Special Agent

The listening by NZTR is required before the decisions are made. We are just informed of what is happening it seems. If would be good if the advisory system was transparent.

I think you need to attack this from a different angle too. You have already put time and effort in so, what sacrifice is a little bit more? Bear with me here as I have a bit on today and my brain isn't as crystal clear as it should be but, with the greyhound industry "on notice" and the Department of Internal Affairs hosting the Greyhound Review Final Report why are you pussyfooting around with your concerns? I think it is pretty simple. You have highlighted in yellow your concerns where each group has "dropped the ball". Without any personal attacks I can see how each aspect has accountable people attached who have not been accountable. You have highlighted three concerns and asked three questions. Why don't you put that to AGRC, GRNZ, RIB and DIA and copy in whomever is necessary to get some action and some answers? That's what I'd do. How different would your approach be, Chief?

Double standards. What sort of people are on these panels? I thought because there is renumeration it should mean professionalism. All we want is consistency. Is the horse okay? Once they go into that horse ambulance ...

Very few owners get to race in a group race so to put more money into group racing is not aiding the wider industry. Entain's idea is to put an extra $2,000, for argument's sake, into the winning stake of maidens. To me that is not rewarding mediocracy as indicated by Tesio. It is rewarding the winner, not the also rans. Historical evidence shows how when just a few big races are pumped up the foundation crumbles. If we can keep our horses from being sold at least long enough for them to pick up 10 or so more ratings points the pool of horses will be much more solid so, a more competitive environment and a better betting product. Everyone wins from the breeder, owner through the trainer, staff and jockey, to the punter and even sponsor. I don't see what people aren't getting.

Yankiwi, I agree with you in the fact that not only have GRNZ been slow to recognise (or be told as the case looks to be) the incorrect and endangering distances between lure and leader but, the board has so many knowledgable trainers who must be contributing nothing at meetings and just taking a fee for attendance. I acknowledge this is the tip of the iceberg but, reading your posts it seems the problems are all fixable. I also agree with Chief. You obviously have a degree of intelligence, a knowledge of what needs to be done and time on your hands. I think you should be the better man (I am assuming your gender which is a little dangerous in today's world) as the industry is bigger than us all but, needs saving from itself. Put a decent paper together and lodge it with GRNZ, meet with them and work on a solution of current greyhound woes. Why don't you take up Chief's offer of posting on here to keep us all informed, and we can also keep the authorities honest and accountable?

Money spent on those lower grades would assist everyone and may even push a few up the grades to improve the overall quality.

Here's a task for you Tesio. Get up the list of the rated horses in training for each trainer. You might be surprised how many horses each and every trainer has, as a percentage of their overall number in training, that are R65 or below.

Me neither.

This is a very good point. There doesn't appear to be any proof that any thought or rationale went into this "enhanced funding strategy". God forbid but, these seem to be figures plucked out of thin air because they don't make a hell of a lot of sense. I think we are supposed to be wetting our pants with excitement over this allocation of monies. I understand they are trying to be innovative. I still believe there is this air of grandeur and snobbery. For goodness sake we just want a fair suck of the sav for everyone in the industry, like many on here are saying from the bottom up, not the top to half way down. I can't understand why so many are oblivious to the bad decisions and how it hasn't dawned on them yet that we have heard it all before, just dressed a litle differently this time around.

Nah. How will it effect you?

So was that the only dog to contact the rail today? He/she almost looked like he/she was grimacing. Has the lure being a little closer been a help? What will it now take to get these safety rails in at all venues as promised in 2014?

It is very expensive to feed horses, especially over winter, and it would not be unusual for some to lighten off in colder weather. SPCA investigate a number of complaints but, there may not be many prosecutions.

I'd say he's hiding.

As lay people I think we get it.

