What an Embarrassment

[Doomed]

What embarrassing noms at Riccarton this weekend. 6 noms for each of the open races with double acceptors as well and horses eligible for rating 65 races.. And 6 or 7 for the 3yo. And open races back to $50,000 with others at $40,000. You seriously have to think this is a massive misuse of industry funds.

And it's an AWT meeting. They really have not got their head around AWT racing at all. At least in the NI they almost run them as a separate tier of racing, but in the SI they think they are interchangeable with grass track racing. Even if they are treated as a separate type of racing there is still very limited interest from trainers. Then next week they run virtually the same programme at Riccarton, but on the grass. I have no idea what the logical thinking is behind it all.

I was somewhat bemused by those $100,000 AWT races a couple of weeks ago. In the NI they were held at meetings where the rest of the races were worth $17,000 and attracted rubbish fields. So $100,000 races at race-meetings where there was no desire or intention to attract on course attendances. A really strange way to spend industry funds. Those clubs who go out of their way to attract on course patrons must really look on in total bemusement. Surely a $100,000 race at Reefton would create a lot more interest?

And back to the SI. The obvious message is that Riccarton can't cope with too much grass track racing, especially at this time of year.

Anyone who can remember back a few years will recall that after the National meeting the racing pattern went something like: Oamaru, Ashburton, Timaru, Otago, Geraldine, Marlborough. And Riccarton didn't make an appearance again until early October. That pattern seemed to work well for many years. Of course, of all those clubs mentioned only Otago and Ashburton are currently in the good boys group, which does seem to have created a bit of a predicament.

Still, I do keep reassuring myself with the knowledge that there are highly paid people running the show who obviously know much more than any of us who comment on here.

[curious]

Is there a programming issue here? Two 50k open races at Riccarton with 6 noms each (and they are actually R80s), and two one win jumping races at Hawera on Sunday which were overflowing and had to both be split.

Edited August 20 by curious

[Doomed]

11 minutes ago, curious said:

Is there a programming issue here? Two 50k open races at Riccarton with 6 noms each (and they are actually R80s), and two one win jumping races at Hawera on Sunday which were overflowing and had to both be split.

A programming issue in the broader sense, but in all honesty just further indications that the industry is being appalling and incompetently run.

[Wingman]

The opportunity to have a long deep look at programming has been lost for another year. I had been hoping last Autumn for a serious shuffle but alas more of the same except some innovation from the newcomers Entain with bonus races. Those races also compete with black type races so it creates conflict with a decreasing pool of talented horses. Circuits are extremely important for the lesser talented and enable stables to try and place to advantage to the benefit of trainer, owner and punter. AWT should never have been part of the equation. How did a Christchurch City track qualify for funding from a 'provincial' fund?

Entain has given the lack lustre NZTR executives more time to be dull however in three years  Entain commitments change and benefactor becomes taxer. I find it very difficult to see the current executive doing anything remarkably different in 9 months time re programming so either the new chairman decides on a clear-out or the industry is another year closer to confirming it is a sunset industry.

Tracks are  a continuing deadly serious issue. There is no justification for the Ellerslie debacle. There is no justification for Hastings to continue to be a problem since the middle of last decade i.e. the last TEN years.

Everyone in the NZ racing industry next month (except me, I will be overseas) will be holding their breath that all goes well with Ellerslie and Hastings. I truly hope all does goes well but if it does, the downside is the NZTR dullards will congratulate themselves on a job well done.

  

[Huey]

10 minutes ago, Wingman said:

The opportunity to have a long deep look at programming has been lost for another year. I had been hoping last Autumn for a serious shuffle but alas more of the same except some innovation from the newcomers Entain with bonus races. Those races also compete with black type races so it creates conflict with a decreasing pool of talented horses. Circuits are extremely important for the lesser talented and enable stables to try and place to advantage to the benefit of trainer, owner and punter. AWT should never have been part of the equation. How did a Christchurch City track qualify for funding from a 'provincial' fund?

