curious

NZTAB distributed $12m of pokie generated funding to the racing industry in FY24. Not sure what you mean by it being lost.

Agree. Hard to split them and most in or close to their best form. Possibly the best open class race in the SI this season?

Gold Coast track gets tick for Millions day: ‘We could have raced today' https://www.racenet.com.au/news/gold-coast-track-gets-green-light-for-magic-millions-day-20250108 Watch the crucial track gallop that gave the course the tick of approval. By Trenton Akers 06:17pm • 09 January 2025 One of the most respected stewards in the world says the repair job at the controversial Gold Coast track worked so well, they could have raced the Magic Millions on Thursday if it was required. After almost a week of mixed messaging and uncertainty, it took less than half an hour for Kim Kelly to give $14.5m meeting the green light on Thursday morning after senior jockeys Vlad Duric, Chad Schofield, Jimmy Orman, Michael Cahill, Andrew Mallyon and Martin Harley tested the new turf. "We looked at it yesterday (Wednesday) and I was confident that if, at a pinch, the races were on today (Thursday), we could have done it," Kelly, the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission's deputy commissioner said. "The time between Wednesday and Saturday is just a bonus." While officials have managed to dodge a bullet with the track, they are facing a new potential issue, with up to 30mm of rain forecast to fall at the Gold Coast on Saturday's race day. The meeting was famously washed out in 2023 with just 14mm of rain overnight, however the new sand-based Gold Coast track is much more resilient to downpours, should they arrive. With grass guru's Evergreen Turf replacing the entire affected patch of killed off grass earlier in the week, racing officials are confident the new slab will race consistently with the rest of the course proper. "The contractors, Racing Queensland and the club have done a great job in getting the affected area back to where it is now," Kelly said. "It was all very positive. "The rain on Wednesday night could have only helped it, natural irrigation is better than any other irrigation. "I am very confident, the feedback from the riders was positive, as I expected it would be after looking at the track. "We are very happy with the outcome so far, there are no issues with the meeting on Saturday at this stage at all." The six jockeys who rode on the track on Thursday were not permitted to make public comments about their gallops earlier in the day. Additional track staff will be on hand to inspect the area at the 500m mark on Saturday after each race

It's the handicapping system. She's rated 102 so she gets 62 less the 2kg female allowance. Shamus rated 98 gets 2kgs less, but not the allowance.

Anyone seen comparable figures for TR? Interesting that this notes the crowds at the country venues of Central Otago and Motukarara and furthermore that "The highest turnover meeting of the holiday break was at Motukarara on December 29, with total turnover of $1.62m." Holiday season turnovers up 3.4 per cent January 8, 2025 NZHarnessNews Harness racing turnovers for the busy Christmas – New Year period have seen a more than three per cent rise on last year. Latest figures from Entain show that turnover on the 10 meetings between Cambridge on Christmas Eve and Omakau on January 2 was 3.4 per cent up on the corresponding time the previous year, with the number of individuals betting on harness racing up 5 per cent. “It’s been a good time for our sport, we’ve seen some huge crowds at places like Central Otago and Motukarara and turnovers have been strong right across the board,” says HRNZ’s Head of Racing and Wagering Matthew Peden. Auckland’s New Year’s Eve meeting at Alexandra Park was a particular success. Total turnover on the meeting was $1.48m compared to $822K last year. “In terms of averages, that equates to $148,000 per race, compared to $103,000 last year so that is a great result for the ATC (Auckland Trotting Club),” says Peden Gore’s meeting on December 27 was also up, turning over $1.36m, as was Cambridge up from $687K to $904K (but with three extra races) while Omakau, the opening meeting on the Central Otago circuit, was up marginally from $1.39m to $1.43m. The highest turnover meeting of the holiday break was at Motukarara on December 29, with total turnover of $1.62m. “One observation about The Mot though was there are challenges with cellphone coverage that impacts people putting bets on, so getting a solution to that is a priority.” Overall turnover from December 24 – January 2 was $11,668,682 in 2024-25, compared to $11,288,232 in 2023-24. “Generally speaking it’s a good solid start to 2025 and as always we will be looking at what improvements in all areas, including wagering and the race day experience for everyone,” says Peden

Yes.....but what were they thinking is the question for me. Hopefully one of our esteemed racing journalists can get to the bottom of it.

