TAB For Ever

No takers Gamma in over 12 hours !!!! Gotta be Christian Cullen , the white breast plate and young driver Danny Campbell tell me that. Then the DB Draught signs, the sun's shadows and huge crowd suggest its Cup Day ...about 1998. If that is number 15 second it gotta be a Group 1 horse starting off maybe 10 or 'unruly' so maybe Iraklis or Holmes DG from that era .

95% of punters lose their dough ...so all this within the margin of error ! Hindsight is easy ...also of interest there were two selectors in the racebook with 3 x selections per race. One picked the big O second ,the other 3rd ! Supports widely held view that punting is a mugs game......I also heard several predictions before the race that Shamus would make it a sedate work out with a sprint home ...so far no surprises ! Everyone was shouting Tale of the Gypsy from the rooftops in race 2 ...it managed 4th of 7. If punting was easy , everyone would do it !

For what it's worth , prior to the race , next to mounting yard I spoke to 6x folk who follow racing closely including a form analyst ,jockeys agent and a studmaster and not one thought or expected Orchestral to win and Acquarello was the favoured selected .A few added O as the lay of day ,or year to date ! If its about the money ,the 5th to 10th wasn't paid out and the club contributed $15 k .

Well you have a weird way of showing your enjoyment !

This day qualifies as bigger and better than any previous raceday in NZ ....no need to try and devalue it ! I believe it is the first NZ Thoroughbred Slot race.......I attended the others in Harness. The stake money is unprecedented in NZ....a record ! The day includes 4 x Group 1 races ......a first ! The Derby and Auckland Cup on same day.......a first ! As for talking the wagering on ONE day or one race, this is a new tactic employed by negaholics trying to score points for ....god knows why ! Racing fans are being offered many new experiences at the moment , increased stakes at all levels and unprecedented opportunities for their horses no matter what their ability. Get on the train if you choose !

Well , to me in the 'glass half full society' this is New Zealand and not bloody Australia....this is bigger and better than any raceday in NZ.And likely to trigger plenty of Australian interest as well ! Sorry Doomed ,you shouldn't be counting Australian racing .....and certainly not HARNESS slot races. Get serious champ !

Fair point Mikeynz....where have you been ? Did you venture out to any southern meetings......a few close to your district....Roxburgh , Gore etc The thing about Auckland wanting a cricket ground ......its for Test cricket plus any International one-dayer that would attract a huge crowd . Eden park is NOT considered a cricket ground cos of its shape...the boundaries overall are too short ,edges go for 6 ! FYI Auckland is very short of Sports facilities ,especially Indoor ones. PLUS there seems to be 2 x types of people in NZ , those who live in Auckland and those who wish they lived in Auckland ! Having lived most my life in the South Island I see/hear the difference. Southerners despise Auckland while Jaffas barely know the South exists , but feel no bitterness at sending billions South for things such as Chch Earthquake ! Often the South don't know what they have till its gone.....they did it with Thoroughbreds and Jumps races luckily held on to Harness in Canterbury and Southland [ some thanks to Jaffa Tim Shadbolt ].I see Chch couldn't hold on to the Sailing GP ,about to start in Auckland.

Well the change of train timetable today.....all tickets please ! As Einstein once said 'Sometimes it better to remain silent and appear a fool ,than speak and remove all doubt ! ' ps ..this thread about Champions Day in NZ , apparently involving a Slot Race.....something different , new , a change maybe ?

Why oh why Doomed are you concerned about NZ racing ? Is your family Jewels tied up in it......WHY ??? ...Please tell. There is a plan , are you reading strategic plans , statements of intent and Annual reports etc ?? NZ Sport in general is becoming suffocated in governance and rules and regulations and having PLANS is a huge part of it. Horlicks finished racing about 1990 so unsure about her relevance but a lot of those associated with her still seem to be still around so maybe she left a bigger legacy than what you think. I remember a bit after that Sam Kelt dream't up the Hawkes Bay Carnival...I doubted he would attract any Aussie horses to the Bay in Ocober , but I remember a group of us investing some money ,borrowing some from Bank as a company and buying about 15 x horses and starting up a Trading company ,keeping some to race...yes we nailed one group 1 winner and sold an Aussie Oaks winner ! Sam inspired 10 x of us ! I digress....ahhhhh the good ole days ! NZ Sport watching has never been better....I sitting here , watching Craig Grylls dominate at Trentham ,Kumara do their stuff , Black Caps can't catch a cold , A 'Horlicks era 'player wins the ASB tennis .[ A $million event ] , 2 x football games later on {NZ teams] and Breakers misery as well. Sure need to embrace Televised sport and learn to bet on phones ! Change can be tough for old dogs !

