curious

Drank 10 pints in 10 different pubs the first night I was in Ireland. The Irish boys thought they'd drink this kiwi lad under the table. Bit wobbly walking home to be fair. Can't get through two these days though.

As I said, I don't see any way unless you accept funding to be half current levels as it should have been unless they pull a rabbit out of the hat and manage to sell some more of our assets to do that. I'll definitely be having a Guinness tomorrow though, that's for sure. Maybe trow in a Jameson for a nightcap

Btw, I don't drink rum and have only been to the Racecourse once I think since you were here 18 months ago.

On the facts available and talking to punters that do millions of turnover, or did, on NZ racing prior to this move. If they still bet on it they are doing so through overseas offices.

What's false about it?

I just asked AI about this. Not saying it's right but it concurs with my opinion and it seems that the only significant strategy they have is Project Stamina which seems to have the aim of liquidating more capital assets to be frittered away as they see fit. Bottom Line (supported by the evidence) Your position is entirely justified: The big money so far has been capital payments for operating rights. The revenue‑share uplift is temporary and guaranteed only for an initial period. Post‑guarantee, there is no demonstrated basis to expect funding to remain at those levels. Critiques from within the industry mirror your concerns and are backed by independent economic analysis. [sports-betting.nz]

I meant to add that I think it's far too late for NZ racing to find a way to fund itself from wagering as it did a couple of decades ago, without reducing its funding by a half or more. Possibly could have been achieved with the Entain capital funding but I think even Entain have given up on that possibility.

I think he's talking about the BSP which isn't a matched bet. Still ridiculously better pricing than we now have here and most were paying POCCs and GST which is no longer. The NZ punters still betting with them will never bet here with the TAB, they'll walk away in preference as MF noted. and the legislation has cost millions of lost revenue without recovering much if any. It's hard to see what the DIA is doing now will help enough to recover the cost of monitoring and their is a risk that the likes of Kalshi and Polymarket will apply for a legislative review of their interpretation from what I hear.

Betfair

No worries @Huey I'm thinking Majestic will go to an electric tram network for that? But if you are interested:

I didn't think there was a right way and a wrong way to form an opinion, though some can be more informed than others. However, I guess that's jmo.

Great pics. Both looked the part. Hoping we can still afford to get the horses to the races next week, even if we can't afford to fly/drive there to watch them!

