Freda

So, shoving the remainder into a high- cost operation where not only staffing costs are significant, but stabling and residential costs are huge, is going to save us all? Those who have to try and buy a house in CHCH if relocating from Ashburton might beg to differ.

To add - we have, over the years, seen the closure or relocation of clubs/tracks here in the south, not as a result of 'the big stick' but, through market forces or changing demographic to which Reefton has alluded. Hororata, Amberley, Nelson, Westport, Geraldine,Wyndham,Tapanui, Beaumont come to mind. Add Waimate, Waikouaiti, Winton, Oamaru, Blenheim and Rangiora to the 'forced' pile. There may be others I haven't mentioned, and also we have a plethora of Hunt Clubs which no longer have a day. I don't see any business case from on high to indicate just how beneficial those closures have been, the voluntary ones may have seen some local upside in the change, but to the industry? It's only the asset grab that is driving this latest travesty, again - as Reefton has said - simple economics will determine which stays and which doesn't, without any draconian measures. But the unsustainable model will just keep on keeping on, as long as there is funding to be plundered from somewhere, supported by Tesio and his buddies. I'm charitable enough to think that they want a successful industry, as we all do - but sadly, logic and reasoned discussion just doesn't sink in.

Maybe have a look at net revenue instead.

How do I, then, kill a crayfish [ legally] ?

The work starts this week on the new AWT.

Yes, of course. Absolutely.

We all 'reap what we sow' in some shape or form, success, failure, illness, injury, everything that happens in life is a result of decisions made, one way or another. Racing is no different, obviously. However, I don't think the demise of Hokitika as a racing venue can be put squarely at the feet of the club and its decisions - if, in fact, that is what you meant, C.

BTW, welcome to the forum anyway. Contributions from all perspectives are necessary to create good dialogue - opinions are like arseholes, we all have them.

Well said indeed. Tesio, I - we - share your disgruntlement about the direction of the industry, but, as others have pointed out, it is not the small clubs which deserve your ire. One or two points in addition; your gripe about 'shit stakes' at Westland. That was not the fault of the club, I know they had the money, and wanted to put on a high-staked day, but were not allowed to. Many times they wanted to run more races, or divide some when horses were eliminated - but weren't allowed to do that either. Funding /turnover distributions have been changing over the years, for your 40 and more, small clubs have had their portion of 'payback' altered, time and time again, for the purpose of propping up the big clubs, the most uneconomic of all. Don't forget the funding was not a gift - small clubs ran meetings [ with huge community and voluntary help ] to contribute to the whole, but certainly have not had a fair suck of the sav. Travel for rubbish money? it has never been compulsory. Dave Kerr, many, many years ago, refused to travel to provincial days, generally - he said then it was too expensive. If they can't race at Riccarton, he said, they aren't good enough to have in work. Your involvement is long enough to have been well aware of that.

Ooo. Not good.

No. Keep up.

A very experienced racing administrator said to me, mess with tradition at your peril. Tradition has been messed with, for sure, and look at the mess that now prevails.

He's not doing his stud career - if there is one offering - any good whatsoever, and Thommo's assertion that we need to breed runners that need little persuasion and no whips isn't going to get much traction watching his attitude. And, if he has a problem, whatever it may be, why on earth is he going to the races?

I genuinely dont think they know.

Predictable.

There has been so much tinkering with dates and overall structure that the general public - or at least those who give a toss - have no idea what is happening where.

Lol....stallions I have a healthy respect for - as well as their skilful handlers - but the bruise on my arm delivered by a filly of mine yesterday while doing up the front of her rug was met with fair retribution I thought, and she was very polite this morning while she was being dressed.

King of the breed or no, he wouldn't be the first colt to dog up when called upon....not that he was called upon...but he would be well aware of what usually comes next.

You may take issue ( rightly IMO ) with the machinations within the committee that dramatically changed it's makeup, however, it is a stretch to blame that committee for the loss of the venue. That was a done deal. Gray Eatwell was a former NZ First member, knew Winston well, and I know he went to Wellington and met with him where Hokitika's fate was discussed. He trusted Winston to 'look out for the regions' as was a NZF platform. Typically, that trust was misplaced, and the moves within the club to protect their asset for the community understandable.

I hope my comments aren't taken to indicate that I am resistant to change. We all know that change has to happen, the industry has been looking and going backwards for years - but a viable holiday/country circuit is part and parcel of the fabric of NZ racing, and modification with consultation could have had most parties comfortable as well as looking ahead. Many country/provincial meetings in Aus are considered part of the whole tourist experience, and marketed accordingly. Joe Bloggs will be able to attest to the popularity of many of these days, right out to the red-dirt bush tracks and the fun had by all at those days.

Yes, I'm afraid it does. A N.I trainer who has been a regular attendee, has family in Hokitika, has already indicated that 3 racedays squashed into six days makes the trip unviable for him. With the vagaries of the weather on the Coast - only Reefton can be considered reliable - the possibility of either of the other two days being severely rain-affected is pretty high. And, as the habit of factoring in the Coast to holiday racing programmes becomes less of a highlight, the die is cast. Gisborne/Wairoa are already gone, the date now at Hastings soon to become just another unremarkable raceday with little public interest. The Waikato glitterati won't give a sh#t, but the character of racing will be changed and not for the good I don't think.

Reefton will know for sure, my understanding however is that they wanted a date, but weren't given one. If that is the case, it will be payback for not vesting their land/cash assets in NZTR.

At the end of the day, he's a mature stallion ( if the info is correct ) ..maybe he just can't be arsed?

And, I must agree with Reefton here, I am hard pressed to think of a reconstructed track that hasnt had issues. They wouldn't have all been done by the same contractors, countrywide- so there must indeed be issues with the design, scope of work, call it what you will.

Well, I'm no expert ( clearly you are ) so I can only report as I recall it being explained to me. I would think the fk up would be in the design, surely?