Bill

Another satisfied trainer with the Cambridge AWT surface. Huge asset. Trainer Ben Foote believes the Cambridge polytrack has been a godsend for the racing industry over winter and he took full advantage of his home track once again on Wednesday. Cathay Empress got Foote’s day off to a winning start in the NZB Pearl Insurance Race (1550m) and two races later Ultimate Focus realised his potential when winning the Liquorland Cambridge 1300 by six lengths over stablemate Jimmy Dean. “It was more about teaching this horse; he has got all the ability in the world,” Foote said. “But to do it the way he did it didn’t surprise me.” The Smart Missile gelding could return to the track for one more hit-out before heading for a spell. “I don’t know whether to tip him out now or go for that final here next month,” Foote said. He was also impressed by the runner-up effort of Jimmy Dean. “He has got stacks of ability, but he is a little bit weird and doesn’t know where to put his legs sometimes,” Foote said. “We even planned on leading today but he had no interest early. His last 400m was quite exceptional, so I am rapt.” Earlier on the card Cathay Empress secured her second career win. “She came to me after already having a wind op,” Foote said. “She won’t raise a gallop on the grass, but the polytrack she seems to love it. If she can get out into a rhythm, and breathing properly, she has got stacks of ability.” To continue Foote’s pleasing day, High Choice recorded a runner-up result in the ITM/GIB Progressive Winter Championship (1550m). “I thought it was a matter of what he was going to win by at the 200m and Michael (McNab, jockey) just said he wanted to stay next to the other horse,” Foote said. “We just might have to put a bit of gear on him. He is a horse that will be alright in the future.” Reflecting on a positive day, Foote said he will continue to take full advantage of the all-weather track on his doorstep. “I train here, we have trials here all the time, and races in the winter,” Foote said. “We know what we are going to get when we come here. It is a huge asset to the industry. “I do well here but we are not having to worry about grass tracks at this time of year, there is no pulling the pin on races or trials after a couple of heats. “It is good racing and there is a good atmosphere here as well. “I think it is worth its weight in gold.”

It was around the head, you only have to see the horses reaction to know thats where he struck it. Rub him out if he cannot behave. Animal welfare in the spotlight more than ever, the industry doesn’t need to give outfits like SAFE more ammo!

He should give it away. Memories of some if his great calls, the longer he goes on, it will taint his reputation. Not even half the commentator he once was.

And then you have that clown Justin Evans making a Russian/Ukraine war joke at the ben hur’s down south…ffs way out if line, he should be stood down

quick Google search… https://www.mycareersfuture.gov.sg/job/entertainment/racing-broadcaster-singapore-turf-club-2876e34b1fbca1ccc733dbe21369193b Callers ranks in NZ are not exactly great…all getting into the twilight of their careers

I thought it was Mac Henry who passed, not Tayler? Tayler wrote Mac’s obituary

You can’t argue with their results. Year on year they are staggering if you read the annual reports. Huge local turnover plus the large amount of commingling turnover from overseas betting. https://amp.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3147062/hong-kong-jockey-club-posts-record-revenues-hk280 As for the horses they sell through the sale up there, last June according to results, they sold 22 horses. Not even 1% of the horse population. Jamie only has to worry about training and getting support with owners, nothing else. There are no overheads for trainers in HK. Training in HK will set you up financially for life should you be successful. The club take the training fees from owners, they pay the staff and allocate them to the stables. Nothing to do with trainers. And I’m told if you want a specific feed or supplement for your animals, the club will get that for you

As for trainers buying their own horses, have a look at the sales results. Trainers like Ricky Yiu, Dennis Yip etc have always brought horses from NZB as yearlings or ready to runs. Jamie Richards will fly there. It will take a bit of time but they don’t invest in fools do they jockey club…hence why they are world leaders.

You’re wrong again! read the link - https://member.hkjc.com/member/english/horse-owner/news-and-announcements/content.aspx/20160205184103 You have to be a member then apply for a permit for either a unraced horse or a raced horse. the club doesn’t doesn’t pre buy horses unless they are the ones they sell in their twice yearly sale which is not many. They buy them, break them in here in New Zealand, the Southern Hemisphere ones anyway and then send them to HK, breeze them up and auction them. any agent on behalf of an owner / or owner themselves can buy a horse from anywhere depending on the permit they have. PP - raced. PPG unraced.