Kumara had FREE buses from Greymouth and Hokitika plus us elite patrons had a choice of helicopter as well. I recently went to the races at Flemington by train , but I checked prior that they were running ! Recent carry on would suggest that Wellington City has its fair share of public transport issues . Einstein quote re doing same thing expecting different results .

Well ,we gonna find out aren't we ....and I for one won't be sitting at home moaning my arse about the negatives ! Kumara seems to be having a great day there today....... For those punters who enjoy a bet theres 10 x times the options to bet on than there was 2 x years ago. Ownership in horses is looking easier/better than its ever been ! The stakes best ever ! Horse and participant welfare is best its ever been. Jockeys and trainers making best money ever ! What is upsetting you vocal negaholics so much ??

Kumara looks to be turning on another successful meeting . And the fun will start on -line comparing their crowd at their iconic day with that of Trentham today [ It should be doing better ,yes] and Ellerslie tomorrow. Kumara deserve kudos and the NZTR is to be congratulated for keeping their date and ensuring that it retains its place in NZ racing. Kumara is a tiny place so they have to market and promote their day in the sun. They incorporate the big city thinking with small town charm, Fashion in the Fields , eyecandy and the latest fashion , this year adding two categories ,best head-piece and best local entrant to ensure some bitch from the big smoke don't turn up and scope the prize ! Then there are the hospitality options ,most sold out ,rental of gazebos and marquees ,and you can actually book a camp site to stay overnight. Of course Kumara [population 285] not well endowed with hotels etc ,but you can helicopter in and home plus free buses from Greymouth and Hokitika. Of course folk can BYO booze and food so to appease liquor authority they rope off an area where booze sold to keep it away from the Chlldrens play area. Theres plenty more including a 'Big Screen' which enhances the race experience greatly. They have been advertising this day for months and there is a Gate charge $20 walk-up ,$15 on-line. Kumara work hard at keeping their raceday current and memorable. They have had their 'issues' over the years with the track and the Liquor Authority but seem to work well to stay relevant ! Well done Kumara !

Gee , its the first year of this ' new event' ....the same ole ,same ole was not working ! Been going in reverse for decades .....it's called CHANGE ! Stop your grizzlin' and try and enjoy the NZ Racing !

I've been called much worse than a plonker before , but once people start playing the man not the ball with personal insults IMO this a sure indication the cynic is all dressed up with nowhere to go OR under lock and key.....as in a padded room being a keyboard warrior. You guys need to get out and about more ...attend some meetings ,join some ownership groups ,BGP or racing clubs . If this not possible at least do some reading of the News coming out of HRNZ ,the TAB etc . Read the good news ,the factual stuff ,not the cynics and negaholics banging about the future of NZTAB and trying to clasp on to any bit of doom and gloom about , field size ,crowd size or the price of hot dogs ! Poor info and communication....BOLLOCKS.....it has never been so good even though its a new FUTURE with new ideas /promotions being tried and introduced regularly....its a huge Work-in-Progress but much has happened already in the 18 odd moths since Entain entered its 25 yr partnership with TABNZ to Fuel the Future of NZ Sport and Racing! The TABNZ is still a statutory body , Entain don't own it ,it a partnership ! HRNZ recently had a clean out/ change of Board and the new CEO has hit the ground running. Entain had made many changes.....What changes have been made ?? Gotta be the most stupid question of decade...hahahahaha. Entain have injected monies into all racing and sports and added unbudgeted bonuses for good effect. The Strategic Plan for next 3 x years talks of another surge in stakes ,70% of which goes to grassroots racing so everyone gains. There will be a 20% increase in races run ,A BIG PUSH INTO AUCKLAND and efforts to revitalise Harness in North Island incl Cambridge and ManawaTu. Yes ,they want to enhance the big events so obviously will support SLOT races etc and drive on course attendence . Increase fillies/mares races ,increase starts per horse and increase foals born [ huge ask] and get more foals born to the races.And encourage Like v Like racing and improve handicapping . So thats the Intent/plan signed off by Board now it up to the CEO and Mr Peden etc to put plans/promotions in place to assist this. And arent they just doing it...a mares credit scheme , bonus for 2 yr old winners , and Next Gen promo. Mr Peden only been there few weeks so cant be expected to sit in office and regurgitate figures from a past era. This is the future ....they will regularly report against big indicators. Some criticism re 2 yr old attention and small fields...well this area has improved dramatically in recent times since the race year/age change and the increase will continue. Already there are 30 races for 2yr old boys in first half of 2025 , and 20 for fillies then the big Group races are in later part of year so these will increase.And there are 15 races for trotters [9 x south, 6 x north].A few year ago there were only a few races for trotters and tho some 3 -5 horse fiellds were run they either Non Tote or for $2 ,if not canned . Not this last year , over twice the 2 yr old trotters raced and many more won which augers well for 3 yr old this year. What else needs critically communicated ....seems to me the plan is pretty much set in stone but some WIP and subject to tweaking.. Those paranoid about betting numbers and Gross betting revenue can get the report from HRNZ's raceday performances summary. As I like to attend meetings and get involved in Ownership syndicates and help out in a few other areas I am buoyed by the well communicated 2025 plans and look forward to a great year ...so much going on. Its an insult to read that those employed on Board etc are putting money into line their own personal pockets. Calls for them to read these pages...hahaha...I hope they don't. We call for our leaders to have skin in the game then accuse them of that...thats low !!!!!

