TAB For Ever

Morning keyboard warriors.....had to post early today cos things bothering me . Sunday is Harness day so an observation on them first.Big fields on the grasstrack at Motukarara , but overall the day at less of an attraction than last week especially after yesterdays rain .But the TAB will be pushing hard with their $10k guaranteed First 4's minimums plus other Advertising/promotion. Will phone reception be any better . 12 races mainly of minimum stakes, and less than the low key Cambridge meet, except for Race 8 which is for $20k but only 7 horses , and a race for those rated 51 or higher. Horses racing around this level are mediocre with about 4 x wins each. If this race in the North Dr Luc Chin would have a few starters including one horse who has won 14 races ,and has done a great job up north having 40 starts in a season. The Doc also has a 8 x win horse who is rated 35. The non winners racing today are rated between 40 and 49 ! Go figure ! Gallops stakes......some on here repeatedly compare Stakes , Field size , Programs, turnovers , yields and other topics which it is hard to work out their connection to other than the chip on shoulder re South Island racing , closed tracks etc etc But one thing that pisses me , cos I've had to PAY more than a few time are the Nomination fees a few clubs charge for selected races ....some then puff their chest out and say the Club is contributing toward stakes when it is actually the OWNERS ! Recently second late noms went in for The Wellington Cup [ and WRC Group races] to be run in late January......$7,200 Then should the horse decide to line up ,it is another $3450 to accept.Any horse who nominated 2 x months earlier has paid $173 , $390 and $600 before they get to the $3450 payment. I guess horses at least get $4500 back for 6th to 10th ! For Thorndon it a little simpler.... $6 k late nome , $4,600 accept Early noms have paid $738 before the $4,600. At least 6 - 10th earn $6k The Nz Derby at ARC is $1mil Stake so charges are more...$30k for late nom , $8k for final field . If trainers are responsible for the original noms they need to be aware of the cost to the owner if early noms missed thru tardiness ! But overall Owners seem very happy with recent Stakes increases from their codes via Entain /TAB. TAB For ever ...some good sport to bet on today if you like Sports . Locally there is the ASB Tennis and the Breakers at 4pm. Sure to be plenty of Cricket and Football as well !

Don't be a dickhead Newmarket ...is that the Newmarket mall or Newmarket the horse nursery in Scotland.......sad I have to waste my daily post on you being immature trying to catch me out. My posts are solely about my personal experiences with a little bit of opinion based on those experiences. I said I got involved in the TAB survey ,I was assisting some newcomers with the survey and gave them a prompt by talking about the facilities and they mentioned the things I mentioned. So no rat to smell. Well today was a great day for Iconic day at Kumara...one of the finest examples of Holiday picnic racing. This day has had its challenges over the years and have had to work hard to remain on Calendar .Back in the 19700's !980's it was rumoured even Prime Minister Rob Muldoon had to step in to save West Coast racing. And tho not given credit ,it great the TAB/NZTR/Messara have recognised the uniqueness of the day and allowed it to continue. Could they run two days ,close together ?.Obviously TOTE staff are shipped in for day and North Island guests often flown down ,George Simon ,the odd Northern jockey etc can remember Gary Grylls flying down with a bunch some years ago. NZTR/TAB have advertised it widely and already there have been plenty of interviews /videos on line etc. IMO the crowd looked smaller than prevoius years , not so packed around birdcage /stand area.. I saw 6000 mentioned ...seems a lot ,maybe a lot of kids. $15 to get in ,Doomed praises this ,normally this is resented ! Gate-takings should be good then. Past two years the Gate got $33k and $24 k...possibly went from $10 to $15 entry to cover extra security needed. Maybe bit of leakage...@ $15 about 2300 paid lasy ear..lot of kids and vendors ! I note less races , this year 8 ,previous 9 and 10.And horses 69 raced compared with 86 and 94. But 3 and 4 horse races would have the same attendance...its ICONIC day ....Well done Kumara. I see those with a chip on shoulder and maybe a complex are comparing numbers with Hawkes Bay and Auckland.....good for a giggle , even Reefton beat Ellerslie in recent times with on-course turnover and attendance...true they did. But both bigger meetings , average higher over all average turnover ......If Kumara Turnover is Amazing the other two miust be bloody amazing...Hawkes bay averages more than Kumara's one magical day over 11 or 12 meetings ,while ARC averages more over 20 to 25 meetings. [15 last year] But of course Kumara has ZERO horse population and population of about 180 people Auckland has about !.5 million. When Auckland has a huge day at races we tisk about the crowd who just goes for the piss-up ,girls and posing like at the tennis/polo or the Fashion parade. Great to see Kumara have Fashions in the Field , games for Children and Band/music.....But the people go for the HORSES...yay ! And Mick Guerin reminded everybody about the racing legends to come out of the Coast...HIMSELF of course ,Leo , Skelton Bros , Pongia boys... I could add the Lalors , Kevin Bell and Mrs Wildbore and Phil Jones ! A great day for the Coast !

