Reefton

So the subsidy received for those 135 would be about $79k per week. Even if they are only getting 80% the industry will be stumping up $226k plus a week to keep these chaps in the manner to which they have become accustomed. And that presumes none of them have had payrises in the last nine months.

Should we be starting a vote of no confidence petition? Categorized by licence holders/punters/owners/Club administrators. Present it to the Minister once this lockdown is over with. Strikes or boycotts as mooted in the past were all OK theoretically but it is human nature for those who see an opportunity(via others non participation) to make a quid - or it this case to win a race. Surely a vote of no confidence in the current administration could get a 75% take up at least of licence holders and Club adminstrators? And surely the Minister (whoever it might be) would have to take notice of an overwhelming majority like that?

Yeah I sort of get a feel for it when I get up to Reefton and scrub the bird shit off the grandstand seats.

Fair comment. Knew that but making a point. The productive guys get shit all while the suits get a fortune. Quite a parallel to the NZ racing Industry really Pam? When lockdown is over and you're struggling in the middle of July getting up at 4 in the morning with slow horses and mud up to your knees you will know what I mean

Typical pricks who aren't paying their own bills To be fair to the greyhound people I imagine that is groundsmen, starters, catering people, maybe even their tote staff(I imagine they employ their own given how often they run though they wouldn't need many) 91 for the RIU and 595 for RITA is a bit of an eye opener but I would say if you looked at any government department or local authority in this country you would be horrified to see the number of staff employed, In The Press the other day they said there were 530 staff at the Christchurch City Council on over $100000. I wouldn't have thought they would have 530 in total let alone 530 on more than $100000. The biggest stumbling block(in my opinion) to NZ recovering from this Covid 19 economic crisis will be the sheer size of the bureaucracy that has built up in publicly funded jobs (and these are classic examples). Until someone sacks a heap (and I mean a HEAP) of them and reduces drastically the salaries of the rest the Country will never get sorted economically. Based on those numbers I would estimate that RITA has claimed for 560 full time and 35 part time staff. No wonder the game is fucked but I have been telling them that for years and nobody really listened(well nobody in a position of authority that is) One would wonder what they all do but hey what do those 530 at the Christchurch City Council do?(because the blokes picking up rubbish bins or cleaning the sewers won't be on $100000). I haven't been looking the chat sites a hell of a lot lately so haven't been in the loop. I am tired of racing because I know as soon as they are back up and running they will be wanting to grab Club assets to try to get themselves solvent again(and I really am past caring). Plus I have grave concerns for most of my clients and my own business future and accordingly have more important things to worry about.

I never bother taking part in these things(I waste enough time on racing) but I do get the emails for these Clubs teleconferences they(NZTR) have regularly for the Club Reps. Just get an email of 'responses to questions raised' at the latest one(yesterday?) This little gem included Club funding/insolvency: The Government has signalled that retrospective legislation creating a six-months safe-harbour for directors of companies facing significant liquidity problems because of COVID-19 a ‘safe harbour’ from insolvency duties under the Companies Act. Although clubs are incorporated societies and not companies, it can reasonably be anticipated that a similar safe-harbour will be applied to incorporated societies, to the extent that such insolvency duties apply to incorporated societies. We will keep clubs advised on this point. We would also ask that clubs disclose any solvency issues to NZTR as soon as they are able. I wonder which Clubs have committee men and women with cold shivers running down their spines just now? (and I haven't so its not me or the RJC!)

Quote from the latest NZTR circular on the Coronavirus issue 'NZTR is deeply disappointed to hear that some trainers have allegedly been considering nominating owners as false stable hands in order to access race meetings, putting our whole industry at risk' Bit rich considering those wankers have been trying to destroy the industry themselves for years with their mismanagement and promotion of the Messara land theft tripe.

What have you ever offered? The two simple solutions are to attack the excessive cost structure of the TAB and reduce stakes(and the inherent subsidies paid to the bludger big Clubs) to reflect the reality of current turnovers. Stop worrying about the Breeders who rule the industry via having the Minister in their pocket. And in lieu of the stakes make race entries free The removal of NZ's international status is a certainty(sooner or later) and they know it. While I should be sad at that inevitability these pricks are doing their best to root the industry via their puppet so I will have no sympathy

It should bring Melody Belle into Winx level favouritism. While the Aussie horses will be spooked by the lack of patrons she will be quite used to racing in front of nobody!

I mean if, say, Group race stakes in NZ quadrupled. Would it put the NZ Breeders in a financial position to stop the sale of the next Dundeel to Aussie Breeders? Or secure a Zoustar or So You Think or Pierro for their operations? No it wouldn't and if they think it will they are living in fairyland.

