Reefton

And Countdown and those outfits would not maintain an extremely valuable piece of real estate if their customers stopped frequenting it. They would sell it off and relocate where people did want to go or where the rate of return was a hell of a lot better.

Problem being that those smaller provincial centres are not aware that what is rightly theirs (under Clubs Constitutions) is going to be ripped off them under the legalised theft document that the current Racing Act represents.

My 'Business Plan' for NZTR (simple and to the point but guaranteed to achieve the maximum benefit for the NZ industry overall) 'Every Club will be asked to provide a rate of return analysis to the NZ Racing Industry based on the market value of their assets and the overall profit achieved by the Club(as a percentage) Clubs with a result of lower than the average ROR will be asked to justify their continuing to be issued permits to hold race meetings in this Country and further to explain why their assets should not be seized - as provided by the Racing Act 2021 - for the general benefit of the industry overall' Based on some of the wanker consultants your organisation has engaged over the years Bruce, the quality (or otherwise) of their output- generally incomprehensible garbage - and the quality and succinctness on that first line I believe a fee of $150,000 - plus GST of course - for my services(as a Chartered Accountant of 35 years of experience) in providing that advice is appropriate. Let me know where to email the invoice to will you

And that is in the depths of winter (that Te Rapa and Trentham have no crowds). We have seen them with bugger all more on some of their 'best' days (January and February) Racing as a passtime is rapidly goign down the toilet and the only ones keeping their head above water appeal wise are the Cromwells. Kumara, Kurow, and co(maybe one or two up north but I am not even sure who is running and where they are running anymore but Thames and the Wairarapa Clubs spring to mind).

I don't suppose the CJC cared JB. The had just been gifted a massive asset courtesy of the NZ taxpayer via the provincial growth fund. That is the most sickening aspect of the whole thing for me - a fund set up at NZ Firsts insistence to benefit the provinces twisted by Winston Peters to advantage the metropolitan areas and ultimately the result will be to massively disadvantage racing in those rural areas that fund was intended to promote The old saying - you don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Those big clubs have had millions and millions and millions of dollars lavished on them over decades and they still can't produce a quality product and nobody wants to go to their tracks (save for two or three days a year). It is bullshit

What is in the business plan might be unpalatable. 'We budget to pick up $10m from the sale of the Timaru asset (Washdyke) and $1m from their Omakau sale and $1m from Waikouiati and so on and so on and then we intend to give the lot to Riccarton to piss up against the wall' For the north just change the namesmaw applicable. There is no question in my mind the sale of assets that do not rightfully belong to the industry but to the towns and districts that developed and supported them for years is how it is intended to fund the industry in the short to medium term. What happens when all that dosh is gone? Well we will resign and let someone else sort that.

What is in the business plan might be unpalatable. 'We budget to pick up $10m from the sale of the Timaru asset (Washdyke) and $1m from their Omakau sale and $1m from Waikouiati and so on and so on and then we intend to give the lot to Riccarton to piss up against the wall' For the north just change the name saw applicable. There is no question in my mind the sale of assets that do not rightfully belong to the industry but to the towns and districts that developed and supported them for years is how it is intended to fund the industry in the short to medium term. What happens when all that dosh is gone? Well we will resign and let someone else sort that.

Potentially that is true. But to be fair the likes of me are not getting a lot of support attacking NZTR and Co. Not many other Clubs getting onto the front foot with these wankers

I've kept off this string for a while but on the face of it and from what I can see the Riccarton surface is not too bad and the racing (I think) of OK quality. As everyone knows Pitty is a mate of mine and I was delighted to see him, as a die hard supporter of the AWT, have a great day there the other day. His Savvy Man coming from three lengths last to win just shows how it is possible to win from anywhere there and that is heartening since there are an awful lot of eggs in one basket with this. Having only two courses in Canterbury, which is pretty plainly going to happen, means they cannot risk the AWT turning into a white elephant. They are already getting small field sizes and less that full rosters of races -the real test will be when they run nine times at Riccarton in two months from 28 July. Not sure what the cost is to renovate that track but lets say $1.5m every five years and that they run 20 meetings on it a year(ie 100 racedays in five years). That is $15k per day. I could be totally incorrect in terms of that cost or that period of time before it needs renovating but you can see how this thing MUST be successful to justify the spending that has gone on with it already and into the future. They(the CJC) ought to be provisioning(that is putting money aside) the maintenance cost already which ties in with Pam's point that turnover does not necessarily equate to profit . Although knowing NZTR they have probably promised to pay the maintenance cost for them - they seem to pay every other effing thing for those clubs. The people who love the concept might point at the ability to train in it as well but unless the CJC has hiked track fees through the roof the training aspect is irrelevant. Incidentally whatever happened to Te Akau for galloping on that grass track at Riccarton that was closed? Naughty boy J Richards! So in my view I think we have t give it a year or two. The reports I have had range from glowing(pretty obvious who that is) to Ok so time(as it so often does) will tell.

Much as I dislike the current administration I think Robertson might well have had one or two other more important things than Racing to occupy himself with. Actually it was a bit of an eye opener that Robertson took the job on. The bloke who managed the horse I mentioned told me then(three or four years ago - not sure) that McAnulty was going to be the next Minister of Racing. The industry has to face it that we are not high priority when it comes to the activities of government unless it is Winston Raymond who manages to slither his way back into power and then it is his mates and backers who get all the attention paid to them and all their needs and wants catered to. Incidentally reading the court news over those NZ First personnel up on fraud charges it looks like Winnie has managed to extract himself from scrutiny once again. I would love to know exactly who the mystery donors to them were(but I have my suspicions!)

