Bloke

I was at the Bayer Classic in Levin when Canterbury Belle ran poorly after injuring herself prior to the start. There was a large contingent of "Rugby Heads" from Canterbury wearing Rugby jerseys who made their way up and they got themselves thoroughly pissed. So when she ran poorly they started fighting with other race goers. One of the most disgusting things I have seen on a race course.

My apologies, it was on the another channel.

Very sad Tim. I took a look at the Waitangi Day thread, it's disgusting.

Sorry I will clarify. When I say that they have to pay staff holiday wages it is the tote staff.

The problem with holding race meetings on public holidays is that the clubs have to pay holiday wages. Both Hawkes Bay and Otaki moved away from public holidays over the New Year. I talked to a Hawkes Bay Official who claimed that they saved $15k in wages by holding their meeting on 31 December rather than 1 January. In the past higher wages would have been no problem but crowds have started dwindle in recent years . Tauherenikau gets massive crowds happy to pay $20 entry fee so they have no problem holding their meetings on January 2 and Waitangi Day/ Monday.

Aah the old "But some of my best friends are Maori" Yeh right!

Hey mate. Sky Australia is owned by Murdoch who also owns Fox News. They are only interested in ratings which equals income and will make up any right wing shit to achieve this, the same as Fox News. Currently in NZ there is no opposition, the Tories are a rabble. Crusher is hated even by many of her own party MPs and they have long list of misfits. It goes back to "do you know who I am" who was kicked out by Key. Since then we have had Jamie Lee Ross, followed by an MP from the deep South releasing confidential information given to him by a former President of The National Party. Then we had The Tory MP who got his Dick out took a photo and sent it to young woman. This was followed by some sex fend who stood for North Harbour who was assuming a former partner's face book indentity. The Tories are no longer relevant, the latest poll shows them at around 21%. At the last election we had farmers voting Labour and the Tories last Annual Conference was a big shit fight. Jacinda has seen off 3 opposition leaders and is at very short odds to send Crusher packing. Crusher even tried a "Don Brash" out of desperation which went no where.

Boy George has finally got around to finding the Warriors a base where they can also play their "home games". The Phoenix did this last season by setting up and playing out of Wollongong. Whilst you have to acknowledge that it has been tough for the Warriors, Boy George's lack of organisation skills has made life a lot tougher for the players than it should have been.

Agreed, same with Weaver when he came in and screwed up the racing calendar. He said he did not need the punter who walks around with a Best Bets poking out of his back pocket. Instead of punting he had all the posers and A listers standing around with wine glasses in their hands and having selfies taken. The Best Bets punters pissed off as directed by Weaver and many of the Posers moved on to other "on trend" social occasions. The Auckland Cup run on a Wednesday in March was just about down to Weaver and the barman in attendance. Meanwhile NZTR stood by and did nothing. A great racing day well and truly fucked up.

I hear that it is very hard to get into the Paris Hilton through the front entrance but if you try the rear entrance, evidently it's easy

We have generally seen an exodus of top horses across the ditch for many decades. Problem now is that we do not have the quality remaining to race here. I recall Syd Brown in 1969 taking a large team over which included one of my favourites, Daryl's Joy. The Aussies, at the time were waxing lyrical about Vain but Daryl's Joy who was a stayer slayed him over 1400 Metres. Vain was at 10 to 1 On and Mooney Valley was full to watch Vain canter home. After the race it was like a funeral as Vain suffered first defeat. Daryl's Joy went on to win the Cox Plate and VRC Derby and then onto USA to win big races which included The Santa Anita Stakes. He and Sunline I think are the only two NZ horses to win Group Ones in three different countries

Woodstock! That stirs some great memories. Jimmie Hendrix, Joe Cocker, Santana, Janis Joplin, The Who

Yes and he left his mark there after turning everything on it's ear

Not a true democracy. Clubs cannot vote for NZTR Board Members.

Controversy has followed George from when he first arrived. He was CEO of Auckland when they sent NZ Thoroughbred Breeders packing at short notice from Ellerslie where the breeders owned their own building but did not hold a lease agreement. I found it very disappointing at the time that the large stud farms did not stand up to George and Co. Therefore I doubt whether either the Trainers Assn or The NZTR Board will have the balls to take any action. He should be made to resign as his position is now untenable. I believe that he has an agenda to move NZTR to Ellerslie and appoint The Fat Butcher as the next CEO. This is just what happens when we don't have democracy.

Wellington joined Race after Wellington went "Belly Up" around 2005. Crooked John Fokerd had been Treasurer for many years. Fokerd and was subsequently struck off as an accountant after stealing a large 6 figure sum from a client. To my knowledge Wellington has never gone back to see what Fokerd might have got up to. When Wellington joined Race they got to appoint two directors of Race and the clowns appointed crooked Fokerd and Mike Brown as directors. Brown was, at The time, President of Wellington and in my opinion a total idiot. Then Race decided to build a conference centre at Awapuni and borrow $9M from the BNZ, on the basis that Race would sell residential sections that they were developing and repay BNZ from that. However, along came the GFC and they were rooted as they could not sell the sections. When they finally did sell all they were clearing from the proceeds of sales was interest so the debt was not reducing. Unfortunately Dark Beau, Wellington have to wear it as at the time they had Brown and Fokerd as Directors.

Well mate, she despised Crusher so she can't of been too bad.

I predict that once The Fat Butcher takes up as the CEO they will move the NZTR to Ellerslie if not before. We live in a democracy, if Crusher gets voted in then I would have to accept it but with NZTR we have no democracy only some Old Boys/ Girls network with hidden agendas appointing their mates.

Your hate of Ardern is eating you up. You are a Wanker Roo now, are you not? Why do you care about NZ having turned your back on us?

Yes a few and I will keep reminding you that the Tories were useless for the 9 years that they were in control.

Mate your lot had Nathan Clown. His big contribution to thoroughbred racing was stating that Addington's all weather track would solve thoroughbred racing's problems in the The South. I have little time for Winston but he has done 100 times more than Nathan Clown would ever have any knowledge about. Look at the idiots that we suffered under Nathan Clown's watch. Bonkin Bayliss and John (Clease) Allan.

Wow that would be a turn up. When The Racing Board had to provide a guarantee to the BNZ for Race to the tune of about $12M, the Racing Board ordered a one man inquiry. From memory the inquiry findings were not made public but Jewell was moved on and then turned up working for NZTR. I had dealings with him and he lived down the road from me. He appeared to have a good knowledge regarding racing but as you would expect virtually no knowledge regarding property development. One incident where he gave me a good laugh was at the AGM of the Wellington Racing Club which was held at The Duxton Hotel, one of Wellington's best. All these oldies turned up mainly for the piss up after but at the end of the meeting David Jewell declared that due the the Club's sorry financial position no grog or food would be served only cups of tea. Well the oldies were gone in no time.

They did not have the money to build the conference centre at Awapuni but that did not stop them

Well they have gone from knee deep up to their chin

I agree rationalisation will probably be forced upon some struggling Clubs. For my sins, I am a member of The Wellington Racing Club and last week I received by email a newsletter from The President, Wayne Guppy in which he spelt out that Race is well and truly in the shit.