Tesio

I’m not a magician chief......and i don't claim to know everything....but I’m a realist and i understand Industry trends and widgets .........Everyone has a part to play.......but in Westlands case and now seems like the remaining “Avondale of the coast” clubs ....not facing reality and front footing things will cost you in the long run. We all know NZTR, TAB and all those fat cat idiots of the past have dealt us a bad hand........but you can only play with the cards you have been dealt. The sooner West Coast racing realise that and does something about it the better. What’s the point of having clubs for 155 years like you hag your hat on Chief, if the club or the DNA of a club is not around for another 20yrs, 50yrs, 100yrs. Merge and move forward bigger and stronger is my final parting point on this particular thread.

It’s not the 1st of April Chief

Case in point right there.....

So let me guess.......your solution would be to 1/2 the number of race meetings at Riccarton and have 15 race meetings a year on the Coast?

The boot into Ellerslie based on KPI turnover per race day by surrounding population.......Gee wiz.....i thought you were better than that. Let me guess you also have not variant for clubs that sustain multiple meetings per year v one meeting clubs. Just shows you will look for any angle to justify to keep doing things based on the past.

Maybe some of the people who attended the “sold out day” might have different views. I think a sell out is a pass mark in most books.

Your forgetting a key component of Rate of Return .....capital growth. What’s the value of those tracks now days? If they are Industry tracks, then I would say their ROR to the industry is doing pretty OK.

Curious....I don't confess to having the magic solution.....but i do accept drastic change is needed, unlike many on here. As i mention previously, West Coast racing has shot itself in the foot, thanks to Westland Club. West Coast racing actually has a strategic advantage.....thing called a social licence. Very hard for NZTR TO SHUT DOWN RACING IN A REGION...but if all west coast clubs keep operating on a individual basis with their heads in the sand, then they will be picked off one by one. Presenting a united proactive proposal to NZTR on what a CHANGED FUTURE might look like on the West Coast could be a good start.

Not that bad for its worst day.....compared to Westland 1 and only big day that could only achieve $49k on course and 74 horses.

Huey, when have i said to kick everyone who doesn’t train at the big clubs? That’s ridiculous......some of you guys on here are so blinded that is impacting your thought process. We still need county racing .....for god sake who disagrees with that. But can you tell me the balance is right? Is the number of venues balance right? Let s get back to what started this, hoki, kumara, greymouth, Reefton.........what is even the population of Reefton...is it even a 1000 people? Do we need racing on the coast, yes....but in the say format that is has been done for the past donkey years....no.

Wow......stakes need to increase .........gee that’s a news flash.... clap clap....... Any by the way owner numbers have everything to do with needing to close some tracks...... you keep kicking the can down the road and lets just agree to disagree

Nomates.....if you cant piece together what horse numbers and reducing owner numbers has to do with THE COST TO THE INDUSTRY....then debating with you is a complete waste of time. Take those Te Akau blinkers off.

It’s not smoke and mirrors Nomates....you asked “what is the cost to the industry to prop up these lame ducks”...i gave you the response....horse numbers. Owners are exiting in droves....THAT IS THE COST!

I agree with your Chief. But i do believe Cambridge needed one for training and trialing benefits. Awapuni. No, waste of money. Riccarton, i lend towards no not exactly needed, but will have benefits for trainers at Riccarton.

Maybe you should study the horse population numbers......what does the past 10yr trend tell you. And while you are studying....look up ‘opportunity cost’.

Chief....I believe what Ellerslie and Counties are trying to do is the best news this industry has had for many years. It’s time to go hard or go home. Maybe West Coast racing could take a leaf out of their book, instead of always looking into the past. The Westland Club assets would have been a good start to underpin ‘West Coast Racing’....but that ship has sailed.

Nomates.....I didn’t mean clubs no longer have volunteers ....god I’m not that stupid......i was meaning my days are gone doing that. I agree, its a loss to some of these communities.....as mentioned i love going to the Kurow races. But every town does not need a race meeting....we are a small country.... I’m sure greymouth people can get in the car and go to Kumara or vers...... Once again.....think about the owners.....we don't have the horse population for all these race meeting...its uneconomic .....less races = better races. Less travel = owners burning less money. Less clubs/race tracks = less resourcing required. Take a close look at central district racing........industry money wasted on stakes for continual poor field numbers.

Yes...but Only the version that had commercial information retracted

Nomates...I have never said the small clubs are sucking the industry dry, to imply that is rubbish. But for small clubs to claim they have never had any industry support, well that’s rubbish. I too grew up as a kid painting rails, rubbing pigeon shit off seats, getting ready for our big race day......but that world is gone. Yes small clubs still have a place and are central to our industry, no body is disagreeing with that.....but 60 clubs and the number of tracks we have, well that’s another story. Like it or not the race calendar as you knew it is about to be turned upside down. Those small clubs that embrace that, and actually put their thinking caps on and position themselves for the future will survive. West coast racing is case in point...you have a golden opportunity....but you lot cant see the Trees from the Forrest.

Supply and demand is pretty fundamental to economics Reefton

Are you actually serious Reefton... “the return the Industry gets from their investment in the Auckland and Christchurch venues. I think poor old Westland might come out looking good”...... Reality check Reefton...There is no industry without venues like Riccarton or Ellerslie, ....ONCE AGAIN comments being shot off without thinking from a owners perspective. No I wont be coming to the coast.....your forget my reasons.....to far to travel horses for crap stakes is one of them. Actually I will be happily in Auckland to spend time at Ellersile on New Years Day, and before you shoot off again about my so called small mindedness (that could be the pot calling the kettle black) my favourite Raceday in NZ is actually Kurow.

To be honest with you Chief.......I’m just sick and tired of people looking backwards......not prepared to change (that includes NZTR) , doing things on the back of entitlement and because they have always been done that way. This industry is screwed if we don't drastically change. Owners are forgotten about in the general industry debate.....me i just have a simple business and breed to race......am i still going to keep doing that... yes. Will i race my 2yr old crop in the Sth island next year....prob not. I’m just as critical with CJC and their crap race programming for 2yr olds and 3yr olds.

Not as much as the Westland Racing Club paid to “suppliers and employees” for 2020....$254,100...........up a fraction form only $51,367 the previous year.

I dont think claiming your ratio is better than these clubs is summing to pin on the wall. NOT exactly the best benchmark some of those clubs....and then factor in their is approx 60 clubs in NZ. And crying over the $10m for Cambridge....FFS look at the horse population demographic.

‘Race Meeting Expenses’ paid for by ‘Industry Profit distribution’.........in summary the Industry is paying for the race meeting.......that same Industry you claim didn’t support Westland club.