TAB For Ever

In my trips overseas ,incl Europe I always been able to see the results replays /videos on HRNZ.

The big push is for a 'new' training establishment with all the mod cons ....thats the plan anyway ! There are a few rumours about possible re-location of it so existing trainers with own property can stay put while others who are at the track plus newcomers will be attracted and increase horse numbers !! Re the Dunn stable. FYI Rhys Fensom seems to be the boss there ! But RJ around a lot !

Well spoken Galah ......you know a bit of stuff , probably the reason The Chief seems to cut you a bit of slack !!

To help the Cave dwellers and tight five who live in the South , maybe you should point out that this basically cos of Interest on Debt and the drop in Valuations of land etc. Anyway ,answer a few questions , like What do you think should happen to the ATC and what Crusaders Hall of Famers [ add legendary AB Captains RMcCaw,KRead and SBarrett ] learned their early rugby [say Sec school] in Canterbury ?

Yes ,it probably /may be down a little but must be in the ball park ! I just pointing out something that is overlooked in discussions re ATC. Yes these big numbers dip and dive a bit...the original offer for Pukekohe was for $100m including a $10mill deposit. The buyer didn't front up and left the $10 mil behind. Now the offer $70 mil with some doubts too. July 2024 are the last published accounts . Net assets in July 2022 were $113 mil ! Whatever the equity is it still well up there in total equity !! This smoke and mirrors gives some hope ! HRNZ should consider assistance with a training centre.....not necessarily a bail out , more a heads up to assist the Industry into the future. What do you think should happen ?

No need for a bail out but a hands up would be nice and well justified to try and future - proof a struggling industry ! Clearly the ATC has a proven track record of running a profitable and successful club in Harness. Up to last 10 years ! Clearly it among the top two tracks in NZ , and is one of only 4 x tracks that operate with lights at night.Its facilities/infrastructure clearly in the top two. In the past it has hosted Australasia's top event many times.....the Interdominions and it regularly still hosts many of NZ's top races. The Infrastructure is overall quite sound ,and the track with recent changes can cope with heavy rain.. People visiting for first time and/or Australians are very impressed. Close to International Airport and close to ample accommodation [for horses and people] and to the CBD. The region currently has several of NZ's best Studs /breeders ,trainers and drivers who are currently reluctant to relocate. The Club houses NZ's busiest TAB and other businesses which bring in revenue. Pokies earn approx $2 mil pa. What it does need is an energetic marketing/promotions team to create more regular attendees and attract younger members cos current ones mostly 60 yrs plus . And investment into horse ownership to help increase horse numbers. And the most POSITIVE figure in their handbag is the overall Equity situation. A 31 July 2024 it was $93 million.....so net assets of $93m , and it compares with $46 mil in 2013 when the Club members agreed to build the apartments so every race would be a minimum of $30k. Obviously in the top two [with NZ Met ] but probably #1. , so the 'wealthiest ' club in NZ.I haven't checked this. Believe it or not ,what Industry would even consider kneecapping its wealthiest club . ?

Hahaha......you really are a doozy , its widely accepted/proven that the 10 cities in NZ with the worst Air Quality/pollution are in the South Island with the southern cities among the very worst ! And I've lived in 3 of them ! Conversely ,Auckland is among the best !.......its on the water with excellent sea breezes . Rated #1. So back to the Cave champ ,or is it under a rock ?

Well you'd better watch out......the deep south has always had great dairy farms but that didn't stop them from nearly slipping off the map. Had to bring in Tim Shadbolt from West Auckland to save the deep south ! And instead of spending your time checking out the tote-pools you should go outside and check around. Highly likely that the lovely farms at least partly owned [ and growing] by multi-national firms/funds including most Asian countries. And why are Dairy sales booming........these neighbouring farms have huge imports to most Asian countries ! China ,the biggest but Thailand ,Malaysia ,Indonesia and Phillipines too ! And little old you , on-line , feeling smug and making rascist comments !

That a bit rude Chief........it can't be BS if it true and reasonable . Robbie Deans and Carter and a few others were true born , bred and developed Cantabs but vital imports came from all over. Q,...Check the Crusaders Hall Of Fame and pick out the non-imports ! Hall of Fame.......Todd Blackadder , JMarshall , W.Smith , NMaxwell, LMacDonald , RThorne , C.Ralph , MHammett , GSomerville. No doubt soon to be joined by CTaylor, Scott Robertson and the legends RMcCaw , KRead , BThorne , Sonny Bill ,Scott Barrett and a few Fijian game winners. Answer the question correctly and I'll send an unworn pair of BGP sox , and maybe my unworn BGP polo shirt !

My reference was to your comment that the HRNZ Chair was on NZRFU Board.....no......he linked to Crusaders !

