The Centaur

Certainly if they carry on with some of their hair brained schemes. I assume they are instigators of the top ten banned trainers race. Stupid to say the least but perhaps because of its stupidity could be a NZTR idea.

Yes this is interesting topic. The slide seems to be consistently downwards. Replacing the IT infrastructure with their propriety owned not wise if they would want to bail out of the New Zealand adventure.

In my view the Guerin article is extremely biased and not worthy of a journalist writing on judicial matters. Any arrests require good cause so at the minimum there had to be some wrong doing. Guerin is trying to show the defendants were angels. This will turn more people away from harness racing as punters will assume anything goes without consequence.

except the stable has bolted. This new deal seems a bit hard to follow but its plain that horse racing and radio go together as many tried to point out when TAB got rid of radio for less than $1 million. https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2311/S00330/tab-new-zealand-to-acquire-senz-digital-audio-from-sports-entertainment-network-nz.htm The fact is that previously advertising revenue combining TV and radio could have been returned directly to racing. The problem being the TAB personified by the small thinking McKenzie never could grasp commercial opportunities and lived in the past where the TAB was a just a clerical outfit.

You make an interesting point re "polish". Some trainers cut a fine line when it comes to pre race "extras". I note the Te Akau horses not always polished off but obviously compensated by superb conditioning. Would seem the Te Akau policy is just take no chances. Just imagine Karynn walking through the stables and seeing something questionable.

Obviously the publication relies heavily on TAB or NZTR subsidy. Which would explain each week Entain promo articles as well as NZTR material. Leading studs who also seem to be sponsors have some exposure. But the weekly is hopelessly outdated. Few people bother reading the form on paper as opposed online. OK it's nice having the fields on paper but this could be achieved by an insert printed after publication. Its ridiculous that a glossy magazine should have a shelf life only of a day or two. Instead of printing the form I suggest more review articles and stable tour pieces. Various charts as well could be included for the punter but above all give the publication greater shelf life making it retainable and not disposed after Sunday. Furthermore sport and classified adverts could be added overall dramatically increasing circulation and perhaps reducing price.

Haven't heard much about National's racing policy.

I suppose the TAB compulsive signers have got into some deal with skytv to prevent going with freeview. If racing got onto freeview it would not have any competition with other sports.

Look at world wide trends. Women sport attendance is on the up. e.g. FIFA World Cup in NZ. Although Trackside can be streamed free that's still not satisfactory for getting converts particularly women. I suggest a free to air channel run by the codes in partnership with Trackside is the best way. Many advertisers & sponsors aren't comfortable sponsoring the TAB whereas they are for racing and community events.

https://loveracing.nz/News/42517/WeighIn-25September.aspx go to 39.00 minute Not much specifics. Bit vague at times. However some items. 1. Trackside Premiere channel on Premiere days. Now that is faulty logic. I contend the Premiere lead up should be before the day e.g. Friday nights with say a separate betting pool for viewers. The old calcutta Friday nights were great creating interest amongst sports club people. Also the show must be available say on Youtube particularly on the day for viewers to go to and fro between channels. 2. Possibility of Free to Air TV. That would be their best achievement so far. Big if though. 3. Retail terminals. Who needs them. Just put up a whole lot of Qrcodes and make the other end attractive. Hopefully that's what Cameron Rodger means by tinkering with the TAB App. 4. Had to chuckle Guerin saying that all club, NZTR and TAB management love Entain. Offcourse they do. They've probably got a pay rise and now leave all their work up to Entain. 5. When quizzed on how Entain would grow the customer base he seemed to suggest that sports betting would be the focus.

I remember when the New Plymouth track opened up after remodelling about 1983 there was that many turn up thus not getting a bet on or being able to move that the consensus was they would never come back. Moral.... be prepared and as FIFA did with the womens football make it an experience.

You pose a good question. Seems TAB, NZTR getting into outside endeavours they know little about. NZTR was never supposed to be a publishing business. What should have happened is three codes along with Trackside and the old radio network combine into a single media company allowing some real experts to be employed.

