Special Agent

Is the Safety Fund available for Greyhound Racing as in galloping? If money is the hold up there is always a way around that. If, as suggested under the J Cox harness thread, animal welfare is paramount and bad publicity of same must cease why are these fixable problems being ignored? This is not rocket science!!

Wow. I can't believe Brodie is the only one thinking the sale was a poor one. The spiel comes out after any horse auction but, sales figures do not lie and it would be hard to line up those sales prices and crow about them. I'm not sure what part of the Zed and Vance Hanover stories had flaws in them however the gist of both is the same; get numbers on the ground so a higher number of progeny are tried. Some top race horses by both stallions have been produced. Declining breeding numbers is not sudden and new. And let's face it anyone breeding, or involved in race horse ownership to be fair, are the world's biggest dreamers. Nothing wrong with dreaming. The Stable of Stars evolved concept is quite an inspirational story, concentrating on a quality product.

That's one way to deal with it. Cox is possibly in enough strife already to use those tactics though. RIB highlighting this to the world is uncalled for.

Exactly. Thoroughbred and harness racing is supposed to be professional so why are we allowing a small number some fun? They look terrible in both codes and are doing racing no favours. I agree, either make them non-tote penalty free races or send the amateurs back to trial efforts only until competent to gain a proper licence. Has anyone checked betting figures on amateur races in both codes? I couldn't imagine turnover being very strong.

It goes worse down Casino, Gaming, TAB, Lotteries Commission. NZTR, HRNZ and GRNZ do nothing to counteract mainstream media articles which are only ever negative. As an example Wiremu Pinn's immediate Australian should be highlighted showing where a career in racing can take you. We live in such a minority driven country where every minority group has the right to rule. Any mention in writing and a ton of bricks will be cast upon me describing me racist, sexist, ageist, discriminative etc etc. Now the Green Party want to bring in a wealth tax which apparently is going to fix child poverty, affordable housing, climate change and create world peace. Animal activists are still protesting. They've had little traction and you'd think might be on the cusp of giving up when the RIB is quoted backing these do gooders actions. Members of the RIB are paid by the industry to keep law and order in the industry, not kowtow to those nobodies outside of it. Another ridiculous situation brought on by those within.

Sounds like Timaru might also be safe and Phar Lap can stay put, after all donations from right around the country made it possible. He's an important part of New Zealand racing history. Pity we didn't all put in to save the Ellerslie hill too.

I didn't realise the Waimate track came under the Reserves Act but knew some were and wondered at an earlier time in my life if we could sneak a few more into that category. The Dargaville racecourse is another example of where NZTR thought they were in for a windfall. WRONG!!! That's an intriguing read. The club and legal team get a thumbs up from me. One thing I found annoying was when the talk turned to Oamaru at the recent NZTR Roadshow. Somehow members of the committee thought it was a good idea to sell their track and take a little bit of the pool going to fund all the broke tracks in NZ, and put it into the local swimming pool. The upshot is I really want to congratulate the forward thinking Waimate committee all those years ago when they safe guarded their community assets from potential land and money grabbers of the 21st century.

So it appears to me GRNZ have dropped the ball. In May 2014 the Steriline safety rail was installed at Hattrick with GRNZ stating these safety rails would be installed at all other venues by the end of June 2014. From what I can gather the same principle as the galloping running rail applies in that they are flexible and give the dog a better eye line causing less collisions (particularly on the bends) and fewer injuries. Safety rails in greyhound racing are proving successful in both Australia and the United Kingdom. I am comparing again with galloping but, each code should be able to share successful ideas and thus avoid any pitfalls. Running rails come under the Safety Fund and applications can be made to this fund by racing clubs. Is this also available in greyhound racing? If not, why not?

In order to get foals on the ground Sam Williams of Little Avondale Stud stood galloping sire ZED in his initial season for just $500. Broodmare owners booked mares into Zed which hadn't been to stud in seasons as the stud fees were prohibitive. He served 131 mares with his first crop producing amongst others New Zealand Cup winner Jimmy Mac. All those winners later, including VERRY ELLEEGANT, Zed still only stands at $6,000. I remember when Dave Jessop did that with Vance Hanover. It was definitely outside the box thinking, as was the Zed concept. With so few foals on the ground and even those numbers declining each season we need another Dave Jessop or Sam Williams to offer a carrot to the "on the fence" breeders so mares are not left in the paddock empty. Then the next step is important to make sure the resultant progeny are tried.

I think they should contact Dean and his team at Entain. Greyhound racing is important to Entain and I am sure they could sponsor any alterations. Or maybe buy the track and renovate it to a safe standard.

Our racing exports, horse and human, are pretty good.

Let us assume the problem with the rail has been addressed. The meeting is the best showcase greyhound racing could have, apart from the ones protesting. Do none of them have jobs?

What was the race worth when you won it Aqua?