It will be annual maintenance, what all clubs should be doing every year. Another dick comment from you

Shes a good woman I’m told. Former editor Taupo Times and NZ Trainers Association manager a number of years ago. Mary McCarty. May have been on the Taupo RC committee too. Tim Barton - yes same guy.

Agree. But that comes from Tony Lee, Justin was brought along at one point by Tony. He clearly is still trying to be like him and living in his shadow. You never hear Matt Hill or in the past Greg Miles screaming at a finish

He sounds terrible T Lee, not even half the caller he was before he got the arse. He should give it away before people only remember him going downhill

Highly doubt he will struggle. Zac Purton on twitter endorsing him saying he will do well…that holds some weight considering Purton’s status. he will also probably have a stable at the mainland china facility which has paddocks for spelling I am told. You get an extra allowance on top of the 60 if you have a stable there.

Correct. Tom Wood & Mark McNamara are the race callers and ex TAB head bookie Paul Lally is on the tv coverage also. Jamie Richards will do well there

How dare ATR dip into their own pockets to put more into the industry…ffs you would moan if your ass was on fire and you’d moan again if someone put it out.

Takes time to get advertising on board and I would presume Mediaworks is helping out with selling advertising for them. If you look online it seems that the bloke who is in charge of SENZ & the CEO of Mediaworks are chummy, so that is my guess. takes to find advertisers I am sure, so they have to fill the ad’s with something to give the hosts a break.

Check out the latest drone footage on the nz racing site, it looks fantastic. It will be a great asset for racing in the greater canterbury region. Can’t wait to get down there and have a look at it!

Not debating the deal with the prominent stud owner etc with the blokes from NZ Live etc who were only there to make a quick buck and that’s what they did. Wasn’t a good deal and never was a good deal, no doubt about that. Thats all i have to say on the matter, not replying to this thread anymore. If you wish to message privately then go ahead

Have people that are close to the action. Some answers above

The new AWT track will be a fantastic edition. Enjoyed seeing the drone shots on the tv last weekend...what an asset it will be for racing in greater canterbury. I hope the CJC invest in having a permanent big screen which will make for viewing on course even better.

You are so way out of touch when it comes to this subject That NEP group run the day to day studio operations...such as the equipment etc and supply some staff I believe such as sound engineers, technical staff. All they are involved with is the studio operations, not running the racing schedule or deciding whats shown and whats not shown. That comes down to trackside who still have a team there who are tab paid employees who are producers, directors, graphics operations, editors etc who produce the day to day racing content. Those people are tab staff not nep staff.

Yes positive. Hawera runs via Satellite...seen it myself in the carpark when I have been there and have asked about it. The broadcast centre in Auckland is the main control room where they put the program together, add the graphics etc etc plus distribute the feed go Sky/Spark etc for home viewing. You still need a broadcast unit to supply the audio/pictures from the venues. Unlike the greyhounds where they are using remote production over IP/fibre if you read the articles online. All they send is the equipment and a crew and it is mixed/produced from Christchurch from memory and sent to Auckland. And they use Mercedes Sprinter vans (according to the article) Check out the videos in the links + other articles that mention trucks etc. https://www.tabnz.org/vision-capture-promo-campaign-now-live https://www.thebroadcastbridge.com/content/entry/13098/lawos-vsm-broadcast-control-system-key-to-new-zealand-horse-racing https://www.proavl-asia.com/details/63254-sony-is-off-to-the-races-with-nzrb

Yes they only have 4 outside broadcast trucks, there use to be 6 of them and they have smaller vans for the greyhounds only. 2 in the north island 2 in the south island so they can only service 4 equine codes in a day http://www.content-technology.com/asiapacificnews/?p=20121 https://www.tabnz.org/vision-capture-promo-campaign-now-live

Yes well that outfit that ran the studio in parnell called nz live was sold to broadcasting conglomerate NEP and judging by an article on stuff recently sky are going to hock their broadcast fleet off to them as well. Sky brought the fleet from the bloke who started nz live. He was just there to make a quick buck and the nzrb at the time, Bayliss/Broomhall took it hook line and sinker. Useless pricks. no definitely not one single bit of fibre, but that’s how it is described as a “circuit” - at the end if the day, it is obviously cheaper to do that rather than booking satellite spots for tracks that have regular meetings. If you think Addington holds sometimes three meetings a week between harness & dishlickers, satellite would be an expensive way of transmission