curious

Racing and sports betting.

What figure? And what does casino gambling have to do with it? You mean Entain's global bottom line?

Oh it doesn't say that in the version I can see. Enhancements Announced for 2025 New Zealand Cup Week NZTR and the CJC have unveiled a series of enhancements to this year’s New Zealand Cup Meeting. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing | August 15, 2025 2024 Group 1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas® (1600m) winner, Captured by Love. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and the Canterbury Jockey Club (CJC) have unveiled a series of enhancements to this year’s New Zealand Cup Meeting, with significant prizemoney boosts and a refreshed race programme set to elevate the South Island's marquee Spring racing carnival. From November, each of the three feature races will carry an additional $50,000 in stakes. The Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 53rd New Zealand 2000 Guineas® (1600m) will now be run for $700,000, the Group 1 Barneswood Farm 53rd New Zealand 1000 Guineas® (1600m) will rise to $600,000, and the Group 3 162nd New Zealand Cup (3200m) is now worth $450,000. NZTR Chief Executive Officer Matt Ballesty said the enhancements reflected the importance of Cup Week on New Zealand’s racing calendar. “The New Zealand Cup Meeting is one of the country’s most important and recognisable racing carnivals, attracting both national and international attention and providing excellent exposure for our sport.” “NZTR is pleased to support the Canterbury Jockey Club with these increases, which strengthen the quality and appeal of the week’s flagship events,” Ballesty said. Alongside the prizemoney increases, the New Zealand Pattern Committee has approved a change to the programme that will see the order of the Guineas races reversed. The New Zealand 1000 Guineas® will now open the carnival on Saturday 8 November, while New Zealand 2000 Guineas® will be staged at the New Zealand Cup Day meeting on Saturday 15 November. NZTR’s Senior Handicapper Bruce Sherwin commented on the rationale for the swap. “This adjustment has been made to allow a greater chance for a top filly to back up in the 2000 Guineas, while also aligning the race more logically with its key lead-up, the Group 2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial [1400m], which will now be 19 days prior rather than the current period of 12 days.” “A flow-on effect from this change will see the Group 2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes [1400m] move one week earlier to Saturday 18 October, maintaining the traditional three-week lead-in to the 1000 Guineas.” “Both the 1000 Guineas and 2000 Guineas are also Bonus Eligible races for the NZB Kiwi, offering added incentives for owners and trainers to target Riccarton Park’s premier fixtures,” Sherwin said. The winner of the 2025 New Zealand 2000 Guineas® will have the first right to negotiate with the CJC for use of its slot in the 2026 $4,000,000 NZB Kiwi (1500m), the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race. If that opportunity is not taken up, the New Zealand 1000 Guineas® winner will be offered the second option to negotiate with the Club. To further support participation, the CJC will again offer its travel incentive scheme for horses flying to Christchurch to contest Cup Week’s feature races. The scheme provides financial assistance through subsidised air transport, helping leading contenders from across New Zealand compete on the Riccarton Park stage. CJC Chief Executive Officer Tim Mills said the changes build on the momentum and appeal of the carnival. “Cup Week is a cornerstone of New Zealand racing, drawing top-quality horses, trainers and jockeys from across the country.” “These enhancements, both in prizemoney and programming, will add even more excitement for participants and racegoers, and further cement Riccarton Park as a must-visit venue during November.” “We look forward to hosting another outstanding week of racing, fashion and entertainment in 2025," he said. The New Zealand Cup Meeting will run from Saturday 8 November to Saturday 15 November 2025, with Riccarton Park hosting three spectacular days of racing alongside Christchurch’s wider festival of sport, entertainment and fashion. NZTR News Canterbury Jockey Club New Zealand 2000 Guineas® New Zealand 1000 Guineas® Matt Ballesty Bruce Sherwin Bruce Sherwin

When did that happen?

Except I certainly also want any horse I own to win as much as it can.

My hobby of racing horses doesn't depend on whether or not they win one race in 20 or never even win one. That is as you say a hobby. For fun. Sometimes just to rehab horses or whatever. I'd prefer to win a few of course which can add to the fun. As a punter though, I aim to win, and to do that, I'll get the best odds I can, with no intention to finance anyone else, including any bookies, in the process. After all, that's what pays for my aforementioned hobby.

I'm certainly not. Owners and other punters have to do that.

What? No I'd prefer all races funded by punters as they were a couple of decades ago. Do you include punters when you say participants?

That said, market % doesn't matter much to me. It's where I can get the better price at overs. Why would I back the All Blacks tomorrow at $1.30 if I wanted to if I can get a 30% better return elsewhere? As a punter, I'm not here to finance Entain or NZ racing.

