The Centaur

As I mentioned earlier I made a complaint to the Racing Minister and although I don't expect any answer I did rouse up the TAB heads for a lengthy meeting. Didn't receive any valid reasons but I can appreciate the costs involved in keeping radio mothballed for a year or two. Even so the cost not that great in order to for the codes to come up with workable plans. Therefore I blame the codes for not doing enough research and consultation with grass root participants and sponsors. Where are all the "highly" qualified businessmen on the boards surely having an efficient standalone company handling all racing and TAB promotions is a no brainer.

Trackside can quite easily make money if it is split away from the TAB and all racing codes form a standalone media company. The simple fact is the majority of advertisers are uncomfortable supporting gambling whereas have no problem supporting racing as a community event. Split away radio could have broken even and left all the benefits to racing for free.

Yes there are those who sit back and "enjoy" the entertainment. That's what it is to them then when the chickens come to roost they are most indignant the entertainment will be stopped. We could also do the entertaining but that is soon stopped by a moderator. That's why McKenzie aka scooby on the other forum is partly to blame by allowing free reign to Molloy and when Molloy transgresses he finds it more convenient to restrict the victim of Molloy's abuse. In saying all that Molloys abuse is nowhere as bad as it was 10 years ago so perhaps the message is getting through.

Thats exactly the problem. People make a few dollars then suddenly they assume the law doesn't apply to them.

...from posting on social media. What an an absurdly light penalty for Leo Molloy. Just shows what having a few dollars to pay the right lawyers does. As if the $15,000 fine is going to bother him. This is a serial offender who has abused and defamed maybe hundreds. It cost him close to $200,000 because Greg Purcell had the means to tackle him. Then the RIU brought 33 charges against him. Eventually banned from racing for a year with a $15,000 fine. Thats not the worst. The worst is that Molloy enjoys digging up someones most forgotten past and conducting in tandem with Leigh McKenzie an on going malicious vendetta campaign. I've highlighted here on BOAY other instances of misusing social media to run illegal competitions promoting bilge drinking. So many cases of abuse and bullying not enough time to list them. If you go on racecufe you will see most of Molloys postings going back years have been deleted e.g. when using Sheriff as username. Now why would one do that? https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/124972405/grace-millane-suppression-breach-leo-molloy-fined-15000-for-naming-killer-on-forum

I daresay the constitution of the club would require an AGM or special meeting in order to sell "the Hill". Furthermore with the proposed amalgamation of the Auckland region clubs any sale prior to the event would seem outside the interests of racing therefore breaching the legislation around clubs. We really need a member to come on here and state what communications they have received.

The last time Daytona Red had won a race was the last time Lydia Ko had won on the LPGA. Now what do they do with Daytona Red. This is a horse that actually lengthens stride near the finish of a long distance race. The NZ cup would seem a moral however there seems to be an abundance of 3000m races in Victoria which should be easy pickings even against the ex European horses.

Chief, Huey has got a point. There are several trainers involved at Te Akau not just Richards and most trainers set up from scratch with their hard earned. Best to compare Richards and Te Akau with similar overseas operations. Te Akau comes out more than favourably. Many billionaires have attempted to do in 5 years what Te Akau have done over 30 years and many have gone bust in also less than 5.

TAB (racing) unlike standard commercial organisations did not need to have Radio make a profit. Preferably breakeven then all the advantages of radio for racing would be free. Now any advertising fees etc escape the racing net and worse still punters on racing will be encouraged to switch to sport. Its just lose, lose for racing. So much so I've followed up with a complaint to the Racing minister as clearly it was against the law for TAB to sell Trackside radio assets without consultation with the codes. Last I heard the complaint had gone directly to the minister. Now for the interesting bit. Like clockwork the startled generals are rallying around the flag. Suddenly there was consultations but what I can guage just afternoon coffee down at Petone. I'll keep you posted how things progress. Next step could be approaching the opposition racing spokesman. Racing is not just betting on overseas dogs. Radio should have with better management (involvement of codes) been a significant contributor to marketing of racing. Crazy expecting TAB to be the sole marketer of racing.

