Bloke

The song was first recorded by The Troggs in 1967 and was a number One Hit

Hey TAB on a more important subject, have you managed to get out of the shower yet?

Yes, just spoke to a mate who coaches Football at Kurapuni College just out of Greytown. The college has 10 Football teams and only one Rugby team, so they have closed the Rugby ground down at the college and the Rugby Team has to play their games at the Greytown Rugby Club ground. Featherston just down the road from Greytown no longer has a Senior Rugby team.

Have they announced the winner(s)?

There has been a huge increase of those wanting to learn Te Reo which is an official NZ language. Even "Egg Head" Luxon has learned Te Reo. As CEO of Air NZ he tried to patent Kia Ora. I recall when the lady whilst working as a The Post Office telephone operator welcomed customers with KIa Ora and that set off all of the racists including The National Minister of The Post Office who issued an order staff banning staff from saying Kia Ora. Brodie you say that you do not consider yourself a racist well based on your post I would judge it to be racist. The problem with racists is that in most cases they never admit it.

That is a good Analysis TAB, well done.

The criterion relating to turnover I believe is a good one. I recall Chris Weaver banging on about Auckland Cup Day being about making money out of hospitality not betting. Only problem was that the crowd got so small that even their hospitality income was drying up. At the time I was surprised that the RIB as it was called at the time did not challenge Weaver and Co.

Is Waikato classed as a Metro Club? You would think so given the population and that they are the main Centre for horses being trained and bred. If so it's a real embarrassment for The Fat Butcher finishing last in a four-horse field. Especially losing out to Trentham. I went to their "Christmas At The Races" last December and they did not have the public stand tote and bar open. The place is so run down, it's like a ghetto. I met up with a WRC Committee Member while there and he boasted that it was a very successful day.

Aah The Vibe! TAB is actually Dennis Denuto.

This is not the first time that Tauherenikau has been up on Waikato's Group One Day. A few years ago, Tauherenikau only had 7 races on Waitangi Day and still exceeded Waikato by some margin. Yes, and look who is running Te Rapa, Wonder Boy, "The Fat Butcher".

I have been told that Tauherenikau's Waitangi Day on course turnover was well above that of the on course turn over for Waikato's Group One Day.

You are out of touch if you think that The Wellington Cup still attracts big crowds. For the last two years maybe 5k on each occasion but perhaps that is big by your standards

Sure, there are many kids but Tauherenikau's contribution to racing is significant as they are introducing these kids to racing. All the entertainment is provided for the kids is met by the club, they are not parasites on the industry such as the Karaka Millions which is the costliest piss up of the year. As far as the so-called list of attendance goes, even in the days that they were supposed to be counting they would have to have got up early to count at Tauherenikau because by 9am on January 2, Race Day there are already thousands on course.

I am unsure if they are still counting attendance figures as I read somewhere that they had ceased as part of cost cutting. The two biggest this season I have seen were NZ Cup Day and Tauherenikau New Years meeting where they also had a big crowd on Waitangi Day.

Strongly agree re the marketing. By now these clubs and Love Racing should have realised that by showing some posers all done up with wine glasses in their hands puts 95% of the market out of their comfort zone so they give it a miss. Each year when The Auckland Cup rolls around, I chuckle about stupid Chris Weaver who screwed up the racing calendar by moving the Cup to a Wednesday in March as well as chasing away general punters and declared that The Cup would be "the race that stops two nations". And the Auckland Racing Club swallowed it hook line and sinker.

Does anyone have the weekly figures for the last two weeks (weeks ending 10 and 17 Feb) or can inform me how i can ascertain them?

I have just spent a few days over the Wairarapa which included staying in the Camping Ground at Tauherenikau the night before and the night of the races. Thay had a crowd of 10k only 2k less than the supposed biggest race day of the year and I am told that on and off course turnover combined on their Waitangi Day meet was $2m with only stakes of $230k odd. Many other clubs have tried and given up on Waitangi Day so it seems that only Tauherenikau can make a success of that day. On 2 January they had a crowd of 15k which surely must be the biggest of the year. Clubs such as Wellington could learn a lot from Tauherenikau but no doubt their committee, wearing their suits and badges stuck in the Committee room at Trentham, drinking free grog would look down their noses at Tauherenikau while they slap each other's back, boasting about what great club they are.

If you look at the Karaka Meeting, there was $9M bet. Let's say the TAB takes out 20% which = $1.8M. Total Stakes were $4.5M of which I believe NZ Bloodstock contributed $1M for their sweepstake race(s). So net stakes provided by NZTR / TAB were $3.5M. Income was $1.8M outgoings $3.5M results in a deficit of $1.7M. I cannot think of another meeting that would generate a deficit such as this amount.

Karaka is still the biggest loss day of the season for The TAB given the massive stakes put up and the return on investment.

True but Form is Form.

Penny Gem was late scratched from the Kelt when Scott was caught injecting the horse prior to the race.

I seem to recall something about a syringe in the stables on race day was that, Scott?

Didn't Scott have "Form" when he was with Mike Maroney?

I used to enjoy the Waipukarau meetings. A lovely well-kept course and their meetings attracted very good crowds. I was fortunate to have a horse win there and enjoyed a great "after match" to celebrate in the committee room. Now they have to race at Hastings in front of miniscule crowd. Where is the benefit in that?

According to Sam Neill who was a student at Christ's College the majority of those that went there were inbreds.