Reefton

look at the great job the Aussie have done at running our banks. Boot the racing board, let the codes control their own destiny(with an urgent change in the way they are elected) slash the takeout rates and lets see if that can ease the squeeze. The reduced takeouts will have a dramatic effect for a start.

Yeah like the Media always know what's in the budget early because 'official sources' tell them? We all know Winston and the way he loves to be the centre of attention. He would not be able to help himself but spill at least some of the beans to this benefactors. Especially after a couple of whisky. Having said that if reports about his health are right he may have been struggling to remember what was in there.

The media knew what was in there by mid Thursday so someone was yapping. Probably pissed Winston

A lot of people will know his Mum the lovely Leanne Richards who is incapable of anything but a smile and a laugh. Big teams like that though - you might win one but you probably have other disappointed owners to talk to and one in the next to saddle up and supervise - must be hard and for Chris Waller diabolical!

Just had a look at that - I assume the High Chaparal one in Melbourne was nz bred? If so he proves the what I am saying about Coolmore soon repatriating a winning stallion. But in the two weeks before there were 4 nz bred winners at the two meetings each saturday (being horses by NZ domiciled stallions). It's like living in rural NZ - sooner or later you will get shat on. If you choose to live there your call but accept it as a cost of doing so.

The exception doesn't prove the rule CS. Without even looking one of those caulfield winners was also by a stallion who didn't stand here wasn't he (Teo filo?) Check it over a period of time and also I might add there is an ominous lessening of NZ breeding influence in Asia as well. At some time in life we all have to accept our place in the scheme of things and those guys need to accept that. It's life - it might be hard to stomach but it is life.

Of course only the elite tracks need the facilities. The three 'rogue' southern tracks to be retained Kumara Waikouaiti and Cromwell - all rat shit facilities but all run huge days that attract masses of once a year race goers. Ironically improving the facilities might actually bugger the day. The breeding fraternity need to accept that racing has become international and that like every thing international NZ cannot keep up. The sales are massively propped up by Aussie bred horses and we really only have one commercial stallion any more. When he goes that will be the end of that. You only need to look at the metro racing results form Aussie any weekend - 20 years ago there would be three or four NZ winners per meeting now there might be one if that. 20 years ago the Star Kingdom line was the only thing anyone was interested in in Aussie - how often do you hear it mentioned now? Coolmore and Godolphin rule the world and that is that. Sure Coolmore deigns to shuttle one or two here but if say Charm Spirit takes off as a sire how long do you think he will shuttle to Windsor Park? If Winx had been a colt what chance of NZ competing for the stud rights? - they could not even get Dundeel. But say we were the world's elite racing locality. Well let's draw a comparison with he one sporting endeavour in which we are - rugby. The Crusaders are the numero uno 'club' team in the world but do you see packed stands every week - no of course not and even Eden Park only fills for AB's tests. They couldn't even get AMI chocka for the final for God's sake! Rugby is about TV rights and racing is about TV as well. Other than ten times a year forget about on course. And don't think oncourse is the bee all and end all in Aussie either. I was there on QE II day and while the crowd was big with the very best in the world and the stakes to match it was not thronging despite the PR. As I said to a non racing friend who was with us in that Theatre of the Horse as we waited for the horses - without Winx there would be 100 people here not the 2000 that made us feel like the Christians in the Lions den. And as for their venues they have retained - well generally they cannot handle the racing they have now and you can spend what you want - you won't bring him up to standard because it is impossible. Build the cavernous facilities and nine days out of ten they will only produce echos. Clearly the breeders are struggling to accept their new found irrelevance in the world. Santa Claus Peters can do what he wants - he won't change that. And if the truth about the costs of racehorse ownership becomes public knowledge well shut the gate. David Ellis can spin stories about every horse he ever brought being a champion and his owners (usually a retired schoolteacher) who has had three horse shares for three group one winners but the reality is painfully different. What needs to happen is an acceptance of our place in the world. A real strong look a the funding source (ie hack out the deadwood at Parnell and Petone), get some accountability to the stakeholders but unless the government is prepared to stump up (which is a forlorn hope) the status quo is where we are at to stay.

Probably right but his father is there and he was taught by one of the greats of the game one R Cochrane.

Not that I have ever seen. But that job would not come without considerable pressure and to a large extent the buck stops with him so if he is demanding that may be understandable.

Jamie Richards is a bloody good young bloke. And with a pedigree like his he couldn't be anything else but a good young bloke.

They are planning that the Reefton Jockey Club is going to (not voluntarily) fix it for them

Borrowing against it is different to mortgaging it. You couldn't mortgage it without the agreement of the other owner. The bank might lend to NZTR with a general security over its assets but would not mortgage property unless the other owner agreed. All a general security would mean is a higher interest rate. And the really worrying thing - given its track record do you really want NZTR undertaking large scale borrowing? That would be like putting Winnie in charge of the liquor cabinet.

Wanting it is one thing. Having the money to get it or having access to that sort of funding is another. I would be astounded if that Club has that sort of dosh and if they do where did it come from? Anyway as I say it will be HRNZ. And no you can't mortgage a share in a piece of land. You would need agreement from all owners to mortgage it

If Winston gets legislation to nationalise the galloping courses at the same time they will do the same for harness racing you can guarantee. He will only want to do this once and he is implementing what he considers to be the intent of the racing act. Why would he only do it for the galloping code?