I suppose there has been things like the "TAB sponsored driver" which is a bit unfair on other drivers but the TAB doesn't in that case tell the driver how to drive the race or which horse to drive. This case means TAB employees getting involved and then having the CV to go out on their own competing against the "battlers" say as syndicators. There are plenty syndicators and trainers plus breeders willing to do business so why start competing against the "battlers" who don't have the billion dollar capital behind them. This is another hair brained scheme like the Grand Tour which doesn't compute. Who has the time to figure all the odds options the "grand tour" throws up.

So why is it called the TAB Racing Club? If Entain wants to start a totally independent club then do it without digging into TAB coffers with special betting offers. Its a bit like supporting the local grocer with TAB offers because the TAB boss's wife shops there.

The Racing Act spells out the functions of the TAB. Anything to do with racehorse ownership is NZTR function. Certainly deciding which trainers it will support is not a legal or fair use of TAB profits. As well has the ownership thing been in the business plan? RACING ACT 63TAB NZ must prepare business plan (1) Before the start of a racing year, TAB NZ must prepare a business plan relating to that racing year. (2) TAB NZ must consult each racing code in respect of its business plan. (3) However, subsection (2) applies in respect of a racing code only if there is no provision in any commercial agreement between TAB NZ and that racing code or all racing codes providing for consultation by TAB NZ with that racing code or all racing codes on the development of the business plan. (4) In carrying out consultation required under subsection (2) or by the commercial agreement referred to in subsection (3), TAB NZ must— (a) give each racing code a copy of the proposed business plan; and (b) provide each code with a reasonable period (not less than 15 working days) in which to provide comments to TAB NZ; and (c) meet with each code (or all the codes) to discuss any matters of disagreement. (5) TAB NZ must publish a copy of its business plan on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of TAB NZ.

And well they should. He was basically saying Williams should have ridden to lose.

Lets start with the name. Some 50 Tarzino progeny have raced in NZ. Most of them hopeless. None won more than $70,000 and I doubt any have earned enough to pay for expenses here. At this time of year piling all the good horses into one race does nothing for racing. Far better having a series of races around the country where trainers can take their time getting them ready. Look at Imperatriz last year. Took a while to recover after. Wisely missing this time. Sure its a great field this Saturday but if all of them are in peak condition then that would really be "stupid".

Question of population, expert staff and linking to sponsors. Any rental charges to Auckland Racing keeps money in the system. Just imagine when broadcasting Trackside has the racetrack in the background. Prestige and image.

Here is what I don't get. Ellerslie is supposed to be or will be the showcase of NZ racing. Now there are other activities happening there all the time even a golfing facility. Its a great location intersecting all transport routes e.g. airport, road, rail etc. What better location than place racing offices e.g. NZTR head office and Trackside there which would save considerable funds. They get all these great achievers on these boards yet when it comes to translating their great successes to racing they are total failures. I haven't seen anywhere any reports or debates on that feasibility.

Maybe resurrecting Marton, Feilding, Foxton, Levin, Bulls, Masterton, Waipukurau, Napier Park, Wairoa, Gisborne, Stratford actually just getting started e.g. Carterton, Ashurst, Pihama etc.

Congrats! Freda.!! well I presume it is. Did you win the bag of chaff for highest priced winner 22/23 season? Perhaps better than chaff hope the horses enjoyed it.

https://www.racenet.com.au/news/darwinbased-jockey-bashed-with-rocks-by-group-of-men-in-random-attack-outside-her-own-home-20230801 Hope Sonja recovers. What gets me is the large group involved.

I just can't understand why corporates like to pile everything under the one DNS i.e. website. I have no idea how the NZTR website is set up but wouldn't it make sense to separate raceday videos or streaming service from the normal website just for raceday. All you would need is the race result and a video link hardly einstein material. I can view videos without problem when the loveracing.nz site crashes but the average punter would not be able to figure it out. Hence the complaints. According to NZTR release they expect the website to crash again tomorrow. What a pack of highly paid dumbo's.

The R in NZTR now stands for RUGBY and the T for TWO. i.e. Rugby and Rugby League. Councils will have option of putting housing on existing playing fields and creating new playing fields from the racecourses. That will please Mr Sharrock and Mr George.