The Centaur

Actually I find the list laudatory of Darren Weir. To employ so many staff from all walks of life, have so many starters, so many winners and only have a few negatives over almost 20 years training is exemplary. In fact some of the items on the list are quite petty and some just clerical errors. Making a hoo ha over a gun found and some cocaine obviously to smear Weir Racing then to not make any charges after destroying the business with a raid is just not justice. At the moment all I can see is a witch hunt.

The only thing I find negative about Thomas is he starts too many threads. Perhaps more engagement in existing threads is something he should be encouraged into. Also I'd like Hesi encouraged to stay with the ship.

Having a firearm in a large stable would not be unusual for obvious reasons. Seems to be a publicity hit job.

Joe, The same argument I put forward to aguaman also applies. I am in the same circumstance where the alert did no come up. i.e wanted 10 each way instaed got 10/100. my alert should have been at $30.. Lets get some coordinated action against the TAB.

Aquaman, I feel for you. I had the same thing happen twice about 10 years ago. Both times for $3,000. The first one I complained like hell to the TAB as there was no cancelling mechanism and no warning. There may have been a problem with sunlight on the screen but anyway the TAB and myself went 50/50 so they refunded half. The second one I didn't bother as it took quite some effort the first time. However as a result they made changes to the web site by making the amount to spend big font and in red. As well I could make a setting i.e. big warning if amount to spend over $100. If you had those controls and settings in place on the old site then I think you have a good case for claiming the whole lot. The reason being they have not said on the new web site the controls don't apply and reading the OpenBet policy they are clear on making sure controls exist. Therefore any fair and reasonable person would have expected the controls to remain particularly given the cost of getting the OpenBet format.

The TAB has removed the setting and control features it had in the case of a punter making a mistake. Something that was developed after numerous punters lost thousands by making simple errors. Example not specifying % for trifecta or first 4 combinations. How then does the removal of all the self imposed controls square with OpenBet policy.? Security and Support OpenBet, as one of the gaming industry's leading software suppliers, strictly adheres to regulatory compliance and relevant licensing. It also strongly supports socially responsible gaming, with software that boasts built-in safeguards for customers. This stance underpins the company's clean and trustworthy reputation. Typical corporate rubbish.

This website is brilliant. Look at the dividend for Enzo's Lad.

Why do people expect everything to be on one web site? There are plenty web site each with some sort of speciality. For barrier bias there are several but try racingzone.com example https://www.racingzone.com.au/form-guide/new-plymouth-raceway/2019-01-17/ scroll down to the bottom

Certainly can't find a large win pool for NZ racing. So far at Taranaki on a lovely day win pool yet to reach $20,000 I distinctly remember going to Taranaki races in the sixties and never would win pool be less than $40,000 Not much better at Greyhounds only just reached $5000 in previous race.

Something that hasn't been noted because back in November we did not know what systen NZTAB was going to hit us with. The OpenBet system with at least three bookmakers including Ladbrokes and Sportsbet crashed heavily in Australia before the Melbourne cup for about 1/2 hour causing chaos. The opposing bookmakers had a windfall signing up new customers at a frantic rate in that space of time. I have a theory that OpenBet were developing a new system for New Zealand but because of problems and delays have reverted to their old system hence the lack of NZ customization.

I see there are OPEN SOURCE sportsbook websites available from $1000 which must mean fatcat outfits like Tabcorp, NZTAB, BetEasy, Paddy Power etc will be too top heavy to ward off lightweight startups. Punters themselves may endup owning the websites regardless of regulation.

Are you crazy.??? Its $50 million too much. A workable tote betting site can be put up for $50K That would exclude say Sports Betting and only one of tote betting or fixed odds. Also as historical horse data available on other sites no need for duplication. Shopping around perhaps the $50K could be reduced as well. However conditional on the backend infrastructure.

But I've got no experience spending $50M. Logic would say instead of cramming everything into one site it would have been wiser splitting the website into say 4 e.g. tote, Bookie ,form. and financial. With form especially NZ form combine with NZTR, HRNZ etc and other interested parties giving punters an efficient, pleasurable experience. That way NZ racing would always have an edge plus much easier and cheaper to develop.

I've been giving the site a bit of time before making conclusions although from day one I've said the $50M spend was crazy. Now looking at the site source code bearing in mind much of it is hidden quite frankly it doesn't make sense. For a single character of information like a placing there is a 100 characters of junk. No wonder it becomes slow when the same is multiplied hundreds of times. What happened to the idea of classes. Whatever they are programming in its useless. Thats from 50 years of programming experience.

Exactly

I've got three top proposals however the difficulty is when you've got big wigs with small ideas getting someone interested takes a lot of preparation writing things up etc otherswise they won't listen to you. Then you've got to put up with the "what have you done in racing" ( you know who I mean) brainwashers its not easy if ones got a good idea getting it looked at. Quite frankly one of the proposals in theory could blow the TAB bookie system out of the water. One of the reasons I've been staunch in saying the $50M spendup is a total waste. Just on the gimmicky side I'd like to see video interaction with the head TAB bookie oncourse. Probably the next best thing to having a real bookie oncourse.

Put me in somewhere if not too late.. Thanks

Excellent post Newmarket. Ironic that the only place too difficult to bet is the racetrack when one is socialising and not into squinting at the phone, filling in complicated forms or queing up only to miss out getting on. THere are some relatively simple solutions but it needs the basics of getting the TAB honchos out of the racetrack and allowing private innovations to be put forward. I'll expand on that later.

Can't understand why desktop users have to use websites designed for mobile. Ever since html5 became the norm information is spaced out. When looking up database form you want as much as possible in front of you without scrolling or obscuring the previous page.

The streaming video is HD and much better quality than TV at least on my equipment. That however has got nothing to do with OpenBET/Paddy Power

Now apparently the new site was fully tested and everyone very confident it was straightforward launching. THerefore if there is a problem I am guessing its going to be hard to find. Wouldn't surprise the old site reappears soon.

If a jockey or trainer is late for the first race they get quite heavily fined. Her we have a mule so the tardiness is perhaps excusable.

I am sure they will be recompensed. Maybe John Allen can dip into his salary. Apparently there is a delay. They are "hoping" for 1pm. Don't know which day though.

10,9,8,7..... We have lift off. Or have we???

The whole bookie system is open to corruption. I don't say in New Zealand but from overseas with the odds feeds. Also the cost of ensuring no corruption must be taken into account. The TAB was settup to get rid of bookies. Many existed until the TAB closing times came closer to start time. If Bookies are going to compete internationally then it will mean smaller and smaller margins until one day a super run by punters cleans the bookies out. Why is NZ racing taking that chance. Instead of putting resources into marketing racing the resources are going into fleecing the punter and making it so much harder to win on the punt. Just doesn't make sense or is it just short sighted greed.