Sorry, I didn't mean to repost the headpost above. I meant to post this from 10 years ago. Different sunrise. Same problem. And the industry response is still to try to shut down the dissidents but fail to fix the problem. Incredible. New Zealand jockeys, horses 'at risk' over state of racetracks BARRY LICHTER August 29, 2015 • 4:01pm Touche and Rosie Myers are lucky not to fall as they slip badly on the home turn at Awapuni . Photo: Trackside / Stuff Damning evidence on the state of the country's racetracks emerged during the Kevin Morton hearing this week, with claims of riders and horses being regularly put at risk on unsafe surfaces. During the course of the hearing, where former jockey and now trainer Morton faced racing's most serious charge for posting comments about co-chief stipendiary steward Ross Neal on the racing chat site Channel X, it was alleged that a Racing Integrity Unit steward had refused to officiate at Awapuni meetings where the rail was out wide, because he believed it was exposing horses to unsafe ground. And Morton had support from leading jockeys who, in statements not read at the hearing, raised serious concerns about substandard tracks, one saying he often did not ride in the first race because he did not want to be a guinea pig. Morton's January posting saw him charged with uttering insulting or abusive words against an official, a serious racing offence which incredibly carries the same penalty that a cobalt doper could receive - disqualification for up to life and a fine of up to $50,000. In it Morton, 61, commented on the appearance of Neal on the Trackside TV show Weigh In where Neal was asked to explain the circumstances surrounding the Awapuni meeting on January 10 when Touche slipped three times in the first race and, miraculously, did not fall. Morton posted, among other things, that in his view, the current stewards did not cut it. "I thought R Neal came across as incompetent and out of his depth as a co chief steward." In his brief of evidence Morton told the Judicial Control Authority committee he was astounded that Touche had not fallen at the 600m. With the track rated a dead 4 and the rail out four metres, Morton said that placed Touche, scouting wide, right in the "danger zone" eight metres from the true rail position. Morton testified it was well known that the RIU's Neil Goodwin would not officiate at Awapuni meetings where the rail was out more than eight metres on a good or dead track because the ground there was unsafe. An affidavit from leading jockey Hayden Tinsley referred to the same refusal by officials and said it had been a problem at Awapuni for the last six to eight years and had not improved. Tinsley said he knew his home track well and that on some parts of the home turn there was a negative camber and when the rail was out more than five metres and the weather was not favourable, it could produce uncertain footing. Veteran jockey David Walsh, who last year broke Lance O'Sullvan's record for the most winners in New Zealand, was even more scathing in his statement, saying his biggest concern in racing was the condition of many of our courses. "Many of our venues are well into their second century and time has certainly caught up with the outdated infrastructure. "I believe that not enough is being done to ensure that raceday conditions are of a safe and expected standard. Some tracks have had their time, with many having had half-pie patch-up jobs. Walsh said in his statement there had been numerous occasions in recent years when he had expressed his concerns to the stewards about a particular area or the whole track in general. "There have been several instances in recent times where I prefer not to commit to a ride in the first race as I do not want to be a guinea pig." New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Greg Purcell on Saturday took issue with the safety claims and said a substantial amount of irrigation and drainage work had been done in recent years on the vast majority of the major racetracks. "I am unaware of any safety issues at any racecourses in New Zealand and if these jockeys have a problem they should come and talk to me about it." Purcell said the problem at Awapuni, where January's incident occurred, was being fixed. A new inside bend, with a 3 per cent camber, had been constructed at a cost of $280,000 which was being seeded. It was hoped it would be ready to use after November. NZTR had funded half the work and loaned the club the remainder. When the new surface was ready, the old outer track would be completely recambered. Awapuni had had a number of issues, he said, including a mixture of soils which did and didn't absorb water. Purcell said NZTR was totally committed to safety at every racetrack and racing would not take place at venues considered unsafe. Major work was ongoing and had already been undertaken at Pukekohe, Ruakaka, Matamata, Taranaki, Otaki, Te Rapa and Wingatui which was plagued by unsafe conditions and abandonments earlier this year. Purcell said NZTR was battling a 35-year legacy of under investment on the infrastructure of the country's racetracks but the racing surfaces had had priority. Another witness called by Morton's counsel Paul Dale, Massey University senior lecturer Brent Gardiner, pointed out that Morton's comments followed a posting on Channel X about the questionable decision by Neal to not allow Trackside to show film of Touche's home turn slip which led to a two-hour delay before the meeting resumed. It was later explained that Neal had done so to avoid the connections of horses influencing riders' decisions which might lead to an abandonment based solely on the film. "While I understand that rationale, it seems to aim at a goal of reducing abandonments over ensuring safety," Gardiner said. "I think transparent provision of all information to owners, trainers and jockeys might be a better option." Gardiner, who has an extensive background in racing and breeding, said a letter had been sent by the trainers' association to the board and executive of NZTR a year ago threatening disruptive action because clubs were not providing regular and safe racing and trialling surfaces, evidenced by a record number of abandonments in the previous 12 months. There had been no sign of improvement a year later, he said, with a string of abandonments in 2015 where riders and horses raced on unsafe tracks before it was determined they were unsafe. "Given there seems to have been no improvement, and possibly deterioration, since that strongly worded letter of May 14, 2014, it is understandable that the level of frustration among owners and trainers is now even higher. If it has not been addressed following such approaches as a formal letter it is hardly surprising that affected and concerned parties turn to expressing their concerns and frustrations publically through other channels like social media." Gardiner said he shared Morton's concerns about horse and rider safety and would much rather see NZTR's resources used to address that and its overall performance than use "an antiquated rule to shut down public critique." Gardiner said a better method of ensuring racing only occurred on safe surfaces urgently needed to be found. "Testing the safety of tracks by running races on them is unconscionable. So if the finger is pointed at the stewards responsible on the day that is surely reasonable. They made a mistake and they are clearly responsible. At the least, that must mean they have demonstrated a moment of incompetence, especially if the explanation does not seem to excuse that." Gardiner said one incident like Awapuni was "one too many". "Any of us connected to families of jockeys killed or maimed as a result of stewards' decisions to race on unsafe tracks know that." Morton told the committee he had taken a close interest in jockey safety and horse welfare since 2006 when his close friend Judy Lawson was left permanently disabled after a serious fall at Rangiora. Morton, who was appointed Riding Master in Canterbury for two years and tutored Lawson, said he read the report on the Rangiora crash and it was clear the meeting should not have gone ahead. "So wrong was the decision to race that they have not raced there some nine years later." Morton said he made the statement on Channel X because he was concerned Neal did not appear to be on top of the track safety issues. His performance on the Trackside interview did not inspire any confidence. "I have the utmost respect for stewards and racecourse inspectors and had no intention of offending them." Morton rebuffed repeated suggestions by Steve Symon, acting for the RIU, that he had been fired up and upset and had intended to insult Neal. Symon put it to Morton that instead of concentrating on the issue of track safety he had instead resorted to attacking Neal by calling him incompetent and a former grocer. Morton said he did not believe it was insulting to call someone a grocer, a reply which chairman Murray McKechnie obviously agreed with when he joked he knew a grocer who had made a lot more money than he had. Dale countered that Morton's remarks were made in measured language without profanity or exaggeration to which McKechnie noted more colourful language could be heard on any day in the birdcage after a race. Dale said the RIU complaint fell at the first hurdle because the words Morton used were neither insulting nor abusive. "Of course Mr Neal will feel hurt when he's been criticised but that doesn't elevate it to an insult. I understand the need for limits but when issues of public safety are concerned we have to be more tolerant. These charges ought not to have been brought." Morton had offered a subjective comment and his observation that Neal came across as incompetent, not was incompetent, was an expression of opinion. The charge appeared to conflict with a person's legitimate right to make public criticism. And any provision of the racing rules that conflicted with any other statute or general law of New Zealand, including the Bill Of Rights, was invalid, Dale submitted. It was unlikely the industry could be damaged by a posting on an industry website where views were freely exchanged. Officials such as Neal must be open to scrutiny without fear of prosecution, Dale said. McKechnie, who reserved his decision, was critical of Neal's absence from the hearing - he was on holiday in Fiji with his family. -Stuff