The changes are driven by the thoroughbred breeding industry which(it has become apparent) is shitting itself lest NZ lose its international status and Group races. I have said it before that globalization has stuffed the NZ Breeding industry. They cannot compete and in the age of shuttle stallions will never be able to unless the government brings in massive consessions for the industry and then the international breeders will swamp the locals anyway. And even if all this money they are trying to steal from the small clubs was out direct into stakes the effect will be temporary - the big racing jurisdictions with either huge populations and betting(Aussie and Hong Kong) or with astonishing wealth (Dubai) will just go up a cog or two and again leave NZ in their dust again. It is inevitable that NZ Racing will lose its international standing at some time - it might be unpalatable to some but our standard is not as good as it was and that is reality. The breeding industry is like the motor vehicle assembly businesses of 40 or 50 years ago(and of course the Holden episode in Aussie is another example) - progress has rendered them irrelevant and uncompetitive internationally and whatever they do they won't change that. It is sad but it is reality but these pricks, via their buying the current Ministers favour, are determined that if they go down the entire industry is going down with them. The halfwits running the racing hierarchy and the TAB are not helping either obviously but while they either remain in the pockets of the Breeding faction or are just totally lacking in empathy for the game then what else can we expect.

They are doing their bit to stop the spread though I have to admit. They only want race meetings in NZ that nobody wants to go to. Anywhere that attracts a decent crowd is to be summarily eliminated. Can't be encouraging people to actually enjoy themselves at the races now can we? God forbid they may actually become attracted to the game.

What are you lot worried about? Winston, Dean, Bernard and their cronies are intent on destroying the industry now. What difference will it make if it is destroyed in two years not five? So long as there is enough left in the kitty to pay their redundancies they won't give a stuff.

https://www.racingnews.co.nz/life-is-a-picnic/

We are nothing special Ludwig just a bunch of really enthusiastic Committee with a big mouth President. We are though typical of the one day clubs in that we are smashing our heads against a brick wall trying to work out how the rationale works of closing courses like ours that are attracting punters and horses, doing reasonable turnovers, at least holding our own financially and not costing the industry a cent. Nobody has been able to adequately explain it and nobody has even tried. All we get is 'the status quo is not an option'. It might not be for the CJC or the other big clubs but they want to look at their own activities first not try to cannibalise those who have looked after their money and resources.

Apparently they were unhappy with the way the Club was being run. He also mentioned the poor crowd there that day (3000 people according to Henry Plumtre). Fairly poor turnout for a horse they are touting as a Champion but it explains the need for Te Akau to step up and sponsor that fillies race.

Repeat myself why don't I? That was an interesting comment by Henry Plumtre re why Cambridge stopped sponsoring at Te Rapa. Maybe all is not in 100% harmony among the hoi polloi in NZ Thoroughbred racing?? I must say for spending a million or thereabouts of industry funds and having arguably/supposedly the best horse NZ has seen in the last few years on show Te Rapa did a piss poor turnover oncourse $158k versus $160 last year. And $2.5m off course versus $2.7m last year. Someone has to realise this is not an acceptable or reasonable return on that level of industry funding.

After watching that maybe (if those politicians listen) we might have a hope. Though I presume NZTR and their cronies are still to come?

After watching that maybe (if those politicians listen) we might have a hope. Though I presume NZTR and their cronies are still to come?

Big issue for us small clubs is we do not have the time or the resources to travel up there to appear before the Select Committee. NZTR, the NZRB/RITA, Thoroughbred Breeders and their cronies and the Big Clubs of course, bloated by the huge level of industry funding provided to them(and given their over staffing probably having eff all else to do), will be appearing end masses. Result the Select Committee are liable to think small clubs don't care. We submitted but I am realistic we don't have a hope.

I was a bit harsh on them actually. I got told $125 but the actual oncourse was $144(maybe intertrack the difference?). Offcourse $2.5m Trentham(up 21% on last year - as was almost everyone last week(up I mean)). And the award for the highest percentage increase in overall Turnover?????? Drumroll please .............................. The little old Reefton Jockey Club up 76% overall(knew they were top operators) Helps a bit when you don't have any competition

Even more disturbing.... I acknowledge when Trentham (as a racecourse) is good it is very good(ditto Riccarton and Ellerslie) but a little comparison... On Saturday $130k or so of industry funds spent on stakes at Grey for a $192k Oncourse. Trentham $545k of industry funds for an oncourse of $125K Waiting for the offcourse but doesn't make great reading(and I will bet a bloody sight more young kids got their first taste of the excitement of racing at Omoto). These disturbing results whereby the 'pinnacle' events that you would expect to see massive(comparatively) attendances simply are not supported is a continuing concern.

Yeah as I said previously his first day calling gallops was our meeting ten or so days later I think after three harness meetings on the Coast. Yeah not sure about that but I remember Ian's voice failing him at Grey Trots more than once. It made me feel pretty average in that I could only imagine how desperate he would feel talking but with no sound coming out.

Yeah well it takes a bit for CAANZ to turn on you so that tells a story in itself. He must have been bad..

Yes where they usually do it is right by that big slip that closed the road for three weeks late last year