Exactly and they are allowed to operate financially from Gibraltar or somewhere. Just imagine where UK racing would be if the profits the bookies made were retained in racing. I guess the "gentry" running racing in the UK are more worried the waiter has got his tie on straight. Wow if they are restricting you then you must be making a profit. Keep it up.

Just to set record straight. Was banned temporarily. Now unbanned.

The point I was making that when the market% is at 140% then no wonder the bookmaker makes that much. Also how hypocritical for TAB NZ telling us not to bet with overseas bookies yet go into partnership with Paddy Power & OpenBet. On a different note the TAB website change in layout with the Wininsurance is the first sign of any innovative software programming I have seen on the $60M disaster.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/mar/31/bet365-boss-denise-coates-pay-may-exceed-1bn-in-four-years Perhaps we should start a collection for NZ's McKenzie. (Incidently the topic is banned on Channel X)

Been a few cases of counterfeit money but yes maybe the real crims went to Australia for training.

Him being the sports minister there is a bit of a conflict of interest. After all sport and racing competing for the TAB dollar. Can't see him having any time for racing. Big economy changes needed. Labour just seems preoccupied with Maori issues.

Good to see justice at work. I believe the criminals took racing very much into consideration when committing the horrific crime. The Red Fox with TAB was a popular watering hole for many racegoers travelling Auckland to Waikato or Bay of Plenty. Labour day weekend Saturday 1987 was Cox Plate day a year after the Waverley Star/Boncrusher epic. However there was huge NZ interest with Poetic Prince and Tidal Light not to mention public favourites like Vo Rogue. Rubiton won the race. There were also races at Ellerslie and Trentham and given the timing of the Cox Plate punters back in 1987 would place bets during the day and collect after the day. Therefore the crims knew there would be a lot of cash available. In the 80's there were gangs from the Waikato who figured out an easy scheme. They would go up and down the country sniffing out pub bookies quite often in quiet easy going places like RSA's or Cozi clubs. They would go up to the bookie with say $30 and a list of bets during the day. The bookie would place the list in his pocket then half way during the day the punter would ask for the list on the excuse couldn't remember the bets. Placing the list in full view of the bookie in the Best bets the punter would flip the page and lo and behold a new list would emerge and given back to the bookie. Most bookies never suspected a thing. Its just a hunch but it wouldn't surprise these Red Fox culprits had some links to these scammers.

Can't see why they use the Cumani lady over Jayne when the big cups come around. Jayne's choice of hats quite impressive and it doesn't stop her seeing the horses. The fact she methodically logs everything she sees into a database shows her professionalism. Plus also she's probably the most reliable of all the paddock spotters.

I've mentioned it before but one has to wonder how smart some yearling buyers are. The full brother to VE sold for only $140,000 to Bob Peters WA. A magnificent type now a 2yo I keep looking to see if its trialing but haven't seen it. The word however is that its a very good horse but no Verry Eleegant.

What happened to the "ALL weather tracks"?

Orange Race 1. Couple of Waikato Stud horses. Colville House and California. California is odds on. Bit small looks typical beaten favourite type. However Colville House now trained by M Mullholland and ridden by the same jockey he had winning last years Orange Cup. Colville House backing up and 3rd up this prep but in a prev prep had ding donger with subsequent stakes placegetter now racing in Hong Kong. Last run was quite good so seems about ready. Currently about $20. In the race Kerrisdale was $320,000 purchase. Just some tid bits for a Sunday afternoon.

You are looking at it from the front end ... fair enough. But the question remains how is racing going to benefit. Radio Trackside was a racing asset in that it was racing that created it. However it is being sold off to promote directly or indirectly sports betting. Just what consultation was there?

