The Centaur

I would like to propose that when (if ever) the so called FOB comes out that all punters boycott the medium. The reasons are. The $50m spent is not to promote racing but rather to fleece the punter. There is no way even now a regular punter can beat the bookies. So you think you are an exception Yeah right!!!.... you against $50m plus odds that are hugely against you compared to the tote. Bookies know who is close to various stables so even an owner can't get on in time before the odds are slashed, Trainers who want to get on early when the market is at 135% find that after scratchings the odds bear no relation to what they punted on. The whole role of TAB has changed. Its to offer as many betting options as possible whilst the TAB in the early days served the racing industry and clubs. Its a whole new ball game. The Paddy Power partnership is for them to supply the odds in real time so that its no longer possible to view overseas odds and compare to local. Traditionally the idea of bookies was to have competition whereby the punter could shop around. That incentive has gone. The FOB is merging with the tote concept in that the odds are constantly changing. FIXED is a misnomer. They are anything but fixed except for sports betting. Anyway the FOB is all about sports betting. Racing administrators were totally sucked in. Its all about greed. Fleece the punter rather than promote racing.

Maybe they shouldn't have their data on a "cloud". What happens when it rains?

The information I got is that bit by bit they are testing parts of the new system in real time. At a cost of $50 million I guess it will take some "testing". Maybe the old system wasn't so bad afterall.

Total disaster!!! Looks like the moron who does the Te Akau website race previews has got a job with Gibbs/Bradley. The writeups are totally useless. People want to hear what the trainers have to say or report not this type of drivel "Los Angeles will start from barrier 7 ridden by Trudy Thornton, see her start in the race 4 Philpott Airfreight Lrd( R65, 2100m, $22,500). The 4yo Rock’n’Pop mare has had 9 starts before and owned by Bloodstock Achieving Xcellence Angel Syndicate (Mgr: Kylie Bax). She had won the race on 4th of August at Waikato, and placed 2nd in the following race on 12th of August." Its a disaster because previously the writeups were brilliant with some useful info. Now its an rehashed racebook for dummies.

Certainly remember Butch and got on real well. Regret I didn't keep in touch. Didn't get on so well with Maurice C. which was before he became apprentice. Nevertheless M.C. as Mr Mink's trackwork rider told me just what they thought of Mr Mink and when I asked Deac why he was spending more time with the horse he looked up the yard and said he'll be worth far more than the lot of them. At the time Mr Mink had a swelling which they couldn't get rid of therefore delaying his first start. So Mr Mink was the first serious bet I ever had and from memory paid about $5.00 at Stratford. Nowadays a horse with that type of stable reputation first up would be odds on.

Absolutely certain although can't remember how many got disqualified in the end. I think he admitted he gave the same stuff to all the horses so they may have disqualified without actually testing all of them. Fairly certain Grand Win was disqualifed. I did a stint at Deacons during the school holidays about 1965 which was a great experience. Never rode trackwork apart from trotting but rode Grand Win to and from the track. Fantastic mare. At the time the big news was Brian Hayter getting a positive which was more serious than Deac's and I distinctly remember Pauline having a wry smile when Hayter got a couple years disqualification. You are probably right about Ginner Hart but can't recall when.

Actually I thought it was four. Many years ago just before you linked with Brian Deacon he got about four on the day. Prior to the disclosure someone from the lab came up to him and wanted $2000 to keep it quiet. Deacon wasn't having any of that and as the positives were a genuine mistake I think he got off quite lightly. One of the horses was his star at the time Grand Win and the place the old Bulls track.

Myself and several others have warned for some time of the dangers of jockey agents and gambling. Potentially far more harmful than a few jockeys or drivers getting together to decide who gets an uncontested lead or the run of the race. I could never understand a club manager being a jockey agent. An obvious conflict of interest. Particularly when Butch Castles was at Ellerslie. Lets say an overseas trainer planning sending a horse to NZ inquires from the club which jockey could be available. A jockey agent is out there talking to trainers getting exclusive information with the ability to change the specifics of a race. A major put off to punters who feel disadvantaged.

Yes. Lets see the evidence or is the another novichok blame it on the Russians scenario minus any evidence.

The point I am trying to make is those supplying the info often wallow in the fancy look of the data and ignore the persons time factor. A good example is Des Coppins trainers interviews on the radio. Now who has the time to wait around or have playing the radio half the day. The interviews should be digitized and available on the internet. THe TV presenters instead of trying to pick winners should be assembling the sources of info and cutting racing fans time in searching for the information. Its all about time.

And if it was user pays do you think it would be a commercial success.? And if it was viable other punters would say to themselves "I haven't the time to study all this info therefore am disadvantaged so won't bet." A catch 22.

The Gun Lobby is a "tradition" in the USA. Doesn't mean it must be given a free pass if they LOVE their guns.