Evening team....I was gonna dedicate my daily post to the decline and further decline of South Island racing but today's Ruakaka meeting stirred up some old memories of racing up North. Even tho a Mainlander I did have some involvement with Racing in Kauri Land , which may surprise those who question my longevity ! Firstly some TAB mates reminded me of some Turnover/ profit numbers which the Cost Accountant in me will need to chew on. One thing I know for sure is that as a small owner the returns in stakes averaged about 25% of Costs tho Entain and recent stake increases hoping to improve it. And my ventures into Breeding have even been worse ! The talk about introducing non-racing folk to picnic racing and growing the industry is misguided .....a myth as Messara explained it. On course betting accounts for less than 3% of turnover , and the TAB is pushing strong for everyone to have an account and do phone/online betting. Melbourne Cup figures show that non-racing folk are quite happy to bet once a year and enjoy the picnic outing with their chilli bins. Karaka Night is approaching....the doomer and gloomers will be getting stuck into that on their keyboards. I hope its a good night and wish the Boys Get Paid group well.Intially I joined that ,thought it excellent and I see their betting pool has reached $300,00 k from some 15,000 people or more...pretty good really ! Fingers crossed the track not too hard , watering it immediately before the race will set the internet buzzing ! Whatever the crowd ,it won't quite match that of the West Coast....who could ever forget the day the Coast picnic races had more on course than Ellerslie ! Phew.....doomers continually are exasperated with the lack of races and ballots for horses in the South Island.....I OWN UP...I'm contributing to this issue. A couple of mates talked me into taking a share in a slow Northern horse to race in the South and I agreed . Sadly this horse is now a slow mainlander. If it gets balloted I'm gonna be upset.So I've checked a few races of late and in many races I have found them full of Northern rejects plus the odd slow one still trained in North...geez ! Folk are aware of the issue but are continuing to make it worse. Re Ruakaka.....Whangarei Racing Club took the amazing move to the surf at Ruakaka on Friday May 27 1977 ,built the new course. First race was a Hurdle race .Winners included Blue Blood , Battle Fury , High Saint while Uncle Remus ,GRogerson, NTiley ,RVance Cattle King ,Heidsieck etc all took part. They budgeted for 3000 cars , got 5000 ! A lot of work in building the course was done by volunteers and materials were carted from Course in City. Also in my memory are the few years after that and at this time of year...January 5 ,Cambridge Trots , then on Saturday Thames , Woodville , Kurow and Southland gallops , and Greymouth night trots. The good old days........that will excite those living in the past ! The 1970's when the South Island decline really took off and those there just stood by !

