Freda

If, as you indicated earlier, Entain do not 'do' tote betting, there might be an opportunity for clubs to run their own on-course tote . It's a bit pre-nineteen fifties, but there might be a way to make it work.

He hates the place, seemingly. He could have made himself unavailable, surely? and let someone else do the job? After all, a junior employee was set 'in charge' but didn't, in the end, make the call. And no question about giving another day. It doesn't fit with the NZTR grand plan. The line trotted out by Sharrock about 'rationalising' venues and putting the money realised into a managed fund to produce an income stream for the future, has absolutely no relevance or bearing on the Coast situation.

Pretty much.

I did see videos of work implemented at Flemington coming out of winter and getting ready for the spring racing, and leading up to the Cup carnival. It would appear that this type of renovation is done at LEAST annually and possibly more often with their major tracks. I know Te Rapa had sand applied a few years back but that wasn't considered to be appropriately applied according to the adverse comment after. But it seems to be racing ok now. So one would hope that Riccarton, at least, has an ongoing programme of maintenance and renovation, similar to that undertaken after the Cup meeting drama. But I don't have any information pertaining to that.

That review will be very interesting.

I'm not surprised the Minister wasn't more help. Apart from a minefield of petty rules for him to wade through, as Minister for Local Govt, and in election year, a racing matter would have to be a very low priority in his view.

Well done !

I thought that was all done and dusted...or at least, I'm not aware of any other plans afoot.

WTF does that have to do with a perfectly [ I thought ] sensible question?

I didn't personally see this, but was told there was reference on Trackside about the proposed work to be undertaken at Randwick immediately now the Championships are over. Anyone aware of this? And to Reefton - how goes the battle with the RIB ?

Absolutely, the status quo is not acceptable. But the detail is what we would all like to see, instead of fluffy statements about 'how great ' it is going to be. Given management decisions so far we can be forgiven for the scepticism.

Of course I do. Where did you get that notion ? The new road might be smoother, it might be full of potholes. We do need to have some info about this. But it seems to be hard to find.

Don't be silly. I'm sure that's not what I said. What is obvious is that to continue down the same road will take us to where it leads. If you can't work that out you need help.

I think [apologies to Doomed if I misunderstood] that he feels that those who do give a shit have become so tired and dispirited that they just can't be arsed any more. Anyone who knows me understands that figures and balance sheets confuse the hell out of me - but I've learned a lot from folk who do understand such matters. What astounds me however is that information is everywhere, it isn't actually that hard to find stuff out. It has never been so easy to learn something. But so few people - and that includes our administrators - have a clue how it all works. That is frightening. It shouldn't really be the job of the general populace to inform. Most are just too busy trying to earn a living. As far as the proposed Entain/TAB deal goes though - whatever its relative merits may or may not be - doing the same old thing, maintaining the status quo, isn't the answer.

I've been reading a great deal about this concept. Any thoughts ?

You'll get no argument from me about that last sentence. Omeprazole does not have any withholding time, although to obey the letter of the law it shouldn't be administered on raceday.

Omeprazole is in almost universal use. Bjorn had a positive to raniditine, also an ulcer treatment, not omeprazole.

Don't talk rubbish. There are many ways of maintaining health and happiness without resorting to pharmaceuticals that have specific withholding times. And an unwell or injured animal requiring veterinary help is NOT about to grace the racetrack.

Possibly, not sure. But this is not new to my train of thought.

Of course, the matter is simplified if there are no drugs used at all......

Don't blame you, Aqua. But I do prefer to make up my own mind, as best as I can. There is no doubt that some vaccines have had beneficial impacts on public health, in the developed as well as the third world. But to believe all the b/s from Big Pharma, nah.

The insidious thing is that now there are 'combined' vaccs, 'flu and Covid. Now, I have regularly availed myself of a 'flu jab since they became available, I used to get flattened every year, and since utilising that, I've been afflicted with only mild colds since. But how many will line up for their 'flu vacc and not be told that it is a 2-in-one?

Unfortunately, any 'action' taken by any person or group, will be swept under that rug that we all know about.

I think most riders would prefer rules as clear and uncomplicated as these.

I'd have to scratch my head about the 'more profitable' part of that mission statement. Whoever 'owned' the TAB prior to 2003, from the time of that Act it would appear that the Govt owns the outfit, and with the monopoly that exists, is responsible for funding us. Like it or not, we [ racing] operate under a welfare system whereby we are given funding - tax free - from the taxpayer of NZ. Any outsourcing or partnering must, therefore, be subject to a legislative minefield of unravelling. Can't see that happening ASAP, especially in an election year.