Bloke

Yes, they have had that date for many years but in the past they have shared it with other clubs. The most recent was Te Rapa up to about 10 years ago and from memory Riccarton has also raced on that day in the past. Holidays are no longer the guaranteed windfall as many years ago. Trentham and Awapuni used to race on the Wellington Anniversary Day and they both dropped this day some time ago. On 3 January this year Trentham raced in front of very small crowd even though they were part of "The Grand Tour" On 2 January many thousands drove up the Hutt Valley past Trentham to attend Tauherenikau and had no intention of attending Trentham the next day. Hawkes bay used to race on 1 January, and their crowds dropped off so they moved to an earlier day.

They have more than their share of two-year races. November 9, December 10 race scheduled was abandoned due to insufficient entries, January 2 and February 6. Surely when you have a massive crowd you want as bigger fields as possible to maximise betting turnover. Thay get the holiday dates because they have shown that they can get the crowds. Several Clubs have tried Waitangi Day and all have failed except Tauherenikau.

I think that the statistics posted by Curious are interesting and it is no surprise to see my favourite track Tauherenikau at Number One. On their own you would not want to make major changes based on these stats, but some enhancements could be made. I note that for the two big Tauherenikau meetings, The TAB installed Wi Fi on course which would have helped boost on course turnover so that is a small positive. NZTR in my opinion would have the most to offer to enhance such days. Firstly, for the Tauherenikau January 2 meeting, in order to further boost on course betting, they need to replace the 2-year-old race which at that time of year attracts a paltry field (this year four runners). Then two days after the Waitangi Day meeting they allowed a similar meeting at Otaki which impacted on the Tauherenikau fields. The on-course turnover at this Tauherenikau meeting is always good but it could have so much better if Otaki was deferred I would also like to see Clubs that constantly attract large crowds and betting receive further incentives from NZTR as reward.

The Auckland Cup has been downgraded from one of our great races to just another race on the so-called Champions Day.

Titch won the Kumara Gold Nuggets and then the Auckland Cup

Yeh sure you are a self-appointed expert on everything

Wairarapa are trending well. I have not seen the financials for 31-07- 2025 but for 2024 they recorded a profit of $100k and $190k for 2023. To my knowledge they have not sold any real estate in the last 10 years. Working capital = $400k and with no term liabilities.

Will you certainly care you put up an incorrect equation re Darly's Joy purchase price, working on pounds so that it converted to a higher amount in today's terms.

Daryl's Joy was foaled on 01-09-1966. He was sold at the yearling sales in January 1968 for $1,100, not 1,100 pounds as Decimal currency came in on 10-07-1967.

Nowhere as many sheep and they are big supporters of Napier City Rovers. There is a beautiful cricket ground in central Napier, Nelson Park and they played their first cricket game of the season there last weekend. Where else in the country can they do that?

I stand corrected, I got the impression that they shut it down for all horse activity. It was 23 degrees today in Napier top temperature in the country as it is many times.

If you had a horse that you want trained, why would you select a Hastings Trainer if the track is closed? The track closure would have had a huge impact. Hasting is the right place for the Spring Classic because the weather is probably the best in the country.

The problem is that racing clubs are not experts on property development or even straight forward property purchases. In the case of Race, they were "know it all's" and should have at a minimum sought advice from experts in the property development field and for significant property transactions they should have always sought final approval from members. In the case of Hastings, it is pleasing that they are consulting their members something The Wellington Racing Club never did for the 20 plus years that I was a member. In the case of Hastings, I think that the proposal can work if they hire the right people and not try to be the experts on property which they are not.

Depends on what you would judge as a good crowd Mikey. Cup Day at Addington used to attract 20k plus but in recent years maybe 7k?

Playing numbers in Wellington have plummeted on what they were say 30 years ago. What were once large clubs are now a fraction of that size yet amazingly; I see that Wellington have won The NPC twice in the last three years. So what does that say about the remainder of the NPC teams.