Well Gamma.....happy New Year ! The 'new' CEO IMO is a good man for our job. He has commercial experience with a progressive Bank and a passion for Racing. He was Chair of Albion Park Harness and Queensland Harness and on Board of Queensland Racing. I note many races in Aussie Harness being run for total stake of $4,400 to $6,600 . This not good. In recent years the costs associated with owning and breeding etc have escalated in NZ and many were doubting their involvement. In past year this has turned a lot , except for the small breeder who feels the big guys treated better along with Sales series races /sweepstakes etc which they may be excluded from. Some of the incentives have appeared complicated eg breeding bonuses but the racing bonuses for 2 year olds for their first win [ $8k for owner ,$4k for breeder ] much welcomed. Now we have the 'new Gen ' stuff ...seems complicated but should interest new owners and maybe encourage horses to be sent to younger trainers etc But applies to 'new sires up to 3 seasons'. ....and horses have to go thru the Spnsors sales and bonus applies to 2 yr olds only. But if things don't work ,new things will be changed. As for the massive negativity toward Auckland Trotting it kinda makes sense that Entain an NZHR don't want it to disappear...a lot of history ,past performance there plus the hope that interest from the huge population will somehow be reignited !

You guys are being a bit tough tearing these guys down at this time of year ! Yes another year has just ended but for most it a time of reflection and planning and recharging for the year ahead. The HRNZ office ,like most offices in NZ is closed for the 2 x weeks covering Stat Holidays but the participants and those at rockface battle on. Iv'e seen Messrs Peden and Steele are out and about building bridges and relationships for the year ahead...give em a break from on-line assassination by anonymous snipers ! As mentioned earlier they been in the job 'barely 5 minutes'. Mr Steele started on 1 July 2024 , Mr Peden 1 October 2024. To me they have set about trying to progress Harness , obviously huge changes have happened since June 2023 when Entain entered the frame. Mr Peden's role was to try and increase field sizes and get horses race more often to increase the betting opportunities etc and to try and increase Foal numbers. The decline in Foals born thus horses racing is a massive issue. Other than the small hobby type breeder , many people are very buoyed by bonuses on offer and other incentives being introduced. Not every 'promotion' will be a success but things appear to be happening and its very obvious that they are doing their very best to iron out any issues of teething problems. You two tag snipers may not be aware but making babies takes planning , time and money and can't be achieved overnight ! So give em a break. Where I have a small involvement the folk I meet on raceday and at stud visits of late are very encouraged with work being done.And the two men at HRNZ are out and about meeting participants at the track etc Are you guys out and about ? Improvements to Harness will be a team effort...not just two men.......it's gonna take a big push by all including the Clubs !

At this time of year the travel demands on many jockeys is not what it used to be......but the Harness drivers are still doing those big drives to various parts of the South Island in particular. And also the TAB staff in both the Broadcast truck and tote staff.....I guess the tote staff still do the Nelson trots on Friday ,Kumara on Saturday and Nelson on Sunda.In past there has been road/travel issues to add to the tiki tour ! Obviously these days there are less meetings on some days eg New Years day cos of the limitations of the Broadcast trucks . Yes correct re the Parsons horse , the good mare Arietta should have made it obvious to me but La Bella Nera made my Northerners list cos it was a lot of top Canterbury sportspeople , Canterbrians thru and thru but educated elsewhere. La Bella Nera was educated by Clinton Isdale in Cambridge ,trialling at 2 on Synthetic there ,plus Ruakaka twice , and Te Awamutu twice before lining up at Trentham and bucking early ,running last in Isdale's silks. Back to Cambridge to trial ,back to Trentham where she won before returning to being a Crusader ! Interesting.