Doubt Entain would want to but most do. Oamaru today with market %s. https://www.punters.com.au/odds-comparison/horse-racing/new-zealand/oamaru_319163/

Sure if they can get away with it and recapture the predicted overseas revenue. As I've said, I think they've pulled the wrong rein here but only time will tell.

104.76% cf. NZTAB 106.33%. As I said, not competitive.

2/1

Just looking at the All Black test tomorrow, not that I really bet on sports. NZTAB 1.30 All Blacks outright. Spreadex and others 2/5 - $1.40. Competitive? That's a huge difference isn't it?

So, why are they wasting time and money on this? Makes little sense to me. There seems to be no feasible objective from GRNZ. It's just making them look sillier than they have already been. As was noted, the check and balance is to unelect the members that introduced or voted for the legislation. That's how democracies work isn't it?

Sounds like they don't have a case here?

If that is in response to my question, the Levin Classic is no longer G1 and the others are not 3yo races. Many are reluctant to try even the best 3yos against older horses at that time of year, especially under handicap conditions.

What G1 3yo races (other than middle distance) are there here during that time frame?

I wouldn't think any of our very best would stay here after the guineas races. There's nothing left in the pattern here for them after that unless they are middle distance prospects. Have to go to Oz if they are G1 level and potential top broodmare or stallion prospects don't they?

And I would add that there are signs of this from some in racing's current leadership. It just needs to spread.

Back to this on leadership. This just popped up on my screen. I think I agree. It's what we need. Collaboration works when: Vision is bigger than ego. Everyone has something to gain. The mission is clearly defined. Parameters are established. Leadership is shared. No one keeps score. People play by established ground rules. Folks take time to get to know one another as people. Strengths are leveraged. It’s okay to put on the brakes as needed. Dissent is encouraged and accepted. Contributions are recognized.

👍

Long way to go. Have to see what the online monopoly does I guess?

Header should read 12% I think? The other detail to come out of the half-yearly report was that Australian NGR had fallen 7 per cent year-on-year, while New Zealand’s has increased 12 per cent.

Photo: Sonna Studios NZ punters get fair shake with TAB’s Punters Promise & betcha Guarantee Entain Australia & NZ 13 August 2025 Sports and racing fans in New Zealand have the opportunity to back their favourite team or horse to win their fair share with today's expansion of Minimum Bet Limits for TAB and betcha customers. Minimum Bet Limits (also known as MBLs) mean a customer is able to bet to win at least a certain amount on a betting option. The voluntary MBLs announced today go above and beyond the limits in place in Australian racing and, in the case of sports, provide a new level of consumer protection in the sports betting industry. “We launched Punters Promise in 2022 for our TAB racing fans across all three racing codes, but today we’re supercharging it,” Entain Australia and New Zealand’s General Manager – Trading, Nick Conway said. “The $2,000 MBL for New Zealand racing extends to $5,000 for New Zealand thoroughbred racing on a Saturday, as well as Friday night harness and other big Group one harness racing days like NZ Trotting Cup Day. “There's nothing more exciting than placing a long-range bet on a horse to win one of NZ's racing carnivals feature races, and now thoroughbred and racing futures markets are included in TAB's Punters Promise with a $2,000 MBL in place as soon as the market is open.” Voluntary MBLs are also in place for Australian racing, with $2,000 MBLs on Australian metropolitan thoroughbred meetings, $1,000 on harness racing and the remainder of Australian thoroughbreds, and $500 on Australian greyhound racing. The major gamechanger is for sports punters. The most popular sports – football, basketball, rugby union, rugby league and more – are now covered by TAB’s Punters Promise and the new ‘betcha Guarantee’ with customers able to bet to win $1,000 in the top two or three betting options in the most popular tournaments, leagues and international fixtures. For example, a TAB or betcha customer can bet $400 on their favourite Warriors player to score a try at odds of $3.50 returning $1,400 – a $1,000 profit on their $400 bet. There are some variations between sports and leagues, with bet-to-win limits for UFC exclusive to betcha Guarantee, and New Zealand representative matches (such as Tall Blacks or New Zealand football national team matches) exclusive to Punters Promise. “The sports, tournaments and markets we have chosen for the Punters Promise and betcha Guarantee cover 75 percent of our sports turnover, so we'll have our work cut out for us making sure the odds are as accurate as possible,” Conway said. “We recognise and appreciate the privilege of being the exclusive betting operator for New Zealand. These new and expanded initiatives – alongside our pledge to provide the same fair odds in New Zealand that we have on our brands in the highly competitive Australian betting market – shows our commitment to striking a fair balance between the punter and the operator.”