Freda

Too much tradition and status to see it disappear in the UK/Ireland, surely? Or were you referring more to here and Aus....I am thinking, too well managed over the ditch to see it fold there, even with the push from the animal rights groups.

At this point in time, the way I see things, big trainers will get bigger, the smaller ones will get smaller or disappear. As well as the well documented challenges facing all trainers, recent changes to immigration criteria make it very difficult to get experienced staff.

Perhaps everyone is tuned to the Olympics?

The TAB got a bail-out, which [ in theory ] helped all codes. As far as the AWT funding goes however, yes, you are right. But Winston's supporters were, as far as the racing industry was concerned, the high-end thoroughbred breeders/trainers from the Waikato. Harness and dogs don't figure on their radar.

And as well, immigration is notoriously slow and difficult to deal with, months ago would still be too late IMO. As for stallions, I don't mind racing colts, but serving stallions a whole different ball game and one I wouldn't even consider.

Probably not much to gain in rehashing old wrongs. I don't think anyone charged with making decisions does so with the express aim of injuring or killing people. Yet that is the end result of stupid or ill-thought policies. We see it all around us, every day, it's just lucky, I guess, that is most cases the consequences aren't tragic as those discussed above. Planes, racetracks, mines, aren't in themselves malicious entities. But the decisions made in and around them can have catastrophic results. If stupidity was a hanging offense, there wouldn't be many of us who would escape, because I doubt if anyone can say, hand on heart, that they haven't done something very stupid indeed. It's the lack of accountability that gets up my nose, because without that there is little ability to change processes and ensure the bad choices aren't made again. Butt- covering is an art form.

Definitely too little too late. Track riding another role not now on the skill shortage list, many stables are struggling for experienced riding staff, as well as the stud sector with their requirements.

Didn't Messara favour NZTAB outsourcing/partnering with Tabcorp or similar.? Economies of scale, huge exposure, all that stuff?

No it doesn't. Te Akau bases at Riccarton. It is a good while since they had a satellite stable at Rangiora, with ( most recently ) Neill Ridley and Lance Robinson overseeing the horses for Mark Walker and Jason Bridgeman. Since that practice ceased, the tangerine team is incumbent at Riccarton from September.

Now that's an interesting thought.

...and add the new one, soon to be drawing a nice salary.

Yeah... $40k for MAAT horses? you'd think they would be swamped with entries.

Was wondering that myself. As was pointed out to me by a member of a particular committee - 'it's easy to spend someone else's money' ....in this case, ours.

Think you might be right. Leo Oliffe? Now the Oxford Terrace firm is going to bug me!

Would it be surprising, though? We know that viruses can mutate very quickly - the changing makeup of the influenza virus being one we are all familiar with.

Yes, I can remember going in to an accountancy firm in Oxford Terrace to get the fields.. The name Oliffe comes to mind, but may be mistaken there. Warren Barberel was another early secretarial model I think.

It must be real cos everyone is getting excited 😆

When I was at When I was at school a CEO was a bloody secretary.

What does a COO do that a CEO doesn't?

It's reality...and that's why there needs to be a rigid code of practice for ALL stock at slaughterhouses, not just horses. While we're on the depressing side of things, what about the dog meat business in China and other Asia countries? Can you imagine treating your best mate like that? I try not to dwell on it bit it sickens me. Not the eating part, but the cruelty inflicted on the way

No, Mikey, the aim is not to create new days, permits will be taken from other clubs.

Of course not. Many a child has a tale of the pet lamb which ' disappeared' one day while the kid was at school....only to be told a few weeks later what they were eating at tea time. A visit to an abattoir should be undertaken before slagging off racing.

Humane and compassionate handling should apply to all animals. I don't think any decent human being would feel that some animals can or should be treated more cruelly than others.

Operating here.

I stand to be corrected - but, as far as I am aware, no race in NZ covers its stakemoney through betting revenue. So, abandoned races would be a positive from that point, surely? Clearly, the inconvenience and costs towards running a meeting, and to participants, is a different matter of course.