Kieran McAnulty new Racing Minister(outside Cabinet). Used to be a TAB bookie. I had the misfortune to be a co shareholder in a horse with him once. I avoided being introduced to him since I can't stand anything to do with horseface Adhern but the Missus couldnt avoid meeting him and reckoned he was a dick. Suspect he will be putty in the hands of the likes of Sharrock and his cronies

Is that right? Given how many of them have suffered issues in the MC maybe it is time for a new scanning machine. Clearly the current one is not too effective in picking up issues

fair comment Pam but the 'going amiss' might well have had something to do with the track or lameness/pain medications being used on horses(I don't want to cast an aspersion on anyone in saying that just a fact) And regarding jockeys well your Oxford Aunt(?) copped plenty in the 1000 Guineas and it was not your rider's fault nor(as I remember) a southern rider who jammed the anchors on in front Sometimes falls and misfortunes happen in this game - it is just a fact of life Though I must convey a quote from a very good West Coast Trainer of yesteryear - he used to like to have a certain well known and now retired senior rider on because(he said) 'he can see the trouble coming 200m away and gets out of the road'

lets be fair the Melbourne Cup has hardly been exemplary for horse welfare in the last few years. I think falls happen everywhere

Might be right but equally lets be clear that if a Chinese aircraft carrier or two is sighted off Cape Reinga the first ones we will be squealing for are the Americans. A lot of the world holds the Americans in contempt but if the manure hits the air conditioning I think I would prefer them to be on our side

Dead right. To NZ the Chinese are everything(trade wise) whereas to China we are an absolute drop in the bucket. They could chop us off at the drop of a hat. They do it regularly with the forestry industry and they used to do it with coal as well - just suddenly say 'we don't want any more' which leaves people set up to produce the stuff in the absolute shit.

Quite right. I am pretty neutral between them but NZ needs both the Yanks and China. The Yanks wont help us with our trade but the Chinese wont help us with our security If the Chinese get the shits with us we could be in for a pretty rough right economy wise. Pretty fine line to walk and I don't know if there is anyone in NZ with the ability to walk it. John Key maybe but he is long gone

He might have fallen out with the powers that be in China and they have extracted their revenge. Who knows

That about sums it up. We will just drift away. I should have gone years ago and saved myself a lot of grief. To be blunt I doubt the people of Reefton appreciate the effort put in on their behalf in any case and as far as having the odd share in a nag well that would be the biggest mug's game going(closely followed by punting).

think it is a six story building not a three.

Don't know why they would replace the rail if they are not guaranteed a race meeting. That would seem like a waste to me. They aren't the only club with money though - Westland had about $300k from land sales(they have now given most of it away to the Council of course) and Riccarton must have a fortune in their kitty from the Grandstand insurance proceeds and the land sales. Greymouth sold land for good(ish) money too. Auckland will not be short either after selling the hill. Difference with the CJC and ARC though is that they might have money in the bank but they will still have their hand out for more handouts from NZTR and their cronies(who will be dumb enough to give it to them)

I said it wasn't just the horse industry but in the horse industry you had the opportunity to buy a mare for a hundred quid in the UK using a Bahamas registered company then sell it for a million to an unsuspecting limited partnership shareholder in little old NZ. Pay no tax in the Bahamas on the profit and Bob's ya uncle! I know there were rorts here too in the gold mining and farming games but they were not as spectacular as some of them sharpie lawyers in Auckland and Sydney were getting up to.

exactly I know of at least one left to carry the can when horses didn't sell. Risky business especially when the economy turns agin you

indeed

And your comment was that Te Akau's terms were the same as everyone else's - payment within 30 days. I merely pointed out that those were not the terms that a lot of people work on with NZB AND said I have no idea or interest in what David Ellis' terms are with NZB As far as NZB not 'carrying anyone' for very long again you are a little naive. There will be a million pin hookers riding on NZB finance from March this year through to November next year and the Ready to Runs. Finance is how an awful lot of NZ's richlist make their money. It ain't you buying a new Merc that makes Colin Giltrap the money - it is you putting it on the never never paying a higher rate and a ton of admin charges, leasing it and possibly insuring it through them that makes the dosh. Ditto Eric Watson years ago through Noel Leeming, Bond & Bond or whatever. And that carrying pin hookers is the 'head winds' you mention that will be concerning NZB - and a lot of Aussie bloodstock companies - right now as well. Both here and in Aussie Not sure how good you understanding is of Te Akau but unless you are in Ellis' very close team I doubt you know for sure what his financing arrangements are. He possibly covers it himself with banking arrangements(but I emphasis again that is none of my business or my concern) Pretty well known that Bart was let down by a bunch of Accountants and their cronies who ran for the hills when the sharemarket crashed and left the great man high and dry. You only need to read some of the books about the limited partnerships in films and bloodstock and God knows what else in the 80's to realise what a disreputable bunch of pricks were operating then. Impossible not to have sympathy for poor old Bart but we all know you cannot trust an Accountant(LOL)