Lot of questions to be asked about this. One can look at it as TAB selling the frequencies divesting Racing from the airwaves and pushing sport. Offcourse the yes man Bernard Saundry wouldn't offer a word after all SEN is Australian. Ok they have got McCallum a keen racing man but essentially racing has lost control. ******************* Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) is set to expand into New Zealand announcing plans to acquire 29 TAB NZ AM/FM radio licences* and signing former New Zealand Test captain Brendon McCullum as headline talent. SENZ – as it will be known, will become New Zealand’s new Home of Sport and Racing – and aims to be the destination for New Zealand sports fans, with soon-to-be-announced live sports rights to be supported by marquee local programming. McCullum will front and co-host the all-important breakfast shift – bringing local sports fans all the breaking sports stories, news and opinion each morning. Other on-air talent will be announced soon. “I’m obviously hugely excited to be taking the lead on such an inventive move forward for sports radio in New Zealand. This has been a long time in the making and I must thank Craig Hutchison who has been instrumental in both germinating the idea and then making it happen. I still live for sport and this is another opportunity to remain immersed in it in my own country, putting my stamp on SENZ’s coverage and hopefully having a lot of fun along the way!” McCullum said. Sports Entertainment Network CEO, Craig Hutchison said he was excited to be expanding the SEN footprint internationally. “New Zealand is one of the most passionate places in the world for international and local sport and we are delighted to have reached agreement to unleash SENZ onto an unrivalled radio footprint across the whole country,” Hutchison said. “Not only is Brendon revered as one of New Zealand’s greatest ever cricketers – he’s also a racing expert, horse owner, coach and commentator. There’s possibly no bigger name in New Zealand sport and we are honoured and excited that he will join SENZ. “Our business has long championed local content for local fans and that’s exactly our plan in NZ. Our 24/7 sports talk format will include shows hosted by some of New Zealand’s most loved sporting identities – as well as a block-buster line-up of live sport – all delivered through a fiercely local lens. “We thank the TAB for reaching terms to take on the former Trackside radio footprint and look forward to partnering with them to provide a unique offering to sports and racing, pacing and chasing fans alike.” One of the keys to SEN’s impressive growth in Australia is its fast-growing digital network providing sports fans with all the breaking sports stories as well as on-demand podcasts and live streaming. The same model will be replicated in NZ with the SENZ radio product created in parallel to a suite of digital products, including an SENZ app, website and social media to drive access to the shows live and on-demand. TAB NZ Executive Chair, Dean McKenzie said the sale of the Trackside radio frequencies to SEN was a positive outcome. “SEN has a proven track record in delivering quality sport and racing coverage in Australia and we look forward to a close and mutually beneficial relationship in promoting and covering sport and racing in New Zealand. “We’re confident racing fans will be well-served by the introduction of the new venture which will be in addition to Trackside’s separate existing live simulcast of racing which continues to be available through the TAB website, app and streaming services.” Sports Entertainment Network is a dynamic multi-platform sports and entertainment business – connecting brands with fans across radio, television, digital, publishing, stadiums and events. In Australia, the business owns and operates 18 radio stations around the country – including 1116 SEN Melbourne, 1170 SEN Sydney, 1629 SEN SA in Adelaide, as well as 11 stations under its racing brand SENTrack. It also owns a newspaper, magazine and talent management business. It holds broadcast rights to the AFL, NRL, A-League, Big Bash and Test Cricket as well as international sports events like NFL Super Bowl and boasts the biggest names calling the biggest games across its commentary teams: AFL Nation, NRL Nation and Big Bash Nation. It is also the largest syndicator of sports radio content across Australia. SENZ will establish radio studios in Auckland and Wellington and will produce local sports content from both studios.

Anyone know who the caller was at the latest trials at Rangiora? I've heard plenty having a go at trials but this one seems much better than most. However I also heard George Simon call his first trial back in early nineties and I would rate that the worst. Keith Haub was telling him to slow down but I think he only mentioned about one horse per furlong.

You have to laugh at the owner of the "other site" The congratulations should have been for Pomare/Ocean Billy. When Probabeel won the Epsom I posted that Margaret Bull won the Epsom and Turnbull on the same day. This was seen as some sort of attack on Te Akau and I have been on restricted posting ever since.

An own goal. I wonder what the half a dozen residential home owners think? Quite frankly a crazy idea. From my memory the bit of land slopes way from the track so how one could build problematical. Must be better ways of raising cash particularly being asset rich.