Look, lets do the math. How costly is it having jumps racing. I am as keen on racing as anybody but have never been remotely interested in jumps racing. That would go for a lot of other people. Educating horses for jumping after their racing days is positive and encouragement should be given with races for qualified jumpers. Even exhibition jumping displays on racedays. But racing over fences no.... particularly if jumps are placed in the last 600 metres of a race. Just because jumps racing is big in the UK why does that mean its applicable to NZ. Thomas is quite right about younger generation tolerance. Jumps racing is not a spectacle, not a betting medium, dangerous and quite frankly stupid.

Totally agree your assessment on Molloy. I've said for quite a while Molloy is bad for racing. Simple reason people don't want to follow an activity if there is going to be a hassle. Given the unprovoked insults Molloy has dished out to possibly hundreds I would probably end up in an altercation. Some insults just need that response. The snearing, conceited egotistic attitude displayed on social forums is pathetic. The guy isn't smart he's just cunning. He knows how to "follow the money" by aligning himself with say the majority in a situation in order to marginalise an individual. Enough of that.... We have to get away from the idea that all initiatives must be pursued only by Racing Board or NZTR. Instead they should just be a funds dispenser so that they professionally listen to proposals and fund accordingly. Furthermore the Racing Act should not stiffle innovation. Racing does not need Paddy Power or their ilk, neither can racing afford to pay bookmakers or form analysts to fleece the betting public. Far better the betting public act as bookmakers if they want to take on other punters. The TAB was settup to eliminate bookmakers. How come the TAB is now a bookmaker? If TAB staff are employed to fleece the punter rather than grow the pools then eventually there will be no punters left.

Yes I'm sure there was a Sylvia Park Plate but can't see it it my records for last 25 years. Now if racing is proposing to shopping mall management to have a large TV screen or two for racing they will have to have a silent screen with audio available by mobile phone or personal radio. A separate still image internet screen would be the ideal partner. Plus a simple way to open an account. funded online and bet by phone internet. With Sylvia Park I would look at a corner as a bit of a racing museum. Nothing major but can't see shopping mall management balking at the idea.

For the non Aucklander Sylvia Park is one of the largest if not largest shopping complexes in NZ, certainly the fastest growing. Its huge. Not so well known is that Sylvia Park is named after one of NZ's first stud farms. The stud that produced Carbine possibly Australia's greatest horses as well as Mebourne Cup winner Martini Henry. Major roads around Sylvia Park are linked with the stud such as Carbine Road, Musket, Morrins, Hamlin, Waipuna. So with that history you would think racing would have some presence. Perhaps a race at Ellerslie named the Sylvia Park Cup or Plate, Hcp etc. No TAB at Sylvia Park not even a Turf Digest on sale. No large screen. Perhaps a book shop. No nothing. Whats wrong with Ellerslie sponsorship department they can't do some deal with Sylvia Park. One of the founders of Kiwi Properties the owner of Sylvia Park was actually a Dalgety agent when Dalgety was into thoroughbred sales. Yet the TAB steers clear of shopping malls. Not that the current formula for TAB's is suitable to malls but there just needs someone with initiative on the Racing Board to make things happen. Paddy Power Fixed Odds is not the answer.

Sectionals sound well when the trainer is trying to act "technical" with the owner. Owner will just nod in agreement.

Started ok then double bogeyed about four holes. Very poor effort.

Side winkers back on Just Small Ransom should help. Dragon Dancer go well. For an interest try Linn Grant top five British Womens Open golf. Still an amateur but in hot form.

Well at least you wouldn't worry about missing race one!!

With Ebert going into receivership hot after problems at Fletchers is Alexandra Park in over its head now two years late? Recently Cannam the lead construction firm departed seemingly owed money. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12095051 Quite frankley I could never understand why people would want to live in this area half surrounded by busy roads.

Good post. Viewing horses prior to the race I see numerous horses presented each time in a state of unreadiness. Contrast this with the Baker/Forseman horse who are nearly always ready to go. For f*** sakes if these trainers don't know how to get a horse ready perhaps they should get out to Cambridge track and get some incite. Better still try to get some info from within the Baker stable as obviously they are using the latest techniques or aides. One thing I notice is whenever a Baker horse disappoints then next time they are trying something different. That doesn't seem to happen with those on a 70+ losing run.

I notice the "all weather track" where Te Rapa trials were held last week has grown into a grass track. That's real versatility !!! Wonder how much the exercise cost Waikato Racing Club.

A lot of the ex racing journo's failed to adjust to the internet era. They always expected some outfit like Fairfax or the Racing Board to be paying their weekly wages. O'Hearn did at least get his own web site going though. However take someone like Brenda Collins who started up a brilliant breeding magazine. Going out getting advertising revenue plus talking nicely to the bank manager much harder than churning out mundane material for the Racing Board or Fairfax for a weekly pay check. So what recognition did Brenda get. Very little as far as I can see. No wonder she left the industry in disgust.

You should really wean yourself off those Trump tweets. Its an in depth article who cares about the technicalities.