To my way of thinking both entities show a definite weakness. Both are supposed to be governing the industry and it's rules. The flippant manner in which decisions are reviewed and changed show this knee jerk reaction to comments from certain groups or individuals. If the original decisions were fair there would be no need to change. It's funny how authorities fold to outside influences yet can be so dogmatic when it comes to listening to those within their own industry who know a fair bit more than given credit for. Really it's not that hard. Everyone must work within the rules. The rules must be applied and administered fairly. Those in charge must have the knowledge and capability to do the job. There must be natural justice.

Like you say, how hard was that? I'd like to thank you Yankiwi for persisting despite dodging everything being hurled at you. I'd also like to thank Chief Stipe for giving the vehicle to get the point across. I know you were advocating formal channels but sometimes being hauled over the coals in public gets a quicker response. Listening with an open mind and applying some common sense can work wonders.

Anyone can access RIB reports from the internet. It sounds horrendous that there were three charges against Alysha Waretini. You can judge for yourself how serious her actions were. The fact remains Alysha has not acted in a manner befitting a licence holder. Not only has she brought greyhound racing into disrepute but, she has let her mother down, not surprising of today's youth however absolutely inexcusable.

You won't get any argument from me.

Look Yankiwi, I do not know what more you can put forward to convince that what is happening at Auckland and the apparent non-action of greyhound authorities is wrong!! (Maybe there is a master plan being generated behind closed doors as we speak). I don't know who was appointed as racing and infrastructure manager but, the buck must now stop with them surely. That person must be accountable and I look forward to their impending report and solution soon. Quite obviously you have rubbed officialdom up the wrong way. I think the GRNZ Board members need to put personality issues aside and attack greyhound problems head on. If a solution comes from an unpopular quarter the Board must "man up" and take information (and any resulting advice) from wherever and whomever is necessary for the good of the industry. I have heard many times over, generally from people from other fields, that racing is a twilight industry. I hate that phrase. Who would want to be on any of these racing boards if the industry they have been entrusted to govern actually ceases to exist? Come on, earn your place on the GRNZ board and do something about the problems greyhound racing face. The one aspect I cannot fathom is that there are enough trainers on the board who know what is wrong and have the power to correct. Your names are clearly listed and you are accountable.

It may also send the drivers broke. There is a job there for a retired legal person, or a budding lawyer. Imagine cutting your teeth on all of the appeals in the three codes on a legal aid type arrangement.

They have become very involved with animal welfare issues and take action at times akin to the SPCA i.e. uplifting horses.

When a country track like Otaki has Group and Listed races it must confuse an existing Australian system. As you point out New Zealand is different, unique even. I know there has to be some workable correlation so as to assess horses and riders but I will never understand why we don't embrace our uniqueness rather than try to conform with other countries.

So I don't need to scour the rule book, what is the distance the lure has to be from the leading dog? Do they still fine the Lure Driver when they err?

I would just like to say Yankiwi that I don't know who you are but, it seems you are a former licence holder who is pissed off at what has and is happening in greyhound racing. You obviously still care for the good of the industry or you wouldn't bother posting on here or putting together statistics you have personally gathered in which I can only assume has taken you much time. I'm a bit of a reader, researcher and always waving the flag for what is right. The fact that GRNZ has reneged on their promises of almost a decade ago goes against all that GRNZ stands for, their mission statement and constitution. The board has enough trainers "onboard" to fix this in a flash. I know what Chief is saying about putting your complaints and ideas in writing to GRNZ but, I agree with you that they well and truly know who you are, what you have written on here, and how to get in touch with you. To me your criticism is constructive and just. Please keep us in the loop. If the situation changes for the better in New Zealand Greyhound Racing you should be personally congratulated. When you know you are right however are shot down by others who only have half the facts but, you stick to your guns I can only commend you.

I think you answered your own question. Zed and Vance Hanover produced the goods. Remember Sam Williams talking to Radio Trackside week in and week out promoting Zed. So, low fees and marketing will get the foals on the ground but, the stallion must leave winners for the equation to work.