curious

Peculiar to me. Don't see why moving to Otaki would make any difference to servicing requirements than if the meeting had been run at Otaki. On the other hand, I think 8 races is plenty for any raceday.

Where would NZTR get the money to throw?

Maybe because they now appear to be a lot more stuffed than they were then or anyone imagined possible.

Yes. For 14 years.

Yes. And the report suggests that various failures by the club have contributed despite the track being stuffed in the first place. It indicates a lack of an effective and well maintained irrigation system, a lack of other appropriate equipment and a lack of adequate education for the course management staff. This is a board and management resourcing issue.

What I totally agree with is that the NZTR penalties go nowhere near far enough. As I understand it, withdrawing funding only applies to abandonments. If you take the CJC case though, aside from the massive costs and disruption that the Cup day abandonment caused, their total ineptitude and flagrant disregard of NZTR guidelines and advice has already led to further disruption, cost to owners, interference with horses' campaigns etc. for at least 2 other meetings to date; the 2/12 meeting which was shifted to the AWT and now the Jan 19 meeting shifted to Ashburton. I don't see why the same penalties should not apply for those meetings as well. They are a direct result of the same incompetence. Maybe then the board would wake up and take some action.

May be a matter of semantics. Clubs do have to be registered with the codes but have to do something very bad to be de-registered. Betting licences and dates are issued by NZTAB though no doubt NZTR has an influence on those.

No. By TABNZ as I said including the dates.

Agree with that except they can't withhold licences. Betting licences are issued to clubs by TABNZ, not NZTR.

Stipes are not employed by NZTR.

Clubs are not licensed to NZTR. NZTR is their at there behest and does license trainers and jockeys.

No. Not the same. Clubs have not bought a franchise. They are the members of NZTR and together control it.

Sharrock can't roll heads at clubs, only at NZTR. What heads at NZTR do you think should roll?

Don't agree. The responsibility for track presentation lies squarely with clubs. Their boards, appointed management and staff.

Maybe the crowd went because it wasn't a dragged out borefest?

48 hours before and again on race morning.

They also pay GST to NZ on all profit from NZ based customers.

October Operational Performance Reported Profit for the month was $12.0m, which was $3.1m below Budget. Operating Expenses were $11.1m for the month, which was $1.1m above Budget. Year to Date Reported Profit is $33.6m, which was $5.6m below Budget Year to Date Operating Expenses were $32.1m, which was $1.6m above budget.

Not much. I noted the other day, an industry leader (breeder) who was a key player in getting the 2003 Act in place is now lamenting the lack of quality horses racing in New Zealand and the loss/downgrading of group races.

Maybe not many that are left but the likes of Chris Waller managed to find one 20 years ago.

They might have noticed but if they were going to do something they would have done so a decade or so ago. They all seem to just be resigned to going down with the ship or they are taking to the lifeboats.

I agree. The acting surprised is bizarre.

What would they get if they put those "investments" up for sale?

Don't really see how they could claim the likes of Feilding as a success story. Total assets are $2.1m investment in RACE which is basically broke. Marton has $228 in cash and an $805,000 investment in RACE.

True. If that spend stays with NZ racing, it might help. I've been arguing for less races and race days for 15 years or more.