I meant the RHC not the RJC! Frigging iPad predictive texting me!

I can see the RJC being able to front with the millions of dollars Rangiora is probably worth. Given the subdivisions in the locale it won't be cheap. The CJC/NZTR won't give it away and anyway if HRNZ own the rest they might well get memorized by the telephone numbers as well(though I believe they are a little more in touch with the grass roots than NZTR).

Whether the Club benefitted from the betting revenue or not what did the club's that don't own their courses do with their benefit? And anyway most clubs pass on any tote revenue to the stakeholders and the admin costs(like insurance repairs and upkeep) come from sponsorship and fundraising(and a fair chunk from voluntary labour as well). More bureaucratic BS to justify idiot recommendations. And I trust that if the land owned by clubs is to go to NZTR then the laws of natural justice say that the other clubs with an interest in land will have to transfer that interest as well? So the Trust that owns Riccarton will have as its tenant NZTR? But I should think that lease deal is exclusive to the CJC so a variation of the lease could mean that the Trustees could rachet up the rent? If they are allowed to lease to another party anyway. And what of New Plymouth where I understand the course is council owned? Will the NPCC be inclined to be so generous with a national body as it is with a local sporting organisation? Especially when the prick sponsoring the legislation has just stood by while his dope smoking green mates have done their best to root the local economy? And the Gisborne course(forgive me if they are for the chop) - don't they have deal with the guy who is growing the grapes for a perpetual right to use the race track - he might be less inclined to cooperate with NZTR. All these leasing and reserve arrangements that exist could be quite a can of worms for wanky Win. Mind you he probably won't be around to worry about it in two years ( thank God).

Is Ellerslie freehold? If it is will NZTR inherit all those buildings and the rental income they presumably earn? Only fair isn't it?

Surely though priceless under the new legislation NZTR will acquire the CJC share and HRNZ the RHC share? Or is Winnie only going to steal the land from the club's he wants to relieve of their assets?

Correct when I look at the incorporated societies register. CJC own it but owe NCRC $960k. But if the powers that be control all assets on windup then they own the loan as well. The CJC are hardly going to encourage dissent among whatever members the NCRC still has is it? So net result forgive the loan, sell the land and piss it up against the wall in traditional style.

I think the CJC and North Canterbury racing amalgamated didn't they? which would mean that Rangiora is indeed owned by the CJC at least in part Bit of an issue with the dual code clubs - like us. We are 50/50 and presumably when legislate to transfer ownership to NZTR the other half will go to HRNZ. Doubt they(HRNZ) will mess about long before relieving the RTC of its permit. Sad really. In the meantime though of course the Buller District Council will not be slow in revoking our rates exemption so I suppose Winnie and the boys will be picking up the tab(along with their share of the insurance rates and repairs etc) . Cos we ain't paying it if we don't own it. Bloody hard to sell land on the Coast at present especially when it is only a half share you are selling

The Reefton Jockey Club would like to announce the name of the last race next January 9th in advance. The 'thanks for nothing John and Winston Handicap' And for you chappies who enjoy a bit of Molloy fizz unleashed on a hapless individual be sure to be there for the final President's speech - I am intending to be a touch inflammatory on the topic of a certain politician.

How did they look wider? If they took a wide view of Kumara you have two towns within 15 minutes one of which has a racecourse with perfectly adequate facilities and which has already had millions of industry money spent on it. It's madness but Winston likes getting on the piss there and the asset is worthless to the industry. Kumara looks like the only decision Winston made on his own.

Hardly population based here. Kumara has 300 people. Winston based here - he likes getting on the piss at Kumara. There ain't no fool like an old fool!

Thanks Curious for that. Your research and clear expertise is wonderful to be able to access. Yesterday was a bit of a blur but I will be on to some emergency action over the weekend. The 'close' clubs need to unite and deal with Winston. For a start engage some legal representation. I tend to have a fatalistic approach where if I do not believe I can achieve change Pam I don't bother reading up on things because it only makes me churn on it for no benefit. I am pretty worried about this and every time I read a snippet like this mornings Press saying that the ownership of freehold courses will be transferred by legislation to NZRB or the codes it gets me going. It then clarifies the logic behind all the closures being the tracks that can easily be cashed up (Kumara being a lease piece of land is effectively worthless). So Messara uses the wealth of NZ Racing to build specialised buildings and do specialised work on land the industry does not own that in a lot of cases will be worthless to anything but the industry from the day it starts. Plus sell off the major industry asset(whatever anyone says the industry owns the TAB if only de facto) to offshore interests. Convert what is still a very wealthy industry (assets wise) into a poverty striken lame duck in one fell swoop. And thereby removing any ability to do any future development that will actually be worthwhile because you have sold the family silver and have nothing of value to borrow against. I am starting to think NSW and Aussie racing has thrived despite Messara not because of him. And despite what he says the closure decision is not based on the standard of the track or facilities but the ability to produce large amounts of cash from it. This is bullshit and it is incomprehensible that what is clearly a clever and capable man has produced it without outside influence. But do I have the heart for a fight? I did it 25 years ago with Chittick but am running out of energy and still have to pay the mortgage (fortunately a lot lower than it was then). Lying in bed churning on things doesn't feed my kids(I didn't have them 25 years ago!)