Last I knew there was a 30 day pre-export quarantine for the US and 2 weeks post-arrival quarantine which if that's right would make it unfeasible aside from being highly unlikely in the first place. I don't see the point, let alone the rationale for the commitment to costs. Hopefully someone from NZTR will explain soon.

I suppose the question is now whether the patch is consistent enough with the rest of the track to be safe to race on.

GC track works completed Ryan Reynolds @Reynolds_R 8:34am The affected section of the track at Gold Coast (Image: Gold Coast Turf Club) With Ben Sporle Key works on the Gold Coast Turf Club track have been completed as the clock ticks down to Saturday's feature Magic Millions Raceday. The club announced on Tuesday night that the new grass had been laid and key works completed after a significant portion of the track was damaged last week. That damage forced last Saturday's key lead-up meeting to be moved to the Sunshine Coast, allowing the club time to fix the track ahead of this weekend's $14.5m meeting. Evergreen Turf and VRC track manager Liam O'Keeffe were called in to assist to project, while Eagle Farm is on standby to host the meeting if required. Horses are set to gallop over the impacted section of track on Thursday morning with a call made shortly after on whether the meeting will proceed. Meanwhile, on Tuesday afternoon the Gold Coast Turf Club released a statement in relation to the investigation surrounding the damaged course proper. Spray nozzles, mixing equipment and footprints were found in the area were the damage occurred. Police are continuing their investigation in relation to the incident. “We’re awaiting an independent report from leading agronomist company Easton Turf, who has been up to take samples of the damaged turf, but it’s looking more and more a case of vandalism,” said GCTC Chairman Brett Cook. “We know the spray nozzles aren’t ours because they’re plastic and we use brass. “Easton Turf has seen a number of similar cases in the past and has spoken with the investigating police. “If it does turn out to be a deliberate act, which is looking increasingly likely, we’re very disappointed with a narrative that has come out suggesting it was some sort of mistake on our part.”

For me, most of the time, I'm not there to see that and the bet has long been on so I don't generally account for any visual observations like that.

I don't really see why you wouldn't back test when you have years of data to do that with. Forward or prospective testing takes years to get reliable results.

I meant what is the tradeoff?

No. I bet with about 10.

Have to assume these are still held up in the post Christmas post?

What's that?

Well, I'll just say that I've looked after 100s of horses with viruses around the world, and never known a vet anywhere recommend an injectable treatment for a virus. As a trainer, I guess that means I shouldn't be in business.

Why would that be? trade secrets? Surely effective treatment of sick horses is something that should be shared? Especially if there's an effective injectable treatment for viruses. Simple question. You brought it up and I have no idea why it would take an encyclopedia to answer the question.

Read again. The figures are for 5 years.

I think using 110,000 starters as a sample rather than 15000 is hardly cherry picking.

Because it's been deemed unacceptable by the public and the government.

I think you'll find the public perception wrt dogs used as pets and dogs used for entertainment and commercial purposes is not the same. So it's apples and oranges.

And they've altered it significantly in Victoria. “Last financial year’s 43 fatalities represented 0.039 per cent of the 110,422 starters in Victorian greyhound racing, down from 69 (0.068 per cent) in 2019-20. “With over 110,000 starters in about 15,000 races in Victoria annually, fatalities and serious injuries in racing are rare.”

If that's the case, then it's a lost cause. Maybe, but if that perception is wrong, the industry has done nothing to change it. Horse racing is headed down the same track imo.

Fatality rates and public perception particularly.