curious

Now that would really be tragic

What do you mean by an escape clause?

Is this what you wanted to post Thommo? This year top. Last year bottom.

16. The judges of the Competition (“Judges”) will be employees and/or contractors of Entain NZ, to be selected by Entain NZ at its sole discretion.

Opie Bosson will return to riding in the new season. Photo: Nicole Troost Opie Bosson to make raceday return Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk 3 July 2025 New Zealand Champion jockey Opie Bosson’s hunger for riding has returned, and he has announced he will make a comeback to the saddle in the new season. The revered hoop announced his retirement last December, admitting he was a spent force, but his passion for the sport has been reignited following a six-month break and he is excited to return to the competitive amphitheatre of the track next month. “It has been at the back of my mind for a little while now,” Bosson said. “I have still been riding track work, and there are a lot of nice horses coming through. “I didn’t really lose a lot of fitness, and I have got the hunger back again that I lost. I decided about eight weeks ago that I wanted to come back, so I have been training hard.” Weight was an ongoing battle for Bosson throughout his riding career, and he cited continual wasting as one of the driving factors behind his retirement decision last year, but he said he is finding it relatively easy returning to riding weight this time around. “I really needed the break to get my head right and the body right, and everything seems to be going well,” he said. “I have been working on bringing my weight down naturally without having to get in saunas and stuff like that. I haven’t missed a meal, and the weight is coming down perfectly.” Bosson enjoyed his stint away from racing, spending more time on hobbies and socialising outside of racing circles, but he is excited to return to the races and reunite with some familiar faces. “I have done a lot of fishing and met a lot of people outside of racing as well, I really enjoyed the summer,” he said. “But I have got the hunger back that I lost and I’ll start riding at the start of the new season.” Bosson was aligned with leading New Zealand stable Te Akau Racing prior to his retirement, and he will renew that association in the new season, citing Te Akau principal David Ellis as a major player in his return. “I have pretty much been living out at Te Akau Stud, training and working on the farm there. They have been so good to me,” Bosson said. The fresh start will also come with a change in riding agent, with Bosson parting ways with longtime associate Aidan Rodley.

Opie Bosson Returns for New Season 3 July, 2025 Https://bitofayarn.com Te Akau Racing is delighted to announce that Hall of Famer Opie Bosson ONZM, one of New Zealand’s greatest jockeys, has today confirmed that he will return to the saddle for the new racing season beginning 1 August. Bosson stepped away from race day commitments in early 2024, having achieved a remarkable 99 Group One victories and over 2100 career wins, creating an enduring legacy few in New Zealand racing can match. Now, after a year working closely within Te Akau Racing - both riding trackwork at our Matamata base and playing a hands-on role at Te Akau Stud - Bosson has made the decision to return, refreshed and highly motivated for the challenges ahead. “Stepping back from raceday riding gave me the time to take stock of everything,” Bosson said. “But riding trackwork every day, working with this new crop of horses at Te Akau, and getting fitter than I’ve been in years - I’ve rediscovered how much I love it. The drive is there. I want to give it another crack. I’m serious about it.” Bosson, who was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2023 and awarded an ONZM for services to racing, admits the spark and desire was reignited over recent months. “We’ve (Te Akau) got a stunning team of horses coming through for the new season - one of the best I’ve seen in a long time - and being a part of their development has made me want to be there on race day too. I’m enjoying working hard on my fitness, and I’d love nothing more than to bring up Group One number 100, and beyond.” Te Akau Racing Principal David Ellis CNZM said he was proud to support Bosson’s return, emphasising the dedication and professionalism he has shown during his time off the track. “Opie has been working every day in the gym at the farm, riding trackwork, and contributing to our programme on the farm and at the stables,” Ellis said. “He’s as focused and determined as ever, and you can just see he's rejuvenated and the enthusiasm is real. He hasn’t made this decision lightly - he’s earned the right to make this comeback on his terms, and we’re right behind him.” Ellis added: “We all know the incredible contribution Opie has made to Te Akau Racing. More than 50 Group One wins for our stable alone, six Karaka Millions' victories, iconic rides on horses like Imperatriz, Probabeel, Avantage, and Melody Belle. He’s a once-in-a-generation rider.” Bosson 's return is not a change of heart - it's the next chapter in a truly exceptional career, driven by a deep connection to the horse, the thrill of race riding, and a passion that clearly remains undimmed. “I understand some might be surprised by the decision,” Bosson said. “But for me, it’s come from a place of genuine passion and purpose. I’ve taken the time, I’ve done the work, and I know I’m ready. I’m coming back because I love the industry, I love the horses, and I still have goals I want to achieve - and that includes chasing Group One win number 100.”

No point barking up any trees at this point I wouldn't think. Just have to adapt to the status quo and hope for racing's sake that they have the numbers right and get the expected results.

Consistency with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 3.3. Has advice been provided to the Attorney-General on whether any provisions of this Bill appear to limit any of the rights and freedoms affirmed in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990? NO 3.1. What steps have been taken to determine whether the policy to be given effect by this Bill is consistent with New Zealand’s international obligations? The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been consulted at multiple phases of policy development. Their advice is legally privileged and provided to Ministers in Policy Products.

Whatever, if their numbers are correct we should know in the next few weeks as turnover should be up by about $50m a month.

I didn't pursue it. Just thought it seemed unreliable. I'm not sure there is any correlation between website data and punter spend. I often go on to bookie sites where I don't even have accounts to check pricing and price movements. Credit card spend data may relate to punter deposits, but surely without matching withdrawal data, that has to be a pretty useless measure?

No. Cameron Rodger told me last year that their figures: ... are based on the method we use to track customer spend with offshore operators which is a combination of: Web traffic data; Personal (anonymised) credit card spend data; The fact that they are way out of line with GST, POCC, and published study data, doesn't seem to come into it.

Partly, but was thinking of "retiring" from that anyway. It's mainly been done to fund racing a horse or horses in recent years + the challenge and I'm on my last of those racehorses too and it will either be retired or paying its own way by then.

I'm currently about 10% TAB/Betcha, 60% various Oz providers, 30% UK/US. I'll probably double my TAB/Betcha to about 20% of current turnover but the rest will not be bet at all. I'll possibly stop betting altogether by the end of the year.

Yep. But NZTR said previously that Clegg Hammer readings would be required and reported for race meetings and what's more, the report said they were required by the contract with Martin Collins I think.

How will he do that if they can't accept bets from NZ residents?

Still haven't found it going by the track reports this week. Either that or they haven't found anyone who knows how or can be bothered to use it.

And if it was out of alignment, why didn't someone realign it once that became apparent?

Well if you ever watched a field full of yearlings Gamma, you'd have a different view. They regularly race each other and often reach the far end of the paddock and turn around and race each other back. I assume they do so for fun, though there might be an innate element of practising to avoid predators because the slowest one ends up their dinner. Whatever, they do it without a whip or a jockey to brandish it in sight. Have you read the studies on this?

Really?

I've raised that before. You'd think so but it seems to be a mutually acceptable variance to that.

The $120m they are aiming to recover 75% of is yield/punter losses. It's the increase in revenue that should be evident in weeks if this is effective.

Yes, I'd say targeted social media advertising would likely be key.

Owners' Federation.

Actually that should read $7.5m a month.

I had a look at this a while back. Currently do about 10% with NZTAB. I might double that volume but 90% of what I currently bet off shore I won't be able to bet with NZTAB, so they'll be recovering only a small portion in my case.