It sounds like it's now pretty much a greenfields job by the sound of it. The public infrastructure is also financially unsustainable and very tired. I'd say rebuild a CD track elsewhere for similar cost rather than try to make that one in a swamp workable. Enough time and money has been wasted on it.

10 years on and where are we? Industry Update | RACE Awapuni Track NZTR and RACE Inc. would like to thank participants, memfor their patience and support during what has been a difficult period for racing at RACE Awapuni. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing | March 11, 2026 Background The RACE Awapuni track had been experiencing performance issues, which ultimately led to a full reconstruction of the surface. After several years of work, the track returned to racing on 25 April 2025. Unfortunately, a slip in the first race resulted in the meeting being abandoned, and there has been no racing at RACE Awapuni since. New to the role, NZTR’s Chief Executive Officer Matt Ballesty, with the approval of the Board of Directors, engaged independent specialist and internationally respected track adviser Liam O’Keeffe. Given the investment was significant, the decision was made to determine whether the new surface could be remediated to provide a safe and consistent racing surface. A range of initiatives were trialled, including verti-draining and surface treatments designed to soften the track profile. While some progress was made, a further slip some months later during morning gallops confirmed that the surface could not be signed off as safe for racing. The track was proving inconsistent - capable of performing adequately one day and presenting unacceptable risk the next. What Has Been Learned A review of the original project has highlighted a number of challenges in both governance and delivery. Issues relating to design accountability, engineering oversight and overall project coordination contributed to the outcome. In hindsight, additional racecourse construction expertise could have been better integrated into the project. NZTR acknowledges that elements of the original RACE Awapuni track design were not aligned with the performance expectations of a premier racing venue hosting 20+ meetings annually. However, the work completed has not been entirely lost. Key components of the drainage system, irrigation infrastructure and parts of the base profile meet the required standards, meaning elements of the existing investment can likely be incorporated into the long-term solution. Independent Technical Review Following NZTR’s decision in November 2025 that there would be no further racing at RACE Awapuni this season, NZTR engaged Evergreen Turf, the specialists responsible for the successful Hastings track remediation, to undertake a comprehensive independent technical review. Working alongside local track managers, the RACE Inc. Board and NZTR consultant Liam O’Keeffe, Evergreen Turf conducted detailed soil testing, forensic analysis and investigations into suitable sand sources. Evergreen Turf’s technical assessment confirmed that while parts of the existing infrastructure remain sound, the underlying soil profile presents a fundamental constraint to achieving the long-term performance required of a premier racing venue. The Path Forward NZTR and RACE Inc. are now working closely together to determine the most appropriate long-term solution for RACE Awapuni. Planning work is well underway, with both organisations aligned on the need to deliver a track that meets the performance, safety and reliability standards expected of a metropolitan racing venue. Our vision is for RACE Awapuni to become a metro-standard track, capable of hosting racing to the standard expected of a premier venue. The collective objective is to implement a solution that will enable a return to racing at RACE Awapuni by late 2027. Importantly, the independent work undertaken over recent months has significantly improved the industry’s understanding of the site and the technical requirements needed to deliver a high-performing track surface. Looking Ahead While the past year has been frustrating for participants and stakeholders, the work completed has provided the clarity required to move forward with confidence. NZTR remains committed to the long-term future of racing at RACE Awapuni and to ensuring the venue can fulfil its important role within the Central Districts racing landscape. The recent success of the Hastings track remediation demonstrates what can be achieved when specialist racecourse expertise is integrated early into a project. Those learnings will play an important role in shaping the next phase of work at RACE Awapuni. NZTR and RACE Inc. thank the industry for its patience and support as this work progresses. A further update will be provided to the industry once the preferred delivery pathway has been finalised. Issued by the Office of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing 18 Dick Street, Cambridge 3434 Tel: 0800 WINNER (946 637) International: +64 4 576 6240 office@nztr.co.nz