Yes , the Crusaders have been my team in the Professional area so I attended many of their games , even coached and refereed some of their players when they were younger !

Doubt if you see too many Asians lurking around your cave area down in the deep south ! They prefer cities where there are things to do and opportunities to create businesses and money making ventures !

You making stuff up again Galah ! The guy you refer to is a Crusaders man.....Canterbury , red and black ! The most one-eyed bunch in the land ! And Rugby certainly been thru the wringer at times , spending more than they earn ! Racing often spoken in the same breathe as racing , as it once was when there were no alternatives. Auckland actually were so unbeatable a while back they took the Shield on the road to show the rest of Country, then when Canterbury decided to improve and get out of the cellar ,what did they do........starting importing dozens of great players from Auckland, Northland and Taranaki in particular and sent others to their feeder team Tasman to add even more depth. Maybe this should be reversed now and Canterbury can send say 80-100 horses North now. Any horses cos Auckland has the top Stallions ,top trainers and drivers to make their own luck , and become great again ! So send horses and $$$$ North and be a little generous !

And Gamma , you probably have read that NZ Cup winning diver[ Yulestar ] has been given 10% of Akuta for his work in the rehab of Akuta. Tony suffered a near-fatal race mishap , plus later a personal family tragedy , and has been transporting horses in recent times PLUS he harnessed up both Akuta with Mark P plus one in his own name Whatsonyamind at ATC tonight !

I think folk on here expect it of you......a pain in the rissole !

Interesting that both the above mentioned trainers have in recent years been in positions where they could influence the HRNZ administrators ,yet they now reduced to 'social media' barbs. Why is this ? Methinks their views / influences/ ideas could not get support from a majority of other horsemen ! Can the trainers and other groups ever get a joint collaborative view to make progress ?

Don't tell me positiiiviitty is catching on and not such a bad thing ? Well, well ,well !

Indeed they do train for other owners ........but the BRAND is very strong and very important hence they predictably keep it to the forefront of any publicity.I feel the article re the South Island win gets the brand up front and then deflects much credit to the Christchurch foreman / Asst trainer HDurrant who oversees that stable. And it an advert to let people know the Southern stable is currently there to stay and not just a motel for their Northern based horses. I liken the strong brand recognition similar to Harness kingpin Mark Purdon who has been in partnership with various folk ,most recently his son Nathan. They often referred to as the Allstars....a strong brand ! Then the mighty All Blacks brand , they represent and play against mainly other countries who are known by Ireland ,France ,England etc . All Blacks not a country ,ditto the Springboks. Back to Te Akau , I see where they have bought 72 young horses this year........quite extraordinary really ,so they need strong brand recognition to syndicate all those .

Isn't Winton a track that produces fast times .....this looks good on a horses CV and maybe increases sales value ! Re Christchurch trainers getting around the rules that intend all horses to be genuine Southern trained horses isn't this typical of Harness folk in general.....study the 'rules/conditions' then quickly look at loopholes or ways of 'getting in the back door' ! THis comment was made by a recent CEO of HRNZ ,after a breeding bonus was announced ! But as noted earlier in thread this is a promotion that has worked well. Many will remember the good ole days when South Island harness closed for all of July and most of June , and Southland for a bit longer . So dare i say ' well done HRNZ ( and Entain ).

And I thought it was arthritis in the neck. I really can't fathom why something from 'left field' hasnt been done to increase horses ,with urgency in North ! All Stars were somehow lured back and RDunn [on Board] maintains a few in his stable but breeding bonus' and next Gen stuff and TAB Racing Club is bit of a slow burn ! And the Club not really pushing it...Golden Gait sounds good ,and is for the few horses that benefit by winning the final .....no real push to attract more owners etc or attendees to races with the fewer races and tiny fields poor for turnover. I don't think the Club even has a Marketing/Promotions person and has a 'temporary ' CEO........just hanging on while selling up things to reduce the debt which grows by the day. The facility in the City has a lot going for it and the population continues to grow but it seems less and less people care ! It would be totally irresponsible of HRNZ to give up on the region for Harness Racing. BSteele has really only been in the job for 5 x mins and he is employed by a Board who surely do not want to give up on Auckland ! Then Entain have been a huge influence since saving Harness and racing in General in NZ. They made it very clear they saw the future prospects of resuscitating Auckland ,any hope on that would seem reliant on the various key outfits working together and this just not evident at moment. I notice Aussie harness runs many ,many meetings with very low stakes ...eg $6000 and lower ! And I see the young energetic CEO of Cambridge is leaving ......maybe he going back to Auckland to start the revival , branching out ?

