Special Agent

I was always led to believe Riccarton had owned from the running rail back (south) so, the sale of the carparks by President of the time John Austin went into their coffers. But the rest was in a Trust which various oldies I knew in my youth sat on, so the middle of the track, back straight, where the RDA and pony club was, the 2 mile walking and trotting chute, all the stables, tie up stalls, swimming pool etc. Sarge, I am so with you on only being able to sell land once. For me it would be an absolute last resort. You are correct. Not many clubs own their own land. The number is a small one that NZTR can go after, thus the aggressive nature of their pursuit of the little guys.

You know what, many of the tasks in racing are covered by those with different titles. Peer can mean different things but generally refers to being considered an equal. I'm guessing here but, reckon Freda probably looks Hunter in the eye with a "good morning" rather than leering down her nose at him.

Maybe there's some negative and cynical things happening presently in racing outside of what you are involved in. Ask an Awapuni trainer maybe, they'd be more in touch.

Sorry Chief, some of your comments on various subjects show how out of touch you are.

I think you will find PD is used by a lot of clubs today. As far as moving a running rail is concerned these days, it's not such a daunting task and they are moved on a regular basis with track staff and casuals.

I wouldn't have thought the cost of GPS trackers and recording would be excessively expensive. Technology should be used but, I'd be more inclined to use a clean feed for live coverage and have all the whiz bang info available for anyone who wants to use it, post race.

And some of the not so top ones too. Might take some guess work out of it. I always remember comments around timing and heart monitors in Australian Harness whereby Teddy Demmler was cited and quoted many times. He was a true horseman who needed neither device as he worked through feel and know how. I can't help think we shoukd be teaching the finer arts of racing and training rather than rushing through the numbers.

Or maybe we could liken rugby to racing in that they have not nurtured grass roots, the interest is waning, the numbers declining and maybe the best rugby players are no longer there to come through a tried and true system. Too much back patting by admin and arse licking of the stars.

You were talking to him as an owner/customer. Freda possibly talks to him daily as a peer.

"Another reality is that Trainers, Owners and Jockeys were largely subsidised by the efforts of those Clubs, their business donors and their volunteers." In this world of "user pays" the Clubs are subsidising how much, do you think?

"Which highlights my point about Racecourses being run like amatuer hobbies instead of businesses. The statutory minimum annual wage in NZ is $49,000. If a Club can't earn enough to pay employees to do the work then someone needs to subsidise them." How many clubs do you think do not pay employees?

That may reflect the drop of popularity in rugby over any other factors. I'm not sure where it ranks with children of sport playing age but, it's at least behind football and netball.

How much do you think should be charged to train at a training centre that would be affordable, profitable and sustainable judging by current average charges:- $6 per use of plough or sand $12 per use of gallop grass Not forgetting the $20 trackwork riding fee per ride.

I can't comment on either of those contributions but, it's all about the quality of content. I wouldn't have thought it would be the job of Te Akau or Wexford to drive turnover though. Whatever they are putting out is for their own benefit.

I see Winton JC is racing at Ascot Park on Sunday. Someone on here can correct me if I am wrong but, I thought thoroughbreds were still trained there, and harness race there. Why on earth do the gallopers not race there too?

That's an interesting comment. The racecourses that are deemed to be surplus and thus judged in the amateur hobby category and should be sold will be the freehold ones. To me that would make those debt free clubs self sustaining businesses. Yet those which have been managed with some professionalism need to be sold to prop up the dysfunctional and poorly managed clubs. The sad thing about these decisions is that someone is getting paid good money to make them.

I don't think so. How far do you think the funds from the sale of the tracks that could be sold would have gone? And more importantly, what do you think the money would have been spent on? I doubt there would be pristine surfaces and decent safe horse facilities at the remaining courses. Then have a little count up of what is spent in wages at some of these clubs. The sale of one CD racecourse heading for the chopping block would only cover the wages of another club for up to two years. Would the industry be better off ... the answer is a definite no.

I think the complication and overload of computerised and analysed information can be a turn off. Sometimes a one line quote from a trainer in their own environment as opposed to raceday is more valuable and usable. There is a misconception about what does and doesn't drive turnover. Not every customer is equal.

The article may be slightly misleading. The scribe says the horse has been retired to Windsor Park. Mark Walker says Wild Night will see his days out as a pleasure horse. Windsor Park wouldn't have enough paddocks to retire all the horses bred by them. My money is on Wild Night joining Gina Schick's Event Stars for a time until rehomed to a different equestrian discipline.

I don't get your argument. Tauherenikau patrons mostly come from Wellington. Isn't that the attraction for a townie, a trip to a country race meeting? Why don't the Messara Report lovers all stand up and admit they were wrong??!! Hard working members, committees and volunteers from country clubs across the nation do themselves proud on a shoe string budget, yet are still expected to throw their hands in the air and relinquish not only their race dates, but their assets too. Kumara, Motukarara, Kurow, Omakau, Cromwell, Stratford, Thames, Te Teko etc have all had regular bigger crowds than Waipukurau which seems to have gone unnoticed by George, yet wouldn't he have called at the latter two? Have Woodville, Waipukurau, Waverley, Otaki and Hawera been thanked for stepping up when the "best" tracks in CD have under performed, and not been able to perform at all?

Do you think most of the renovation problems stem from getting back onto the tracks too soon, not giving them time to consolidate?

Point 1 - I agree the one off and being starved of racing creates a winner for Waipukurau. Point 2 - It may because the atmosphere will be different and there may be a slightly different customer. Point 3 - What does NZTR have to do with it? I'd say a lot. Many of the community racecourses are on the NZTR radar to be cashed up. Oncourse turnover provides income to the clubs which NZTR should notice, encourage and applaud.

I see she got 4 weeks. I have a feeling it might be 6 weeks here if you cause a fall but, someone might be able to correct me on that.

Entain coming on board looked like a reprieve to me. We went along to the presentations and listened to the enthusiasm which gave a glimmer of hope amongst what seemed a fantasy. Then a number at the top fell or were pushed from the perch. Even if we all wagered another $100 per week I don't know how we'd increase turnover to the required level. There have been so many new people employed surely someone has a different formula for success, other than selling assets.

Waipukurau is back on Sunday and I'd imagine it will be a huge oncourse event as a one off on a good day to attract the public. The trick is to replicate that at every meeting for the club. Who knows what a good oncourse experience might produce, owners, workers etc. NZTR should never underestimate the community event. The carnivals at the metropolitan venues are all well and good but, not the be all and end all of NZ Racing, despite what those who are knighted might tell us.