The Centaur

Its clear Mahuta has no interest or nous with foreign policy except when it comes to pushing Maori centric agendas. New Zealand has to stand up to USA with regards its values which many have been contrary to New Zealand's. e.g. slavery, vindictive trade sanctions e.g. Cuba & Venezuela, Iran etc, its Middle East policy e.g. Israel, its wars e.g. Iraq, Afghanistan and the flooding of weapons to countries such as Taiwan, Ukraine which make them less safe. Lets be clear New Zealand's values are not same as America's.

Ardern and Mahuta are completely out of their depth regards foreign policy and contact. So in the future you could be right.

The cancellation and subsequent disposal of Trackside Radio to SENZ was morally criminal. It meant a short term cost saving with no long term examination or plan to benefit the industry. A kneejerk reaction to COVID with no real insight into how the pandemic would affect betting. The sale was something McKenzie could say he achieved if one can call destroying the industry an achievement. When will the rank and file sloggers come to realize that paying ridiculously inflated salaries to management doesn't benefit them at all. Developing online radio in conjunction with traditional would have had beneficial results.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/may/29/lester-piggott-outstanding-jockey-of-post-war-era-dies

Similar situation in Australia https://www.4bc.com.au/eagle-farm-arbitrarily-ejects-lifelong-trainer-from-infield-stables/ One possibilty at Awapuni is that Te Akau wishing to expand by setting up CD operation given the AWT.

GARY VILE EVICTION. (Horowhenua Chronicle) Gary Vile, who had a distinguished training career spanning almost 40 years, was last Friday given notice that he had 10 days to vacate a racecourse barn he had occupied since it was purpose-built for him in 2008. He was first given non-renewal notice of lease in February. The 64-year-old says he has tried to engage in mediation with landlord RACE. The sport's governing body New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing said it had engaged with RACE in an unsuccessful attempt to seek mediation for a resolution. RACE is the trading name for Racing at Awapuni and Trentham Combined Enterprise Incorporated, an umbrella corporate entity for the Awapuni Partnership of Racing Clubs. RACE told the Horowhenua Chronicle the situation was simply a non-renewal of lease, and would not comment further. Vile said the situation was developing into a welfare issue for the 24 horses as he had yet to make alternative stabling arrangements. He said he was gobsmacked when first given non-renewal notice of lease in February. He said he had initially avoided publicity on the issue in anticipation of a resolution. "I've kept it quiet for the betterment of racing. It's the game I love. But there's no point now in holding back," Vile said. RACE originally built a $320,000 barn to house 30 horses in 2008 specifically with Vile's tenure in mind. He said he was at the forefront of its design. Vile said he had never signed a lease agreement with RACE. "I thought they'd carry me out of here one day in a pine box," he said. "I thought I was part of the furniture... this has come as a real shock. It's been a horrible experience that I wouldn't wish on anyone." Vile said the ordeal was taking its toll on his health. He was at a loss at how to explain the situation to his clients and owners. "It's very stressful. I live for my horses. I worry about my horses. Will I lose business over this? I probably will," he said. "You try and support racing and get people involved... this is the crazy thing. Every time I race a horse I am supporting New Zealand racing. I'm paying ACC and employing staff." As a tenant he had paid about $2600 a month in rent to RACE since 2008, monthly track fees that were currently set at $139 per horse, and rented a horse walker at more than $400 a month. Vile said it has not been fully explained to him why RACE was choosing not to renew his lease. He said whatever issue RACE had could be resolved through mediation. "I honestly thought... this would all be sorted out through mediation," he said. He said there was no question of misconduct or criminal wrongdoing. RACE chief executive Tim Saville said it did not have to give justification for not renewing a lease. "We have not terminated the lease. It has expired and hasn't been renewed," he said. "We are entitled to do what we have done." The issue has prompted Ōhau horseman Peter McKenzie to come out in support of Vile. "What do they expect him to do? What do they think will happen here?" he said. "From a welfare point of view, how could you seriously explain a decision to expel one of their best clients and refuse point-blank to talk with him?" He said in his opinion it was "absolute nonsense". McKenzie had encouraged the NZ Trainers Association to flex some muscle on the issue. The association sent an email to RACE through its executive Wendy Cooper that said it was "of the strongest view" that the issue should go to arbitration. The email, seen by the Horowhenua Chronicle, said Vile had the full support of the association. Although a lease was never signed, there had been 14 years of receipt of lease, which would indicate an intent for a long-held lease agreement. It also noted Vile was not found to be in breach of any rules of racing. McKenzie said terms of the lease were being applied to terminate the lease, yet a lease agreement was never finished or signed. "It has terms that state it is an annual lease, as well, it has two further dates of termination and a monthly term," he said. "The original intention of the parties, RACE and Gary Vile, was clearly to provide a racing barn for the long-term occupation of Gary Vile. "Where do they expect Gary Vile to go with his horses?" He said the industry could ill-afford to lose trainers like Vile. He said the sport's governing body New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), which has relied on Government support, must intervene and be seen to support a long-time participant. NZTR had a moral obligation to support Vile's wellbeing and the wellbeing of his animals, he said. "Gary Vile does not deserve this," he said. In an email to McKenzie, NZTR chief executive Bruce Sharrock said RACE was entitled at any time to exclude anyone from what was private property. "NZTR has engaged with RACE in an attempt to seek mediation for a resolution... they have declined, which is their right," Sharrock said. "It is in my view that NZTR is not the body to mediate disputes, beyond what it has to date, between industry participants, as these are clearly private commercial matters between parties. "Correspondence between us on this subject is otherwise closed." Vile said he supported Awapuni by racing horses there whenever possible, and 191 of his 562 career winners had come on his home course, including four Manawatū Cups. The only major local race to elude him was the Sires Produce Stakes. He first began training horses in Taranaki in his early 20s, moving to Awapuni 25 years ago. He said he couldn't imagine doing anything else. Meanwhile, with the 10-day notice due to expire on Monday, he said he had no Plan B yet.

