The Centaur

Three stallions dead in not much more than 3 months. Coincidence? Certainly needs some sort of independent enquiry. At least a full explanation.

Are you referring to the 63 yo.? If so just take this in. No one is above the law. Don't like the law then make submissions. What we have got here is an individual who for 15 years has been one of the internets worst bullies. The personal insults have carried on even after being relieved of almost $200K. Most of us haven't the time or resources to challenge him. He has made a mockery of the internet laws regarding privacy and just common decency. Now he figures that he is on a populist agenda which will create publicity. Thats the style go with popular agenda and marginalise others. I guess thats what people who frequent drinking or dining holes thrive on. Makes them feel special by denigrating a minority. The classic method employed by bullies. I have watched with dismay the antics of this 63yo for long enough. The guy is smart and he has got all the standard rhetoric. You people are "non achievers" you people are "jealous". you people are etc etc. But quite frankly he is just a child.

Now I do recall a man on the other channel deliberately revealing the name of Grace Mullane's killer. Probably in the range of 63 years old. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/12/grace-millane-murder-man-charged-with-breaching-killer-suppression-order.html

Digital doesn't need to be all the way. Internet and print media can exist side by side. Example quick form lookup using QRcodes. Certainly anyone doing internet research still likes the basic fields in front of them for written notes or just remembering the horses. Trying to duplicate the form database on paper is futile. There may have still been a few diehards ten years ago ignorant of the internet but only a few now remain. Those turn and finish Friday Flash photo's were dynamite and still are as a means of remembering a video.

Sounds like the same as Sunline. Traumatic laminitis is caused by repeated physical trauma to the feet during e.g. endurance riding, driving, or jumping on hard ground; it can also be caused by overenthusiastic hoof trimming. Severe lameness in one limb will cause a horse or pony to carry excessive weight on his other limbs, which may cause laminitis So alert your veterinarian as soon as possible if you detect one or more of the following: A strong/bounding digital pulse. ... A hoof that's hot for hours. ... A distorted hoof shape and/or unusual rings. ... An increased heart rate. ... Too little—or too much—foot lifting. ... Apparent stretched and/or bleeding laminae. ... A shortened stride. The most recent research shows that high levels of insulin in the blood directly precipitate laminitis. Adding all this research together means that not only must we be careful not to feed horses prone to, being treated for or recovering from laminitis a diet that could lead to a carbohydrate overload in the hindgut, for example one containing too much starch, but we must also be careful to avoid feeding a diet providing too much sugar in the form of, for example, molasses. Whereas we used to consider that because molasses had a high glycaemic index, that is it was virtually all digested in the small intestine and absorbed through the intestinal walls, it did not reach the hindgut unless fed in excessive amounts and therefore did not pose a major risk. It is now evident that sugar levels in the diet need to be minimised in order to avoid a rise in insulin levels.

With John Allen out of the picture I doubt TAB will be having functions down at the Viaduct. If they are then its worth investigating as why should NZ racing pay to line pockets of those locations. A few in house drinks is all that is needed. Those with long memories will remember the so called opening batsman being disparaging about David Ellis. Maybe from his angle now finds its not wise.

With the 5 and 6 being indistinguishable on the web site I have been super careful, Today No 5 Golden Dash at Singapore looked easy way to double money. However Golden Win was No 6. Sure enough made the mistake.

Don't know if others can relate to this but seems Robbie is in a spot of bother. Maybe there is a moral to the story. From Racenet. "Approval of any future applications for a trainers licence will not be granted until Mr Laing is deemed a financially suitable candidate," the RV statement read. The trainer said he owed rent payments to RV but the breakdown of his marriage to his wife Rachael, with whom he ran his company RRL Bloodstock, had thrown his finances into disarray. “I’ve had to pay all entry fees for the horses, feed, jockeys, floats all the bills — everything came to me, but I haven’t received any prizemoney,” Laing told the newspaper. “$90,000 won in stakemoney should have gone to me but every cent went to my former wife. “If I had half, everything would be fine. “I’ve been yelling and screaming at RV telling them of this situation. I’ve been in touch with RV asking how I’m meant to pay.” Laing said a mistaken RV report of a positive trenbolone swab from one of his horses in 2017 set off a chain of events that led a drop in his stable numbers before his wife left him. He added an accountant made a $16,000 error in his paperwork, which added to his issues.

Spot on. Agree he is best NZ caller but needs to inject style rather than screams into premier days. Don't know how many in the betting syndicate but it wasn't as if one person putting their own 20 gees on the line. As an aside the recent Motukarara Trials caller has considerable promise, never heard him before.

Got to agree the ride was very untidy. Potentially dangerous. At least he didn't do a Matt Cameron and thrash the horse to a 10 length win affecting its future chances. Even so horse and rider didn't inspire confidence for future.

