curious

If you bothered to look, you'd see I corrected that to 5.7m.

What I am advocating is aimed particularly to avoid the racing industry having the same outcome that GR is facing, that includes things like track safety measures which I thought you supported and are still not being addressed as they should imo.

That's true but the 4% duty here has just been phased out. A change of political environment could possibly restore it at pretty much the stroke of a pen. We still have the 1% problem gambling levy.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/36324958/british-racing-strike-carlisle-uttoxeter-staffordshire-kempton/ https://bitofayarn.com British racing to go on strike for first time in protest at betting tax rise www.thesun.co.uk BRITISH racing is set to go on strike for the first time EVER next month. September 10 events at Carlisle, Uttoxeter, Kempton and Lingfield Park are all set to be scrapped. Four events are set to be scrapped next month, including at LingfieldCredit: Getty The Treasury have proposed to up taxes paid by bookies on racing profits from 15 to 21 per cent - in line with online casinos. According to The Times, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) have organised the strike, which could cost the industry around £700,000, in opposition to the proposal. Each meeting will be rescheduled at a later date. The BHA claim that the proposed change would cost the sector £66million every year and put up to 2,752 people out of a job While they also warned that it would send the sport into "irreversible decline". The proposed strike is set to take place just one day before the start of the St Leger Festival at Doncaster. This means that the issue will be placed at the forefront of the sport by the time the prestigious event, which prime minister Keir Starmer attended alongside his wife last year, comes around. Chief executive of the BHA Brant Dunshea said: "This latest tax bombshell from the Government, if followed through, poses one of the gravest risks to horseracing the sport has ever seen. “The horseracing industry is already in a precarious financial position, and the latest research provides a much more catastrophic forecast than we first thought. “We’re talking thousands of jobs at risk across the supply chain, severely impacted towns and communities, and the irreversible decline of the country’s second most popular sport.” Owners remove £195,000 Grade 2-winning horse from Gordon Elliott’s yard with his blessing and send to his protege It's claimed that bookies would likely look to increase their prices should the proposal come into effect - https://bitofayarn.com while two thirds of punters claim that a tax increase would push people towards the gambling black market. It's also said that bookmakers would cut their advertising and market budgets - while turning their focus towards online gaming. David Menuisier, a trainer at Coombelands Racing Stables, recently told The Sun: “Racing is much more than just a sport in this country. “It brings fun and excitement to millions and is a major local employer, particularly here in West Sussex as we prepare for another fantastic year at Goodwood.”

I take from your comments that you now think that advocating for horse and human welfare in racing is anti-racing?

And a couple of strides later on the second horse.

Maybe hadn't quite woken up or needed another coffee when watching the first?

If you have evidence to the contrary, why not send him that and also post it here to educate the rest of us?

I'm sure Marco already has it.

What poll are you talking about that I did? If you are talking about the cafe whip use one, it probably mostly includes responses from industry folk doesn't it? Owners, trainers, punters and administrators? Maybe a few bots you think?

It looks like the bulk of racing people support that including the leadership. Just needs some action now.

I certainly won't and I've already commented that it likely won't get much traction as you point out with the massive 60 signatures to date.

The sad thing is that as with GRNZ, NZTR and the RIB don't recognise the threat, let alone show an inclination to do anything about it. anything about it.

Not sure where you get that idea. My betting in NZ has doubled?

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/