Freda

Well done, team, awesome result for all of you, the Andertons, the South Island and that neat little grey horse.

You mean I'm ever wrong..? ?

For twenty years or more, smaller clubs have been selectively deprived of an equitable portion of turnover percentage payments....those funds channeled to some larger clubs because of their 'importance' . No argument with providing some extra funding for the black type races these clubs host - although as mardigras has been pointing out for years, funding beyond a race's capacity to earn is just not sustainable. These smaller clubs have been squeezed and squeezed yet with local effort and hours of community and volunteer work, have managed to hang in- so far . I would imagine if these clubs had had the same income opportunities as their larger cousins, there would have been ample to maintain their tracks and facilities. Looking at the superb- not- management of the racing surfaces of Ellerslie, Pukekohe and Te Rapa just to mention a few, that extra funding has been absolutely wasted. They're been sucking the tit for years....for what?

Oh ffs. .. geez I'm slow

I've got Mr C...but Mr E..?

If the total rebuild is dependant on funds from capital asset acquisition methinks there could be a long wait.

All the abovementioned clubs - inc Counties - have been the recipient of extra funding at the expense of those beleaguered ' small ' clubs ...and yet we are supposed to trust, and blithely hand over assets to the management culture that has produced these continued cock-ups ?

Hell, no....given its track record I'd be suss about allowing it to manage anything, not just money matters. But taking this on a bit, if a new body is to be created - i.e.Racing NZ - will the code bodies [ NZTR, HRNZ, GRNZ] remain in their present form, or will they be remodelled as well?

I think most agree with the hatchet being taken to the RB...but whether devolving responsibility to the codes works, will depend entirely on the structures implemented and the personnel retained.

Reefton and Curious, you'll have a better take on the legal stance of this than me...is there any reason why clubs with freehold assets, couldn't place those assets in a community trust -type arrangement, and lease the property back to conduct racing ? until such time as they are forced not to? ....and , at least as far as the south is concerned, all these track closures - which are supposed to fund infrastructure improvements- won't be able to happen until the allweather at Riccarton is built. That will hang upon the success [ or otherwise ] of the first venture at Cambridge for starters, and given that the RDF is unlikely to be usable in Christchurch city, funding has to be questionable for the proposed allweather here. We have seen on another thread that the capital realised from the sale of the Racecourse Reserve land is nowhere near what may have been thought.

NZRB has become a lumbering and expensive operation with fingers in too many pies. However, looking at NZTR's underwhelming track record the ability to take on more responsibility would be questionable imo.

Yes, exactly. To retain Waikouaiti and not Oamaru beggars belief..its the best winter track in the south island with excellent facilities...and to claim Timaru has 'no infrastructure' , same.....as well as being a base for a good number of galloping trainers...who advised this shit? I've no problem with track rationalisation, but it has to have benefit for all.

I would think that mindset would be held by most clubs on tracks earmarked for closure. If NZTR thinks it can blackmail it's way into asset ownership I think it might face a fight....especially considering its track record to date is woeful.

Yep, you're right re Kumara, the more it got 'improved' the less reliable it became. Definitely the worst track to keep....but worth stuff all so lip service can be seen to be paid to ' keep a racing presence in the district ' .....and flog off the most valuable, Hokitika. Except the committee won't let that happen so I think we can forget racing on the Coast. Kumara can't stand alone.

Isn't that HK model similar to that which exists in the UK where Wetherby's holds money in acct to pay trainers and other exes?

I remember Westport gallops, always popular. Think from memory they were denied a licence by NZTR but stand to be corrected .

Bang on, Chief and Rowley.

Agree re. Hoki...great scenery, nice people, heaps of interesting shops/cafe's, much more to do - and the club has significant assets. That will be why it has been earmarked for closure as opposed to Kumara which is [ I think] leasehold land. Knowing some of the committee, hwever, there will be diddly squat chance that anyone else will get their undeserving mitts on their money.

Absolutely, Chief. ...but it is already a 'summer holiday circuit '.....are you meaning that it should drop to a picnic-type designation.?

You're quite right - IMO - Kumara the worst track with recent abandonments...the busloads of pissed punters will still turn up but the racing and facilities are shite, and there will be NO N.I representation for one day a year. No way can that course support four racedays - that's assuming the other clubs wish to race there. Hokitika, for one, would have a rip-roaring high-stakes day and tell the industry, see ya later. As for the other clubs maintaining facilities for horses to all race at Kumara...no way. You can call it parochialism, but in this instance at least, the climate and topography just don't lend themselves to multiple racedays on one track. Someone has given JM some bad advice, on this aspect at least.

That's not classy, P.D. The management have clearly made a fk-up but the lady has always had style.

Yeah, couldn't agree more. If anything is going to put punters off, it isn't the fact that the amateurs are, well, amateurs - but the bizarre ruling from head stipe who allowed a rider to put up nearly 2kg overweight in the Riccarton race. That must have really impressed those who had put their bets on early.

Oh..ffs...let him have the retirement he is clearly looking for. Greedy bunch of pricks.

I should add I do not like to see a beaten horse flogged, and the practice of easing down a tired animal to run again another day, yep, fine. But this guy seems to have brain fades..or something...

I'm not one to bag riders - normally - I feel they have a hard enough job as it is trying to satisfy their obligations without being subjected to ill-informed criticism from the sidelines..but I'm with you on this one. I thought he was ordinary on Speedy Jax as well, the horse was making ground albeit under a bit of persuasion; but he showed the benefit of a strong ride at Riccarton. Suddenly the jock loses interest and so did the horse..? And I seem to recall Mr Mor being eased out two years ago in the Koral...and then start in the National under Croppy and finish second.!