Yes oncourse turnover is less relevant these days.....all turnover is important but the hundreds & thousands who attend once a year with their chilly bins of food and booze contribute very little. And all the previous posters are stuck in the good old days when there was nothing else to do ....there wasn't even malls to shop at plus retail was closed at the weekends. Many are stuck in the good old days , when there was terrible dissatisfaction about the way racing was run ,how dates were allocated and how funding was distributed. NZ often had too many horses and not enough stakes to support them....and everyone agreed there were too many courses , and those in the know knew courses had to be closed but it had to be OP's...other peoples . From at least 1970 this blinding obvious. Come in Messara ! Read histories by John Costello, Finnigan, Glengarry , Dave McCarthy etc. The good old days were really not so good ,and the poor infrastructure and facilities and lack of Investment and future planning hurts today....take a non-racing person to the races today and see what they think. My young mates hate it....going out for several hours to watch a few horses run around a circular track once every 30 to 40 minutes is boring as hell.The other day I got involved with a survey by the TAB, basically answer 4 questions re raceday experience and get $10 free into TAB account.I was surprised 3 of 8 at table had no TAB account , I prompted them to talk about the facilities...paint chipping off seats ,bird poo on others ,terrible state of toilets etc ......it doesnt really cut the mustard. Average food , shitty coffee etc .The big screen faltered for a while ,most there were lucky if they saw a horse flash past. The TAB obviously pushing for folk to bet on phones to remove staff etc especially with all bonus bets to open Account etc. I've been around NZ racing a while , I doubt many on here would match longevity ,and being a South Islander I've seen how the Clubs and racing people who say they care have sat by a watched it slowly but surely go down the gurgler. I note most of the biggest moaners on here are from the South Island OR have close association/affiliation to it. Remember the South used to have the Derby and Oaks .....very lucky to hang on to the 1000and 2000 guines.Virtually lost all jumping . Wingatui training centre a shadow of former self , Forbury Park closed. Nelson gallops gone since 1980's but people still pine over this. Marlborough mentioned ,the Coast talked about fondly and the Nuggets at Kumara still iconic.Some clubs seem to be run out of another town so hardly pushing local involvement. Mike from Blenheim used to keep a lot of Southern Trotting afloat until they nailed him ! Praise the lord for NZ Cup week ! NZTR HRNZ ,TAB done a great job at keeping these Holiday picnic meetings going...I never missed , Waikouaiti , Omakau [ they had 2-days Gallops ,Roxborugh Cromwell , Nelson , Blenheim Oamaru/Timaru......loved em . But most for a picnic ......like many I favour boating ,fishing and watching on phone or TV and doing other things. And many from the good old days can't afford the petrol now to attend. Inflation and cost of living have finished them...they consider themselves punters...$1 each way and a 50 cent double. Even went yo Tapanui where viewing was on a mound of dirt ,and Beaumont where horses went into a dip where the stipes couldnt see [no stipes then !] The top 2 % of punters do 60 % of turnover in NZ. Field sizes were often tiny back in the day...how many remember when Waikouaiti and Wyndam both had gallops on New Years Day and even Fielding and Wairarapa and possibly Hawkes Bay ! And remember that classic race at Trentham NZ St Leger when it had 4 starters..Guest Star ,Fury's Order , Sobeit and Jackaroo. Well possums ,I hope you enjoyed my one post for the day ....Oh , The Newmarket connection to Scotland [ which has a few course only ] was a JOKE ! Haha...it originally was used for Paris when I in USA......is that Paris in Texas OR Paris , Italy ! FFS

OK to talk about crowd size but why ???? What is the significance ? Racing is now a TV business , whose survival based on two groups.....Owners and Punters ! Crowd is good to talk about , like talking about the weather....fills in a bit of time. The biggest crowds go to a few big days ......NZ Cup day, Trotting Cup day , Derby Day ,Karaka day, The iconic days like Kaikoura Trots , Kumara Nuggets , Summer vacation days between Boxing Day and Jan 10 ,including yesterday at Oamakau. With some Days having NO entry fee ,the numbers of crowd not accurately known........we calculate these from our padded cells with keyboards as poor crowds , good crowds ,great crowds and fantastic. Admission to a few of the biggest days can be expensive by NZ standards ,plus Card charges. The biggest busiest days charge the the most ....go figure ! Personally I usually pay ZERO to get in , maybe $50 to NZ cup day , $200 ++for sit down meal and booze all day at a few big days ...... $30-$50 to Group1 day Melbourne.....$300 to $600 for a Dining ticket to a Melbourne Cup week meeting . Some NZ clubs charge a fee to Summer Holiday meetings in NZ at this time ,to help them survive ...this sets the keyboards alive , look out ! Some give free racebooks ,others charge from $3 to $10 etc etc. Enough about crowd size...the weather chat more exciting....TV doesnt give indicator of attendance as most people inside at bigger courses or in Carparks away from the Action . For example ,NY Day at Pukekohe [free entry] had a few thousand there I did a quick count .But less than Ellerslie would have ,and fewer than Te Rapa in 2023. People don't even know where Pukekohe is unless you want some fresh potatoes. Omakau had several thousand, huge crowd ,campervan city ,kids galore ,huge picnic ...Motukarara [ I not required there this year] traditionally is packed for late Dec meeting. Other country tracks ,most there on day line the fence down straight so you can see most people there...places like Roxburgh have NO infrastucture so everyone out.And some of those meetings have always been bleak.....eg Waikouaiti ...But people have great memories of them so talk them up. Full of Canterbury holiday makers and locals with their coolers of food and booze for their annual picnic ! Enough waffle....I'll be back with my take on THE HORSES during my next work or toilet break ! Summary....crowd size of little relevance ! Racing a TV business !

