Special Agent

NZTR is a law unto itself. If protocols for track preparation are set by NZTR and those protocols are not adhered to there has to be consequences. You can't threaten if you are not prepared to follow through with penalty or punishment. When actions of a racing club management effect a whole industry I think it is weak to say NZTR do not have the power to get rid of CEO's and Caretakers, citing it is only the racing club Board's role. But, as we saw with the RACE vs Gary Vile situation NZTR and/or the RIB would not step in to at the very least mediate. Clubs and trainers are licensed to NZTR and must abide by rules and regulations. Likewise there are rules NZTR must ensure are being followed regarding the treatment of trainers, jockeys etc. Trainers and jockeys are self employed people. CEO's and Caretaker are paid club employees. I agree with Curious that track preparation is the responibility of the club. I equally agree with Chief that NZTR has obligations as the governing body. Taking everything into account the solution is fairly simple. Rather than NZTR withholding funding from RACE and the CJC, remove all race day licences for at least 12 months. That should be sufficient time to correct all racing surfaces. Management of a racing club is not required if the club is not racing. The Boards will no longer require CEO's and Caretakers and NZTR should takeover management of both clubs. After all NZTR have all the expert personnel to fix the tracks and run the business, and there are enough alternative venues in both regions because they haven't been culled as suggested previously. Just as well for the entire industry. In the Racing Act there is provision for NZTR to take over racing club venues, via a long process. When it was put in place I'd say the idea was to close the smaller clubs putting extra funds into the coffers. Possibly a little ironic then that two of the major misfits are RACE and the CJC. All clubs should be treated equally.

Announcement out.

Yes, that was disappointing.

What are the consequences of those assurances being absolute lies? What business would continue to pay these people? When does NZTR say enough is enough? There are a lot of people who are relying on racing for a living. It is getting harder to put food on the table. But that's okay, those at RACE will continue to be paid.

The beauty is he said what he thought, not what he thought he should say.

Farmers as caretakers and the many hard working volunteers at racing clubs nationwide were replaced by highly paid experts. Well hasn't that worked wonders for the racing industry!! As far as holding back funding to RACE and the CJC is concerned that is a step or two short in my opinion. After today's effort all racing licences at Awapuni need to be withdrawn for at least 12 months until the course proper is in a fit state to be raced on safely. How many more chances should RACE be given? Stop racing at Awapuni before someone is maimed or worse. This would give opportunity for serious reduction in personnel, a management take over, real estate sales sorted to remedy the financial woes and the course proper and horse facilities to be renovated. The simple solution could be to sell Awapuni to bolster the national racing fund. It would be a prettier balance than if left to the small clubs asset grab.

Goodbye Awapuni I'd say.

Looks like Awapuni gone again.

Report on RACE and CJC abandonments now available on Love Racing website.

Pardon the pun but Aaron Cross appears to be a dog with a bone with this issue. While I accept the greyhound industry is not perfect it seems that even with improved fatality and care statistics Aaron is citing such matters as some transport for dogs is substandard and some kennels are cold in winter. On the whole people in the industry love their animals, much more in fact than the increasing number of humans who appear in the news on a more regular basis for maiming and murdering children in their care. Possibly the number of individuals and families living in cars or poorly insulated homes are cold in winter and outnumber greyhounds of said same fate. Reefton's sizzling sausage is sounding good for all. However, having seen the price of a few snags at the supermarket Aaron, Chloe and co should direct their attention towards how to keep a family alive on a budget, how to stop supermarket thieving, how to address ramraiding and murder etc etc .... the list is an ever growing one. All problems are relative and I am yet to see politicians or racing administrators prioritise correctly. Another gaping hole in intelligence is that nothing is learned from history. Can anyone explain how the short term gain of cashing up club assets has kept the identities of those clubs alive and benefitted the communities where their tracks once stood? Members of clubs such as Amberley, Feilding and many more would be able to answer but, alas members of such clubs still with enthusiasm for racing will be hard to find.

How many industry groups were told by the TAB that each horse or dog that starts in a race represents a dollar value? Campbell Moncur showed us a model of how increasing the number of runners would inject more money into stakes and how the racing industry would grow. It all seemed plausible on the information given. Subsequently the dogs put on more and more races. Then Bernard Saundry told us racing could not afford to have so many race day tracks and so many race days and so many races so, they all needed to be drastically reduced. This did not make any sense and still doesn't.

It is quite short sighted to think throwing money at the Group and Listed races on a warning is always going to fix the problem. There are many other factors to be considered. Sometimes the field is just not Group quality and any amount of money will not rectify it.

Many certainly did, however not listened to.

So if it is necessary to reconstruct the Awapuni track does it make any sense it can still be raced on until commencement of said reconstruction? Does anyone know if this is being funded by the Safety Fund, or by other means?

Michael Pitman may be voting for change of governance, better conditions for all involved in racing or just plain common sense, all of which look positive triggers for protest to me. There is still the option for others to vote before 7.30am race morning.

Some never turn up, like the Hawera meeting on 8th October.

Yes, and maybe Woodville would have been a better option than Awapuni.

No.

They are deluded on both counts. What a shambolic few days Friday and Saturday proved. I agree with you Doomed, NZTR need to admit the mistakes, drop the axe sharply on the heads of RACE and the CJC, and move on, as better administrators and better people.

I doubt that. If you've walked away that explains your lack of commitment. You might be better going to RACE for your thrills.

Nomates, what is your involvement in the industry? If you are close to the action you will be well aware of what is on the cards. There are exciting times ahead. Can't wait!!

Knew you couldn't have been based in Levin, as you have no idea of the situation. The only ones in La La Land are the LRC President and VP. The changing of the guard is nigh. Things are very positive without their input.

Where in the country are you based Joe?

I know where Reefton and Freda are coming from and I think what has happened is disgusting and short sighted. However, I think RACE aside, licence holders and owners who have horses trained at CD tracks are manning up. No longer are they going to be pushed by bureaucrats into losing livelihoods, income and pleasure. It is abundantly clear huge mistakes have already been made about which clubs and tracks are not required. Which of the "big wigs" want to be branded with any further closures of useful facilities? Awapuni is going well with no running rail and no lights. Levin will not be sold to fund those.

Which club?