IMO the Telegraph has always been the best sprint in the country........must have contributed to Trentham being known as the Champagne Turf ! It's meetings brought together the very best horses together from all across NZ . A true NZ Championship on left hand dog-leg track. And Wellington Cup day has always remained one of the top interest /betting days. Sadly the Cup race seemed to go into decline re quality of horses , even the distance was tampered with , their Monday Anniversary race faded badly , the facilities never left the 1940's, and the track became bad too often. Back in the day the bog track presented for the Winter features incl the Whyte ,Parliamentary and Winter Oats never worried most but expectations changed and Trentham got left behind. Even the road in seemed to present transport problems . I suspect now that many Northern connections find the trip South too much , and prefer to race closer to home ! And those who moved the big Yearling sales north to Karaka in 1988 certainly showed forward thinking !

Just checked November Central Otago meeting at Cromwell held Clare Memorial race in 2024 ,over 1220 m for nice stake of $35k. It was won JParsons trained La Bella Nera, yes a North Island import. At church today the man on pulpit said we should reach out and interact with others as many find this time of year troubling. So I hope you enjoy these missives from 'back in the day' when things much simpler !

It was the second week of January and they had two days for many years , which could have been a challenge for housing the horses etc as many raced two days. The time I remember quite well was when Wingatui had a heap of trainers as well as Gore/Invercargill. One of my neighbours Cliff Reece-Jones was a regular trainer there from Wingatui and Ted Winsloe and Rex Cochrane from Gore who were often at top of NZ premiership , plus others regular like the Dennis Brothers , Wilson Ellis , Ray Pankhurst etc . It had two historic Cup races the Moran Memorial [Open Handicap] and Clare Memorial [ Hack stayers race ] , both valuable gold cups. The Clare Cup is apparently valued at $100k and I believe is still raced for at Cromwell by Central Otago JC. Of course back in the day Omakau was the Vincent JC. In the early days it was a Cross-Code event with harness and incuded Saddle Paces and I believe Cardigan Bay may have competed in these in early days. Plenty of good jockeys rode at Vincent incl the Skelton Brothers and Bob won on Treasure Pond ,the mother of Trelay who was a very good stayer from Hec Andertons stable from early crop of Mellay.Trelay also became a sire ...he was owned by White Family who from memory were from Central Otago.

Interesting to follow the nominations for Trenthams Group 1 races next week. The Thorndon mile after last Friday has just 15 horses paid up including some who were previously not rated in the top 40 horses. There is one Southerner ,5 x Central Districts and 9 x Northerners. Seems like the $500 k Feature is being overlooked for bigger races coming up including the Herbie Dyke @ 2000m for $700k. The Levin Classic [ $400k ] still has 32 Noms but only 3 x from Central Districts including the 2 x lowest rated maidens. The O'Sullivan / Scott stable has 10 x nominated in what could be 100% Northerners facing the starter.

Last Mondays Kurow meeting had 10 races and 7 were won by ex-Northern horses. Ive been noticing all year that the numbers are going up and this explains why some meetings have bloated nominations particularly in maiden and r65 grtades ! Obviously it has been noticed that many stakes are the same as in the North ,training and feeding costs are less and the horses considered more limited. Ive had a couple of my syndicate horses moved , a couple have run very poorly proving that a very slow horse is slow whatever the company it in ! 7 winners from 10 is quite compelling !

Well the Central Otago Trots on Jan 2 are claiming the biggest crowd in South Island outside of NZ Cup day at Addington. They say they had 8000.. Obviously this means they have left other well attended meetings eg Motukarara ,Nelson , Westport and Kaikoura in the dust. Thats impressive ! Particularly when Omakau is a tiny town with very few populated towns nearby !

Well as a Cost Accountant etc I clearly don't know as much as you but often what happens in the past can assist with predicting the future. Like I know when I post you will be looking for a slip up ,to point out my weakness and your strength....you are the boss afterall ! My friends, neighbours and family have long and interesting historical association with Trentham and my Father used to fly me to the races in Cup week there from the time I was a foetus. Looking into the future I don't see much future for the place. ....bulldoze it ! If NZ Racing could get a huge sum of money out of Avondale and other Northern tracks ,and I was in charge ,I would build a purpose built racetrack in the Waikato with a straight 1200-1600 flat course with all the bells and whistles .I'd employ various experts to design the tracks and training facilities so I'd offer you a job to help design it. ! Meanwhile , did anyone actually go Trentham today for an 'update' ? Very few on here go to Ellerslie ,a few to Te Rapa , none to Trentham .........a few to Riccarton ,two to Timaru and three to the Coast...and Doomed to Woodville and you to Motukarara trots and to Ellerslie to get a handful of sandy peat and young grass from the outside fence !

Even Central Otago which has some of the highest summer temperatures and best weather can get some snow at Christmas. I experienced snow on Christmas Day in Queenstown about 2003 and 2018 and 2020 had snow settling at this time. As a youngster I played Cricket on Boing Day in Alexandra and it was hailing with snow on hills !