I follow all of Nigel Unhinged Beach reports , racecourse wanderings and interviews.I also see him scurrying around the course at Addington etc. Certainly an amazing Harness enthusiast with positive can-do attitude. Watch his Beach reports every week , even showed them to overseas Harness folk I know. I'd actually expect him to 'investigate' these serious types of issues you moan your arse off about...and can't believe he'd leave a meeting early cos he missed his bets. Those figures for the Motukarara meeting are impressive...rarely is $1.8 mill reached at grass track meeting . I remember Westport did $1.9 in 2021 , Mot did $1.570 that year . My mates at TAB are pushing hard ...those guaranteed First 4 pools often get the punters excited.

Gee thanks for reading it....it took a few games of Womens tennis to complete and I wanted to cover all the possible Q/A's that may emerge. I've only been let out for the weekend and Public holidays , really lucky that I was hired for security of the stabling area. Are you Newmarket cos of the Mall or the famous Scottish Horse training area .

HNY Doomed , are you a statistics gatherer for Statistics NZ or something similar. You often concerned about crowd numbers...a good crowd ,a great crowd etc For a man who regularly states he has lost interest in NZ Racing this seems odd. What is your interest in this , along with field size [ you will be spitting tacks today with these] , ballots in South Island races ,programming ,calendar , closed tracks . The expert Harness poster on this site , a Brodie , says in Racing the BIG two crucial factors/ingredients are OWNERS and PUNTERS. Probably he correct on this ,crowd size doesn't feature. Why ??......probably cos often the crowd are there for a picnic [BYO] , to amuse the kids for day with lolly scramble or bouncy castle plus there is nothing to do for the day in the town...if it a rural venue it is safe too cos local motels not housing dicey types with ankle bracelets. Of course on the big Cup days when the crowds with money do flock the cynics say it for the Social side of it...all partly true. Watching the tennis now , a good crowd in comfortable seats , sipping wine and showing their style...its the place to be seen ! Meanwhile at Wairarapa gallops a good crowd [ a lot of kids] lining the fence watching 4 x horses race while waiting for the next fun event for them. Six deep for 150 metres = 900 kids plus parents a good crowd for cross-code meeting on Public Holiday. I bet those at tennis never watch womens tennis live in other 51 weeks ! Brilliant planning by NZTR etc to have these 'picnic' meetings on at this time of year...Kurow ,Westport , Kumara etc ...iconic meetings steeped in tradition. IThen into the Nelson circuit for Harness ,plus Cromwell. Omakau looked great today .Even dozens of Campervans. My favourite holiday destinations all featuring. Back to Pukekohe....apparently the budgeted crowd but not Ellerslie ...at an estimate a few thousand. But an excellent days racing and at last the weather came right...actually the first boating and beach day of the Summer so unlikely to get much of walk up crowd particularly when most in Auckland/Waikato have never been to Puke , never likely to and don't even know where it is. From memory the ARC has about 1500 members , some went , plenty of Owners there and families of the participants....Railway was a good field , a few races typically a little skinny but assume betting good with plenty of betting options and advertising by TAB. So Punters looked after, like the guy with the $7 bet one win sort of over $1 mill ! Owners and trainers seem very upbeat about the Stakes increases and opportunities , especially the Ellerslie reopening. Very little negativity about ,other than online ! What meetings have you attended live ,do you attend and what Clubs do you support other than Timaru who I think have just been unlucky in their ranking. When decisions made to close clubs some will be lucky ,some will be unlucky. Too many had both poor tracks and facilities . Neglected ! Many keyboard warriors like to hide their identity , but I think there no worries with telling us your region and involvement. Next meeting I attend I'll count the crowd for you , if it important ! Yesterday free to enter etc so not easy !

Maybe one day when we are snowed in by a blizzard or pandemic ,I'll talk you thru it. Not today while I'm watching the Tennis on TV , a few races and enjoying a Public Holiday......I get double time for my 'advice' on a holiday plus day in Lieu !

Oh Chief , don't be such a grump ! Further investment will be put into these tracks that are seen as part of the future of NZ Racing . Out of interest .....what is your area of 'residence' and or racing participation. Judging by the stories from 50 yrs ago it must be the South Island...possibly the Coast , along with the Molloys, Guerins etc ?

Well Ellerslie was not available for yesterday so they had to make do ! All things considered they have handled the transition period pretty well between Puke and Te Rapa. As for the track ,considering the weather , it has performed very well IMO. Certainly in view of the rain ,times been good and cutting out/divots minimal. And crucially...and I stand back cos some on here will be drawing up lists that include the Foxtons , Beaumonts, Tapanuis, Avondales etc etc ....Pukekohe was recently named as the second best track in NZ !

Are you being Grumpy Chief ...go fishing or go to the beach. I just home from the beach and it crowded ! Just like the good ol days' of racing.....people go cos everyone else is going with the extra bonus of being able to eye up some nice fillies !

