Brodie

The TAB turnover is exaggerated by all these bonus csh, bonus bets and the bets being refunded if your horse doesnt win but runs 2nd or 3rd! This would clearly distort the true amount of turnover as they will be getting no return whatsoever from the money they are given out. They do this to try and get the smaller punters hooked on racing and turn away the loyal punters who will dramatically increase turnover?

Agree to disagree Galah! Personably believe it has to be run as a business and not the way it currently is! No way would any successful business ever be able to spend more money than they are receiving and survive. A struggling business that received money like the TAB has should always utilise it to better the company! The problem with the TAB as a business is that the ones who are making these decisions are on big salaries and have no financial interest in it! If they did have their own money in it, they would not be making these poor decision! Apart from Gamma, does anyone have any confidence that harness is going go be able to be more than a shell in 5 years time?

Not going to get personal as it achieves nothing, however I firmly believe that we need people at HRNZ with business success. I know from experience that there are some people that get appointed to positions not for their ability but because of being mates or because it suits there agenda! There is just so much wrong coming out of HRNZ that it is really going to have a bad result for harness racing in the future, but hey HRNZ PR thinks it is all good? Personally think it is long overdue for a review of what HRNZ is currently doing for the good of the industry, if things dont change there is not going to be an industry!!!!!

Not too sure why we want horses like Leap To Fame, Swayzee, Kingman and the Ozzie trotters racing in NZ. Yes many enthusiasts do like to watch the fast class racing, however is it really in the best interests for NZ harness? The biggest stake money is not staying in NZ at the moment when we actually need it staying in NZ! We used to have the NZ horses going to Oz and plundering many of the big race stake money, and do you think the Ozzies liked it? Gamma states that several of the Ozzie states racing is basically bankrupt and being held together by Individuals and the state governments! And here we have these ozzies making the financial decisions that affect our racing?? Anyway, at least we have started to have a Summer finally!

Gamma, the thing is they should not be racing for the stake money they currently are!!! It should have been used far more wisely than they have and ultimately the buck stops with Brad Steele! The stakes they have put up they just can not afford, only being paid due to the Entain cash splash. There are going to be a helluva lot of owners and trainers give it away when they are racing for significantly what they are currently racing for.

Gamma, you are never in the bad books loo you did hit the nail on the head with your last comment! “they might run out of money in 2 years”. Nothing surer than them running out of money again, even though they were given a lifeline! Personally believe that they have acted irresponsibly and it will be shown as such!! If We are wrong then how about someone come on to BOAY and totally dispel what we are saying, it is not hard to do that?

Gamma, do not think there are Cheap Shots being fired at Brad Steele at all! I believe that if you asked Canterbury based harness enthusiasts if they thought harness racing is viable in the future with the way the Entain cash splash has been used, most would say no. It is very easy to spend other peoples money as it is no detriment to their own finances. Gamma, you are allowed obviously to think that the racing is great and owners and trainers are doing well at the moment due to HRNZs actions! Personally do not think they have done a very good job at all with the opportunity they have had, but the truth of the matter will come in the next year or two as to who is right?? Due to the decisions they have made, unfortunately I believe they are going to be in a dire situation finance wise. Entain shareholders are going go be getting 50% of the profit as far as I understand after the 5 years but am unaware of what level of funding for harness racing they have to provide? It would only be a guess as to what the stakes are going to be in 2 years time so no point, however it is going to be significantly less than they are now!

Anyone know for certain that the Committee was formed? Did they actually have a meeting? What has come from this meeting if it actually happened?? Nothing at all?? Lost cause?? Anything decided??

Biggest gambling problem for some is being able to get enough money on! The AML limit of $1k is another gambling problem! At the end of the day it is going to affect the TAB far more than Brodie

At the end if the day, there has to be some personal responsibility from all of us. If you are a poor punter do you seriously believe the TAB will restrict you? If you can afford to wager larger amounts then why is the TAB restricting these punters? Total hypocrisy! Anyone know did the big meeting that Winston wanted actually happen ? Never heard a thing??

Lol, Galah mustve been a politician at some stage? Really is that the best HRNZ can do, just a nothing interview ? Surely he should be able say how many mares had been bred so far without this other BS? Mentioned Taupo racing as a positive, but didnt mention the elephants in the room! said more punters effectively but the cost of living is affecting turnover?? Mr Steele it is not the cost of living that is affecting turnover any more than other times!! You allow the TAB Bookies to stop punters from wagering, you have allowed Entain/ TAB to make poor decisions in regards to several wagering decisions and Trackside production and yet you come out with this?? If they wanted turnover to be increased then it would be exceptionslly easy to do but they would rather restrict it and not encourage wagering! HRNZ and harness participants are going to get a rude awakening shortly, as too many in the industry are scared to speak up as they will be shown the door.

Was actually talking about HRNZ rather than Entain, but Entain only wanted the TAB for sports and online gambling and we can see that clearly. Not talking about HRNZ back in their hey day, it is the current way that they have been operating for the last decade! Yes harness racing is a great product not denying that, unfortunately the best of it bas been and dramatic change is close. Gamma, in the next year or so, I would be betting my last cent that you will be coming on BOAY and saying that yes Brodie you were totally on the money. No way on earth can a business be run the way it has been over the past few years and succeed!!!!! I repeat that the only way the can pay the current level of stakes is thru the hundreds of millions that they have been gifted, when that dries up???????

Cuts are inevitable the way they are blowing the money from Entain! .The truth of the matter is that Entain being brought in as the White Knight to save racing in NZ wouldve been ok if the industry hadve used the money wisely, and not like a kid in a lolly shop!! Can not talk about the gallops as I not interested in them but I have yet to meet a single person that has confidence in the ones making the decisions! nothing personal but they have acted extremely irresponsibly with industry money and not their own! All the time being paid big salaries and ultimately they will be down the road. Does anyone actually believe that the ones making these decisions have ever had any success running a business, as that is what harness racing is?

Why spoil the fun. Lol

They named a race after Craig lol There are others who are doing great things for harness and are unpaid financially, but he is very lucky, they named several races for his efforts!