Horseboy

The Left wing in New Zealand always has the numbers to win EVERY election. They just don't turn out. Key was the most successful National PM ever because he pulled the Nats to the left (GST raise, increased social and welfare spending, environmental controls etc etc). Jaz has just permanently branded herself and people won't forget. Remember less and less of the NZ population own property, so why would they care of the evil landlords have to suck down a 30% capital gains tax. But if dreams are free if you think Bridges will achieve anything.

Must be rather sad to live with this kind of cynicism.. Maybe it explains why the industry is in the state its in.. Like her or loathe her Jaz just got a second term and maybe before you pile into her lack of sincerity, look at the useless waste of space that is Simon Bridges and if you are a National Party supporter ask how the fark he was elected leader. I would have thought racing people would by now be able to recognise a flawed leadership election process when they saw one..

I got a deposit $30 and get $20 bonus bet. Great, nothing wrong with that. But I find the whole approach so substandard compared to their competition, some thoughts: -The offer came through Wednesday and had to be taken up that day. Is hump day the best day to encourage betting when so much focus is on the weekend and is only 12 hours a reasonable time frame? -Zero reference or mention of WHY I should top up - this is in comparison to competitors who will revolve the top offer around an up coming large race IE ALL STAR MILE this weekend top up. -Besides a graphic which is hidden on email clients zero reference to racing. I just don't believe this TAB has the expertise or personal to be competitive. They prove this time and time again and regardless of the corporate spin we get on the global wagering market they are going to get creamed. Feels like moving the deck chairs.

This should allow freeview coverage. Someone with a brain would be talking to TV3, organise an Olympic style coverage through the course of a major carnival. Long form interviews, personalities, etc Hit the casuals once a year, build excitement, draw people in and convert them into deeper involvement.

If you don't even know the guys name how much information research could you possibly have done before jumping on here. You basically just ruled yourself out of this one buddy.

This is straight slander informed by ignorance. Luke Kemeys is a chartered accountant as a full time job and has set up a not for profit foundation that will reinvest any BGP earnings back into racing promotion/events etc. All this information is widely available and posted open for anyone to see on the group. But dont let me get in the way of a bunch of idle speculation and mud slinging...

Isn't there a distinction missing... A club operating at no loss on it's own balance sheet Vs The long term cost to the governing body to maintain that track and before you have a crack at me i'm not bagging Reefton!

I asked a question that you chose not to answer, if by your previous post the writing is on the wall what are you intended objectives of 'taking these assholes on'?

Thanks mate, you comparing your racing club closure to the advance of the Nazi's across the European continent says about all that is needed about your lack of perspective.

So you accept it's going to happen anyway but will fight the whole process, thereby costing more money in legal fees and admin, something you regularly say you despise. Question: If it's going to happen, why not embrace the change and try find a positive solution?

Is there an opportunity cost from an international wagering perspective? Ie when NZ racing is broadcast into Australian pubs, are they more likely to bet on Ellerslie because it has name recognition (like Kiwis might with Flemington compared to Wagga Wagga).

It indicates how many people were on course betting with cash.

Why are on course turnover figures still relevant in a world of apps and international broadcast?

The broadcast arm of NZ racing should not be controlled by the wagering arm. Broadcasting should have a wide range of objectives, one of which would be encouraging turnover but other important factors would include presenting the sport for owners, participants and fans. NZ TAB is only concerned with turnover now. This pretty much explains why so much of our media has been diluted.

What is an indisputable fact? that more old people who like horses and punt live in small rural towns on the west coast? cutting edge market analysis there.. the only problem is that once again that has stuff all to do with that racing will be in 10, 20 or 30 years does it..

The logic behind this comparison is flawed. Though good to know you count children as potential punters!

It's not hypocrisy at all - the report called for the closing of an AUCKLAND TRACK. I am more than happy to retain West Coast tracks (assume that's where you are from), clearly the community wants them, but that doesn't mean all need to be retained. Maybe rather than bemoaning that so few people in our biggest city don't care about racing maybe we should ask WHY! And maybe we should bloody do something to change their minds. Hey there's a start...

If that logic held up for patronage of events, why are they trying to get a waterfront stadium to replace Eden Park? Why not build something out at Kumeu, it's only 30mins up the NorthWestern?

Because forfeiting a central Auckland race track would be madness. One of NZs fastest growing cities, biggest population, highest growing asian population (they like a punt don't they?). If you rely on Auckland public transport to bring a crowd you will be sorry.

If i was a successful Australian Racing administrator coming into this country to produce a report a few things would probably be apparent pretty quickly: 1. The overall structure under the Racing Act is buggered and is about making racing easy for politicians to deal with than it is about providing a positive environment for racing to compete. After talking to the main powers and understanding the relevant political frameworks a new more streamlined structure would be apparent. 2. A country of less than 5 million people who don't have a massive underlying gambling culture is going to struggle to maintain a competitive wagering business unless outsourcing is considered. 3. Everyone up and down the country agrees they have too many tracks, compared with other racing jurisdictions they have too many tracks. People will argue until they are blue in the face about what tracks aren't or are needed and frankly there is no way you have the time nor local knowledge to adequately assess this. So in typical Aussie negotiating fashion you hit everyone square between the eyes and put every course and club on notice. Now all of a sudden everyone is running around, putting together business plans, consulting the local communities and politicians, generally making their case as to why they should stay. Of course whether you yourself ever believed that 20 odd tracks should be shut isn't really the point. All of a sudden everyone is off their arses asking what the future could look like, rather than complaining about the past.

I'll say this about engaging interest, it can be done - you just need a decent plan and target the right channels. We have the massive advantage of Australian racing, if no where else in the world cared about racing then it would be an uphill battle. But we can piggy back, new sports fans are used to having a global appetite and while that can be seen as a negative (ie leakage, focus elsewhere) it also offers an opportunity. Maybe we can all start by not being so bloody negative about the sport and promoting how great watching a champion run can be... Everything can be improved and there are no lost battles!

What are the top 3 things that need to be changed so that our major metro tracks can generate positive returns?

In what areas do the NZ metro tracks failure where say the Australian ones are more successful?

I would think emulating success would be a good start. Didn't Aus rationalise the amount of tracks years ago?

Seems like an interesting idea. What successful racing jurisdiction forgoes major metropolitan tracks?