Yes congrats all around. One for the forums but can't afford the match to light up the form books.

Wise move bypassing the Preakness. Many are saying only the extremely fast pace allowed Rich Strike the K. Derby win. Belmont will be interesting.

Love it !!!! Grassroots racing. https://youtu.be/6f7VOK_LoZM

I watched the preliminaries and having seen Kaareraway several times before I couldn't work out why the horse was now a bay whereas I was certain it was a chestnut. Put it down to the sunlight playing havoc and actually backed the No.4 on the basis it looked different to what I thought it should look. What I can't understand if the two horses were a completely different colour why didn't an observer pick up the discrepency in the parade ring.

Compare opening day to Cambridge then Riccarton was non event. The trainers interviewed seemed lukewarm to the track and probably the small muster present as well.

They have put up a monstrocity at the 100 metre mark casting huge shadow over the track. Haven't noticed horses shying away at trials but off putting for viewers.

Discussion on location of offices has always been muted because of the secrecy. I would have thought racing participants would have a view but in 20 years of racing forums never any real opinions there.

AIR NZ are moving their head office to Auckland Airport. Apart from economical factors its also psychological. Racing having head offices in Petone is about the most absurd aspect of racing which has plenty of them. Ellerslie racecourse should be the location for NZTR and perhaps TAB head office as well. Quite frankley its a no brainer. There was talk moving to Cambridge but that seems to have gone by the bye. Yet the most obvious possibility not even a murmur.

The whole idea of races for jumpers is to satisfy that spending. So I agree with you there needs to be balance. Racing chiefs have to take a long hard look at jumping races. Its pretty obvious they are uneconomical and overall detrimental to the industry.

Yes you might be right not the best education. However there has to be a compromise. If jumping is uneconomical or impractical therefore in order to keep the personel in the game something needs to be put in its place. Tell me what advertisement is it for racing having exhausted horses jumping the last and most probably falling.

AS I pointed out its an incentive to educate horses for jumping to keep the transition into post race activities. Lets be frank. There is no punting or crowd interest in jumping except a few times of the year. With the hill gone at Ellerslie its just the diehards that keep jumping going.

When it comes to jumping races it must be done properly or not at all. In the UK they know how to do it with the infrastructure, population and crowd support. New Zealand clubs don't have the resources to do it properly. Therefore the suggestion is. Scrap all jumping races but have races for jumpers. At various meetings have organised exhibitions of individual horses whereby they can qualify as a jumper. It would mean far more horses being educated for jumping leading to these horses having a post racing life. Also fill in time between races for those wanting to see something going on.

I note on the other site Molloy has changed his post or rather had McKenzie change it for him by removing a name. If a person can't make a proper decision in the first place he shouldn't be running for a position such as mayor. In fact he was convicted of a criminal offence as well as paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for spur of the moment postings.

Freda, I've just as a matter of interest looked at the other site. Here we go again, NZ's number one social media abuser Leo Molloy showing his credentials. And the dreamer thinks he can run for mayor. I would seriously look at taking as a first step Leo Molloy to the Harmful Digital tribunal or whatever it's called.

Power down.

They all love racing at trials. Best solution don't offer any prize money?

Great publication. Each week you would get sent updates and attach to the end of the book. Had all the results with commentaries of how each horse ran. Excellent indexing system. Sort of publication you could carry to the races. Better than modern mobiles. Well very sad to hear of the passing of Stu McGrail involved in many areas of racing especially journalism including publishing the Form Record. Always found him receptive no matter what the query. Condolences to all family and connections.

Used to happen fairly often in NZ with my direct knowledge back in the eighties. The informal nature of jumpouts meant sometimes all that was disclosed was the stable nickname. Even nowadays I have doubts about the real identity of those participating.

Could not agree more. The problem as I see it is there no organisation grouping all the racecourses together and making efficiencies and initiatives around the nuts and bolts of the venues. NZTR is concerned with organizing participation in racing events. They do stray away from their brief but only in a slaphazard way. THe UK has a separate organisation for the purpose of maximising racecourse business activities. AS an example. Say a handful of racecourses wanted to expand into motor camping services then combining them into one marketing entity would make business sense.