Fair comment..........but realistically anything less than 40 horses extra ready to race each week isn't going to make much difference. And Northern horses have been drifting South in recent years and the Sale of horses from the North hasn't really stalled even with the extra stakes and Golden Gait carrots. It still bloody expensive to own a horse and very hard in North for them to earn their keep. And the active Auckland membership ,who surely must average close to 70 can't see any future for them moving to cambridge . It would limit their outings to races, a few hundred still attend and ownership would decrease. All the way through this Group have had plenty to say about the future of the Club but few if any have spoken up on matters nor voted the current out and new folk in. Most realise there aint a lot of 'ideal' solutions. And the big players /trainers/ breeders do OK as things are .They don't want to move everything to Cambridge. It only a glimmer of hope ,but the easiest current option and the best chance of a revival is a to battle on as at present and hope the Government and Funding/Grants organisations just GIFT the money to allow a reset and a 'new birth' for Harness in the North. Protects jobs etc etc ps....The current leadership was not the same that created this mess , but the ones who supported the mistakes are the same . Go figure ! We now suggesting solutions !

Quite an imagination here and its great to see Canterbury coming to the rescue as its been decades of support the other way ......when the Earthquakes hit Chch ,Auckland sent tens of $million's no fanfare , no issue no problem. And mention of Rugby....who will ever forget the shocking start of Canterbury in the Super Rugby competition.....stone cold last , so the North ,especially Auckland starting sending the talent to boost the ailing Cantabs . Caleb Ralph [120 games on end] Ron Cribb , Norm Maxwell , Norm Berryman , Keiran Read plus a raft of Fijians Auckland had recruited plus Taranaki lads and Scott Robertson from Mt Maunganui. Recent Captain Scott Barrett Taranaki etc. They became Invincible ! And as for Southland ,a region of struggling Trot Clubs they should chip in for Auckland too. One of them Tim Shadbolt saved Invercargill , that was losing population of 1000 per year . This Aucklander saved Southland ,much of their sport and economy. Now the struggling rugby team down there the Highlanders hopes to be saved by a group of investing Aucklanders who make up the Board..PKeane,MEllis, CGallaher etc. Auckland Harness needs some of their past 'love and money' in return . At least send them some money first ,then some horses[ Brad says 30 - 40 ] then bet on them !

My TOP 3 are NZ Met , AUCKLAND and possibly Methven. Great post TAB man !

Great to see Gamma fighting the good fight against the great protectors of NZ Harness......we are doing it for the Industry !!!! And we don't like the place prices , we don't like the product , the quality of the horses , the drivers ,the tempo ,the sit/sprints the commentators and definitely don't like Auckland particularly as they lose the Industry money ! Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change....... And who would go and watch this dross......well I do and I been doing very nicely thank you .....look beyond the odd $1.20 shot and go for your free drink then and there are some great prices in the small fields on the win pool and trifectas etc ! After years of the huge expense of keeping Harness afloat in NZ , the punters now have 100's of options to show their skill , the owners returns are higher. Trainers are better off than ever and Drivers and Juniors are getting more opportunities each week to progress and learn faster. And the NORTH is flying , the have the top breeders/stallions , many of top owners , the Northern trainers are killing it it ...Telfers winning the numbers game . All Stars and BPurdon up there on stakes. Northerners HCullen and SReid in the south as big back ups for the Stockwell/ Telfer machine. Dunns keeping a leg in both camps. The BIG ISSUE seems to be that each Northern meeting is losing money .........well look closer at the numbers you will see that many Clubs /regions are currently losing money in that the GBR is less than the stakes contribution...at a quick glance it appears , Nelson ,Rangiora , many Southern Cubs /meetings do like wise. And how is each of you being affected by this 'perceived doom and gloom ' being pointed at Auckland.......I'm enjoying the racing , free parking ,free drink , free racebook , good racing with top trainers and drivers....Telfers won at least 5 x last Friday ,maybe 8 for week ! , my owners returns are up , my small betting is profitable ,\. And the participants are enjoying it. Again ,how are you lot affected ???????? The new 'strategy and dawning' will be revealed at Special Meeting tomorrow night !! In the meantime , imagine if all the Harness Clubs had to throw their net worth /equity into a big hat to divvy up between the top THREE clubs in NZ who would YOU PICK the TOP 3 as..........

My post from September 2024 with some of my memories of Timaru /Washdyke and racing in the area ! The ra ra crowd are doing their best to talk up another racing area which many years ago let itself slowly deteriorate . Some good memories from the area........then there was Phar Lap ,the Ranfurly Shield , South Canterbury Finance ( Ouch ). I think the Course Manager was recognised with an Award recently and today Timaru representing NZ in a Drinking water Test against Australia. But blaming NZTR for the current situation is drawing a long bow ....sorry DOOMED ! Maybe the new Airport there will improve things !