I note the levies on these are graded differently for casino, gaming, Lotteries Commission and TAB. I suppose available figures would have determined that the likes of Lotto is the least addictive and TAB racing and sports betting the next least so have the smaller levies attributed to them. I have to wonder if the change in online emphasis to both of these betting mediums will increase the chance of harm and thus the amount levied in the future. I note too that the role of any workers in a TAB/Bar with gaming machines is going to involve a whole lot more involving the monitoring of betting habits and harm minimisation. No doubt with the extra responsibility those roles may be harder to fill and require an increase in remuneration.

Only negative comments re protest towards the major staying event today when the racing should be an industry highlight. Does anyone have some positive stuff to share? The stake is juicy.

Actually, you should take people as you find them. Never had a problem with Wiremu, always polite and have had many a good conversation with him. I bet the person from yesterday morning is now hard to find.

That person is an idiot!!

I'm at a loss as to what is going on in all three codes. When you think about it the people within those three codes are going to cause their own demise. We can all bitch and moan about personalities, rule breaking, poor administration and programming to name a few points of conjecture but if we all don't pull our socks up, think outside the square and work together there is not going to be an industry to work in and enjoy. Yes, there have been some shitty decisions made but, we have to look forward and move on with some new ideas, personnel and energy. For goodness sake get out of this bitter and harming mindset. While we still have an industry to be involved in take it for what it is, it seems we are never going to repeat those experiences from the "good old days" so let's embark on some "good new days". Keep thinking and giving, none of us will get it completely right alone. Think of a new approach to get the pigheaded at the top to at least listen because we won't get change without at least that for a start. I think some people need to wake up to themselves, take a look in the mirror and think about how you can make a difference and make it better for us all. Start looking at all the problems in racing from more points of view than your own and don't be afraid to share your opinion and discuss with an open mind.

It has become a sad world where a right to have an opinion and the freedom of choice and speech no longer seems to be applicable. What makes matters worse is we appear to have the all time worst leaders in every category you can think of. Not everyone is strong enough to voice an opinion if it is different to the masses. History shows though that change for the better only happens after debate and protest.

I'm not sure that Johnny Cox has been fairly treated here. Were his actions clearly visible by anyone watching Trackside? Some are saying it is difficult to confirm off tape if Cox made contact with the trailling horse, which would make his action only a deterrent for the horse for safety reasons. The following driver Holmes said he did not hear Cox call out and had he heard he would have taken evasive action and pulled his horse off the cart and driver and gone out and forward in the running. This was a potentially dangerous situation. I may be wrong but, I thought Shane Renault had been a harness driver and, from his recorded comments I would have thought should have had a better practical understanding of safety issues compromised by the trailling horse almost climbing into the sulky as well as inconveniencing the driver ahead. I also find it strange Stipendiary Steward Renault quoting a Code of Welfare for horses and donkeys under the Animal Welfare Act where you are not permitted to hit an equid over the head. This would suggest there is no provision under the NZ Rules of Harness Racing. To use the term equid seems bizzare unless, like in the movie Racing Stripes, there are hopes of a fast zebra being broken in to harness. Judging solely from comments in this thread maybe Johhny Cox should join forces with Chris Johnson and Wiremu Pinn to unofficially discuss discrimination by officialdom.

Gammalite, it looks like you were playing Solitaire watching the races alone and commenting on here solo.

Some of our Group races are hardly quality as the Pattern Committee outcomes will show. If Australian country premium R64's have dropped to $35K we are holding our own for now. NZ racing clubs might have to step up and stump up with some local fundraising to bolster races across the board, and of course cut admin and other costs where applicable. It is not that bloody hard is it, no matter what scale you are working to. After all most racing clubs in New Zealand are not for profit and there should be very few within each club drawing a wage.

I agree with Brodie on this. I think it is poor form for a commercial stud to quit the young stock at bargain prices at an international auction when the stallion has a stud fee many times that value. That must surely prove the advertised stud fee is inflated for whatever financial reason. We are not talking about a hobby breeder but, the integrity of one of the industry leaders. Good luck to the successful purchasers as they may have found some amazing bargains. As a show of good faith you would like to think the stud reassesses the upcoming stud fee as the market has spoken, and offer a free service to any breeder who has paid the advertised fee.

116 points seems excessive. One thing that jumps off the page is the disparity of penalty compared with others, no comparable Group or Listed cases for Meloxicam cited. Mark Walker's $7,000 fine plus costs vs O'Sullivan/Scott's $17,250 per case, Cummings $10,000AUD, Lucock/Gillespie's $2,800 at the trials, and Pertab $3,000 at the trials.

Chief, there is already a serious struggle. If NZTR set up a Great Mates equivalent for horses I will put my hand up to run it because there would be a job for life. From what I can see the rehomers already approved by NZTR are quite fussy in what they take. Horses that need extensive training to make the grade as show horses, showjumpers or eventers need not apply. Horses are required to be shod, of good body weight and transported to the rehoming venue. I don't think NZTR's equation is quite right yet. There are paddocks and yards full of unwanted horses.