read billy as the Racecourse D's are only too willing to answer questions.

I think it has been handled pretty well.

I'm quite surprised the stable concerned had a horse that was racing anywhere near a treated horse, to be fair. On another subject, the interpretation of rules and Government Acts leave a lot to be desired. It is one thing to read but, an entirely different matter to comprehend. When you study positive swab cases, and then even watch the Avondale Racecourse meeting it is amazing how many out there are either devious or just plain dopey. Then throw in a bit of the "heavying" factor and you sure can see why racing and this country is in such a scared and sorry state.

In addition to this curious, I know that Racecourse Inspectors working on other cases have their own interpretation of rules surrounding limits and create a buffer of their own accord.

Thank you for the update Delta Bro. Most interesting.

That is NZTR vet advisor Andrew Grierson. If you go over his other rulings and statements you may also find him inconsistent and contradictory. He's one opinion only but, the veterinary opinion NZTR are paying for.

Flunixin must be potent stuff if it can be rubbed on a wall by Horse 1 where it is picked up from the wall by Horse 2 and produce a reading which is double what is allowed.

Maybe a business plan identical to what worked years ago should be offered.

What about chalk art so budding equine artists can alternate with the weather?

I see there is another brand new role, General Manager for the CD Club Hub. In a world where organisations are making redundancies and streamlining it is amazing that racing just keeps throwing more cash at projects and even just ideas. I wonder if racing administrators have been on some sort of positivity seminar because every one of those you come across is buzzing about all the great things that are happening in racing. I'm all for acting in a positive manner but, I wonder if common sense and hard work is still alive in this bubble we seem to be in.

So my take on earlier contributions to this thread seemed to be a return on investment for various owners not limited to trainers or syndicators. Not all those involved in racing are running it as a business. A heap of owners are in it for the fun, with bragging rites/rights a hopeful by product.

If the return on investment is so important, I think you are involved in the wrong industry. Just like the Mastercard ad, winning a race no matter what the stake attached, is priceless!

Good to show we are not all perfect.

Curious will have more info at his disposal, but I part remember from a conversation with a much younger and more intelligent person that the comparisons country to country are whacked i.e. some low end South American country racing rates alongside the best in the world almost on equal footing.

And you know what, it is an owner's choice where they place their hard earned dollars. If you want to join a syndicate and enjoy a small share of the action, or you want to invest in a service fee to watch your choice of mating grow into something only a mother could love, or fork out for a horse of your own at the yearling sales, or try a cheap cast off on Gavelhouse .... it is all available to you and thus in taking on any of these options you are a very important part of the racing industry. My point is that nobody in the industry should be shunned, there is more than enough room for everybody. It is extremely hard for all of us to turn up day after day when the results may not be coming and the funds are running low. That doesn't mean we should be jealous of those who are succeeding. Likewise those who are put on a pedastal aren't always what they seem. Sometimes there are some not so "kosha" practices to get them to where they need to go, and they also need to pay the bills by whatever means at their disposal. Some of us on here have been in racing all our lives and there is very little we have not seen. People come and go. Really the stayers deserve a medal but, a bit like NZ racing in general they are a dying breed. So, I've sort of lost my point now. Phone calls have interrupted my train of thought. But, I guess what I am trying to say is even though we are doing essentially the same job, we are all different with different ideas. That doesn't make any of us wrong. Sharing ideas is great and debating mostly healthy. It is just interesting how people's attitudes can get in the way. A little bit of possitivity goes a long way. Weren't we taught if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Will there be stones on the seat?

It would be like questioning the Patterns Committee I'd imagine.

Interesting stats. I take it there aren't too many breeders who target the Golden Slipper with a two year old they have bred themselves from a mating of their own design?

To me it seems that David Ellis, Paul Moroney and Phill Cataldo all look for similar attributes when buying yearlings. You'd have to say all three are pretty good judges. Then I guess the size of the wallet becomes an important factor. For a long time Paul was well respected for buying good race horses for budget prices. Of course there are others but, these came to mind while you guys were going tit for tat.

Woodville is on top of the hit list. The venue update earlier said Hawkes Bay racing was still under review. This does not bode well for Waipukurau.

I know we should look forward, not back but, the amount of money wasted is eye watering. I always admired the harness cadet scheme compared to what was happening in galloping, back when Jack Mulcay was running it. I don't even know if it is still going. With Entain assisting with the apprentice academy there are at least three years of funding to produce our next round of riders. Everyone on here is right (well a little bit of everyone). The immediate focus should be on:- - tracks - riders - foal crops - youth involvement Everything else should follow. We can talk about the old days till the cows come home. We have to acknowledge the way the world is now and work with it. All of the old methods and old attitudes are not going to cut it.

Chief, Maybe you have a grasp of what a trainer is going through but, you have absolutely no idea of what happens at meetings and behind closed doors. Trainers of the past, plus some current ones, have just run out of steam. I don't understand the tall poppy/jealousy thing. It's hard work for everyone, not just a few. Like Freda says, the NZTR model is complicated. Even for licences outside of the apprentices. Qualifications are great for the ones who want them. NZTR have the notion that no one wants to stay a stablehand forever. I feel this information is fabricated because some people do not want the responsibility of becoming a trainer, finding clients and paying wages. Some people like a regular pay each week, they just like horses, and with all the red tape good people will be turned away and lost to the industry.

Chief, I don't think you understand exactly what trainers are dealing with in the thoroughbred code in New Zealand. Where it looks like they are doing nothing from the outside, many are grey and pulling out what hair they have left. What is that saying about walking in someone elses shoes? I have seen many try to get through, to no avail. Some will not open their mouths for fear of losing the high powered owners they have. Again, conflict of interest or not, what do you expect those trainers who are making a good living to do? Stand up and do the right thing, or worry about themselves, their businesses and their families? The strong ones are not the industry high flyers, and some can walk away and do other things. I don't see a Gai Waterhouse on the horizon for New Zealand. Not many give back either.