Chief Stipe Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 Gai's strong Sandown stance | RACING.COM www.racing.com Legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse believes any sale of Sandown is a “disgrace”, arguing racing bodies should not be selling their “core assets”. Waterhouse says the sale of racetracks will lead to the loss of punters and key industry revenue. She gave the Australian Turf Club similar feedback last week regarding its plans to sell Rosehill, telling the board it should be “ashamed”. Asked for her view on Sandown, Waterhouse warned that racing risks its future by selling its race tracks. “You shouldn't be selling your core assets. I think it's a disgrace. You cannot get those racetracks back,” Waterhouse said. “And they're green areas where people can go and enjoy themselves. People say, ‘Well, move it to such and such, or so-and-so’. You lose your punters. What funds racing here? What funds it in all the states? The punting dollar. “Leave it where it is because people like to go back to where they know. You'll lose that whole punting group totally. Without that money, we can't keep the prize money and all the benefits that go with it.” Fellow champion trainer Peter Moody echoed his support for Sandown on social media on Saturday. “20 stubbies in midnight sat night after a day on the chainsaw. Just saw replay of the great Vo Rogue at Sandown. MRC committee and members please don’t loose (sic) these memories. Save and return to the great days. Best track in the land. Make it work.” When contacted by Racing.com, an MRC spokesperson said: “The MRC has entered into a MOU with Racing Victoria that any closure of Sandown as a racecourse will only occur if it is in the best interests of Victorian racing.” WATCH: Gai Waterhouse has her say on Sandown 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 Absolutely we do. She is talking the common sense most of us know. I heard the CD trainers voiced their opinions at the two Roadshows on Monday regarding the closure of Woodville. Where would we be without Woodville? They took on the jumps racing, they stepped up and provided a venue when RACE couldn't provide a safe surface, and threw in some jumpouts as well. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 8 hours ago, Special Agent said: Absolutely we do. She is talking the common sense most of us know. I heard the CD trainers voiced their opinions at the two Roadshows on Monday regarding the closure of Woodville. Where would we be without Woodville? They took on the jumps racing, they stepped up and provided a venue when RACE couldn't provide a safe surface, and threw in some jumpouts as well. Such as the absolute stubborn ignorance of those in charge of the venues since the legislation , I could see them racing on AWT with 3 horse fields for weeks rather than utilising the existing assets. There are several courses around the country that should be getting utilised, perhaps then we wouldn't have stupid emails from NZTR about abandon meetings that make them look like utter fools! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 We can't match Australia on that front as New Zealand doesn't have a Gai Waterhouse equivalent who is so respected and known nationwide by non-racing people. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 2 hours ago, Special Agent said: We can't match Australia on that front as New Zealand doesn't have a Gai Waterhouse equivalent who is so respected and known nationwide by non-racing people. NZ doesn't have a trainer with the backbone to talk the truth or go against the establishment more like it, if it does they won't be heard by the racing media who are as biased and manipulated as our national media. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumbles Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 IT has got to the stage in NZ that trainers can't have a contrary opinion because racing is now contolled,imo,by about 10 studs and 10 trainers.Don't pee any of them off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nod Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 6 hours ago, Special Agent said: We can't match Australia on that front as New Zealand doesn't have a Gai Waterhouse equivalent who is so respected and known nationwide by non-racing people. She did train here for a while Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 5 hours ago, nod said: She did train here for a while Yes, good point. So Nod, can you please get her on the blower to see what tracks she can save on our side of the ditch? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 28 minutes ago, Special Agent said: Yes, good point. So Nod, can you please get her on the blower to see what tracks she can save on our side of the ditch? Or which ones she thinks we should get rid of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 One thing that is repeated by whoever ends up in charge is that New Zealand can't sustain so many tracks. Why? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 58 minutes ago, Special Agent said: One thing that is repeated by whoever ends up in charge is that New Zealand can't sustain so many tracks. Why? It's basically to make them look as if they are doing something, and closing tracks is the only thing they can think of. It doesn't require any intelligence, racing knowledge, creativeness or passion. A total outsider with no passion for the industry and no sense of history can't come out and say they are going to totally reorganise the pattern of racing in NZ, change the handicapping system and inspire everyone with their ideas and enthusiasm, but they can say we are going to sell off 30% of the tracks and try to bank a few million. That doesn't require any skill at all, and if it doesn't work they just bugger off leaving a mess behind them. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 1 hour ago, Doomed said: It's basically to make them look as if they are doing something, and closing tracks is the only thing they can think of. It doesn't require any intelligence, racing knowledge, creativeness or passion. A total outsider with no passion for the industry and no sense of history can't come out and say they are going to totally reorganise the pattern of racing in NZ, change the handicapping system and inspire everyone with their ideas and enthusiasm, but they can say we are going to sell off 30% of the tracks and try to bank a few million. That doesn't require any skill at all, and if it doesn't work they just bugger off leaving a mess behind them. And it pleases the "non existent" cartel as it means they always have a backup plan in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 9 hours ago, mumbles said: IT has got to the stage in NZ that trainers can't have a contrary opinion because racing is now contolled,imo,by about 10 studs and 10 trainers.Don't pee any of them off. I'd say about 4 studs & 10 trainers . It isn't hard to work out just watch the TV & read the appalling biased loveracing propaganda. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted February 22 Author Share Posted February 22 7 hours ago, Huey said: I'd say about 4 studs & 10 trainers . It isn't hard to work out just watch the TV & read the appalling biased loveracing propaganda. So on a population basis it would be 20 studs and 50 trainers in OZ. So OZ has a mythical "cartel" as well? Or is it more a reflection of what percentage of the racing population are successful? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 You can call it success. I call it boring and predictable. If you talk to the same people all the time, apart from the "which of your team will win today?" questions, there sometimes needs to be a different approach/angle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 Maybe when Entain fully takes over fresh people will be used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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