Ring and ask why , find out and report back. As explained above it uually works well. Mot betting figures for the day plus the fact it was as usual a very popular turnout would suggest most know the ropes .

Exactly Newmarket....many thanks for explaining this . Does this Brodie character just like moaning his arse off , and repeating himself ......just for the sake of it. I too understood , as per his 2000 posts in recent times that he rarely if ever bet on NZ racing . He simply moaning about a temporary issue here , an anomaly...surprised he sucked the Chief into supporting him !

But everyone loves 'grass track racing' ,and the more it in the wop-wops the more people love it. Those who are serious on their betting will bet early etc , the once a year racegoer doesn't care cos the kidsare happy and the beer is cold ! Courses that race a few times can't be expected to have the latest modern facilities etc. Maybe that why it overall better to put money into a few decent facilities....concrete jungles That Banks Pen meeting has been hugely popular for decades....people love it...they know what they gonna get ,and they want more ! Often a full house ! As Unhinged would say...thats what Harness Racing is all about ! Maybe he does prefer Methven....wink wink !

Well it was a very busy day at the Coalface folks... We all have families and lives to live as well as the job.... All staff are working 100 mph and dozens of jobs to do and buttons to push.. After days of humid ,hot weather and a lot of rain during the night things were changing quickly...well nigh impossible to get an exact reading. No sooner had the 'committee 'met and decided on the accurate reading that the hot searing sun had again made an impact and influenced another meeting of heads ...all the little helpers raced around the track testing and retesting ,checking their numbers etc. Decision made , commentatator told to annouce ,website buttons pushed and more heat and drying and as the divots of track replaced .....everything again changed. Repeat ! Meanwhile the condition of how the track was playing was obvious to all those there live or watching on TV , and times and sectionals were regularly given. Many received their sectionals on their phones/tablets etc. Track improving all the time , overall it played well ,very well .....some came out wide to win ,some stuck to rail cos it played well too while Waitak charged thru the middle. The odd horse who likes it HARD was inconvenienced and chopped and changed strides but overall most were happy... Impossible to please everyone but in view of the weather extremes during the previous 24 hours , it was a brilliant day overall . IMO

West Coast racing seems to be considered ' different' in a positive sort of way ! But seems to be a law unto itself in many ways. In recent years the local council / liquor licensee authority has been quite critical of attitudes around booze . Well its that time of year again folks and no doubt social media will be fill of incidents like this Judge having a nibble which will hang around for months. Always good for a giggle...LOL

Many seem to criticise the use of drones and the perspective they show. This film seems to support the value of this initiative !

Poor me Huey , maybe you can explain your bias ....your posts seem to be cynical , bitter and looking for self pity. Clubs have been working together for years ,sharing Admin functions ,equipment etc and those who have looked beyond their own doorstep have done a lot better than those who have been hamstrung by personal interest and bias. Racing no different to other sports and businesses who have not only benefitted with a bit of co-operation and collaboration but often it has meant survival. I guess it just easier to blame NZTR from the safety of one's padded cell and keyboard. No doubt you will be looking forward to the fast approaching and next episode of the great West Coast soap opera ! Rip into it !

NZ Racing , and critics and keyboard warriors are included here, seem to be struggling with ideas to get more folk involved in racing .This includes attending race meetings and wagering more money on the TAB yet we have the doom and gloom who rubbish any attempts at achieving this. BGP certainly has created a fair bit of interest with followers right around the country. I've attended a couple of their shin-digs and most impressed .

Gamma, I'll have a guess at trainer / jockey leaders. Trainers.....O'Sullivans Jockeys.......L.O'Sullivan G. Rogerson D. Peake N. Eales D. Walsh C. Jillings G. Childs Rex Cochrane J. Collett Happy New Year

Doomed old son , For a poster who regularly says he has 'lost interest ' in NZ Racing you sure seem to care about it a lot ...with an obvious bias toward the raw deal the South Island gets . What Club are you aligned to ? I have always liked the Timaru clubs for both Gallops and harness but they seem to have given up the ghost decades ago and slowly but surely lost their influence. Even reading their last two Annual reports one senses there's not a lot of enthusiasm there. But like you they seem to bemoan the fact that they not teated well. The few members who actually attended the AGM were told that they [ Timaru] were in better financial shape than neighbours Oamaru and Ashburton , two other of you favourites.Do these Clubs ever work together ? So when you answer the questions that the Chief has posed to you on this thread you may like to tell us what area you live in and what Clubs you feel aligned to through either membership or bias . Thank you .