Well the TAB are smart, With over 40 meetings in Australia to choose from they select Mountaineer USA races with tote pools of about $1000 and barely over $600 place. With no one betting then it won't breakdown.

I doubt there will be crashes because the TAB will trade away the updating of tote odds prior to the race starting. That will relieve much pressure on the system. Most punters won't notice it. Thats what they are banking on.

I've known trainers putting blinkers on when they are peaking the horse and also applying the needle. Explaining the form turnaround by way of blinkers being put on is very convenient.

Ask any Australian they will probably say Gunsynd. https://www.flemington.com.au/social-news/2018-07-25/iconic-grey-gallopers There was an era in NZ where Silver knight, Baghdad Note and Kumai were conspicuous. But I dare say everybody's favourite would have to be Grey Way.

Good question. I don't think you will find anyone who would know. I was shocked listening to Michael Dore talking with Peter Earley. Now Michael had been dealing with customers for over 30 years. Whenever there was a major problem particularly in the last 20 years with TAB website he was the man. So you would think he would have some input into the design of the new website. Well according to Michael he wasn't consulted.

For the record this is what John Allen said when recruited back in 2014. from NZHERALD 26 Nov 2014. Mr Allen said he was excited about the opportunity to join the NZ Racing Board. "It's going to be fun. The NZ Racing Board is a $2 billion business that plays a vital role in the New Zealand economy by supporting the racing and sports industries. It is also the owner and operator of the TAB which is an exciting commercial enterprise and iconic New Zealand brand," says Allen.

We have got a bit sidetracked onto to the "turnover" debate. Reefton made some good points on the usage of club assets before that. However the "turnover/sales" interpretation is important for racing because of the easy way betting turnover has been misjudged as sales hence the determination of size of enterprise leading to the remuneration in proportion to size factor. Racing people have been swindled out of millions because of this. Lets adjust the pay packets of all management to a $450 million company not a $2 1/2 billion company.

The way I see it turnover is basically sales turnover. For a gambling outfit sales turnover is the gross figure after the winning bets have been paid out so I agree with Curious. Thats the way every gambling does accounting. (except TAB) I appreciate you are an accountant but apart from the club I doubt you have other gambling outfits. No one would expect you to sit with the hotel poker players to workout their turnover but as far as extracting the cash from the machine at the end of the day then yes.

Curious will confirm this. several years ago I kept up a barrage on Channel X trying to convince the "educated" that contrary to what the TAB was claiming the actual revenue turnover was about $400M not $2billion as all the CEO's, board members etc were claiming. The message has now sunk in but the employment agencies and consultants still were claiming $2billion turnover. Just imagine if every table, machine in a casino submitted turnover as revenue then the amount would be astronomical. John Allen was hired by agents claiming the TAB was a $2billion company.

The real proof would be getting on. Some bookies may not be up to date on racenet. I look at racingpost bookies prices in UK and really the difference is only minor. When the main bookie changes the rest quickly follow. Quite frankly NZ racing can't afford bookies. Its an extra layer skimming off profits. Racing doesn't need them. There was a time they added colour to a racemeeting but the corporates are just parasites. With all the hooha about money laundering I don't think the government allow clubs to accept money independent of the TAB. A compromise would be needed. Big punters wouldn't be interested in oncourse gimmicks but thats whats needed for the casual socializers.

Obvious.... Rule 1. Don't reinvent the wheel. (TAB account services) Clubs have run their own jackpot pools with say a car as prize In fact I collaborated with a punter who won a car two years in a row.

Reefton, The way I see it most of the agencies work in tandem so can't really see where there would be price variations with automated fixed odds. Phantom meetings used to be a common occurrence in Asia. Certainly on Melbourne Cup days could be successful. Club running their own pools would still require the money transaction services from the TAB. Oncourse pools should promote attendance and the sponsors not just gambling.

Haven't seen any proof or legit evidence of Weir or anyone being cruel. He had huge operation with many staff. It would be impossible to be cruel on a permanent basis without someone objecting. The odd case could happen but so many horses there is always going to be an exception. As for the betting plunges, Well every stable in Australia would be banned if betting plunges were illegal.

The charges (excuse the pun) are constructed in flowery language that is obvious. e.g. "terrified and overworked". Most farmers including many horse farms use an electric fence. I've seen electric fences at studs running along the top of permanent fences keeping in stallions. I've used an electric fence both for cattle and horses mainly ponies without any problems. I daresay a jigger would hardly have more current than a fence. If the once only use of a jigger is termed cruelty then every farmer in NZ should be up for cruelty. However if the racing rules have been transgressed then that's where the legal action should begin and end.

Unless John Allen has got some deal for singing its going to be hilarious the judge or jury deciding what is a corrupt riding style. Strange how these "charges" have surfaced at the height of the racing season. And oh.. the betting irregularities. Well after 8 months they are still investigating them and scrutinizing the videos. This looks, smells and feels like a beat up.