Entain has given the lack lustre NZTR executives more time to be dull however in three years  Entain commitments change and benefactor becomes taxer. I find it very difficult to see the current executive doing anything remarkably different in 9 months time re programming so either the new chairman decides on a clear-out or the industry is another year closer to confirming it is a sunset industry.

 

Everyone in the NZ racing industry next month (except me, I will be overseas) will be holding their breath that all goes well with Ellerslie and Hastings. I truly hope all does goes well but if it does, the downside is the NZTR dullards will congratulate themselves on a job well done.

  

The real issue however is that if it doesn't go well , nothing and I mean nothing will be done about it apart from some BS fob off report, that's why the industry has absolutely no hope of progression,  there is no accountability for failure it's just an indicator of Business as Usual in nz racing.

[TAB For Ever]

5 hours ago, Doomed said:

What embarrassing noms at Riccarton this weekend. 6 noms for each of the open races with double acceptors as well and horses eligible for rating 65 races.. And 6 or 7 for the 3yo. And open races back to $50,000 with others at $40,000. You seriously have to think this is a massive misuse of industry funds.

And it's an AWT meeting. They really have not got their head around AWT racing at all. At least in the NI they almost run them as a separate tier of racing, but in the SI they think they are interchangeable with grass track racing. Even if they are treated as a separate type of racing there is still very limited interest from trainers. Then next week they run virtually the same programme at Riccarton, but on the grass. I have no idea what the logical thinking is behind it all.

I was somewhat bemused by those $100,000 AWT races a couple of weeks ago. In the NI they were held at meetings where the rest of the races were worth $17,000 and attracted rubbish fields. So $100,000 races at race-meetings where there was no desire or intention to attract on course attendances. A really strange way to spend industry funds. Those clubs who go out of their way to attract on course patrons must really look on in total bemusement. Surely a $100,000 race at Reefton would create a lot more interest?

And back to the SI. The obvious message is that Riccarton can't cope with too much grass track racing, especially at this time of year.

Anyone who can remember back a few years will recall that after the National meeting the racing pattern went something like: Oamaru, Ashburton, Timaru, Otago, Geraldine, Marlborough. And Riccarton didn't make an appearance again until early October. That pattern seemed to work well for many years. Of course, of all those clubs mentioned only Otago and Ashburton are currently in the good boys group, which does seem to have created a bit of a predicament.

Still, I do keep reassuring myself with the knowledge that there are highly paid people running the show who obviously know much more than any of us who comment on here.

Gee Doomed , I think i'll join Chief and get some Leonard Cohen music to listen to and drift away and slit my wrists.

With Spring approaching and the best horses about to step out again I'm brimming with excitement about what is coming up. Tomorrow the iconic Taupo trials are held which leads into Group racing at Te Rapa , Hastings then into big Aussie racing ,Christchurch Cup week then into Summer racing and the New Year .More Group racing  and the picnic Summer meets with the big once a year crowds. 

Coming up is the end of Jumps season ....this Sunday a huge Jumps day at Ballarat [Victoria] then the Great Northern races at Te Rapa. Save some breathe and write in to help save NZ Jumping. I've taken taken shares in a couple of jumpers ,one this week ,so I'm hoping that we get the green light for at least another 5 years of Jumps so it can be reprieved long term.Then there is the excitement of whether any two year olds show the zip to be aimed for Karaka millions and seeing if the 3 year olds show classic potential.

Your grizzle re higher stakes / small fields and wasted stakes on Synthetic racing is very discouraging for increasing the reach in NZ . it been done to death but Synthetic racing has proved useful for given non-mudders a reason to stay racing over winter and certainly helped track work /horse fitness enormously. A couple I have a share in have had more opportunities to earn a bit and kept trainers/ workers earning and provided jockeys with extra income. Ditto these extra stakes you object too.

Trainers and jockeys in particular earning much better money .A few seasons back there were few jockeys who rode  $1mill stakes ,I think there 27 last season with 7 over $3 mill. Inflation helped no doubt but it aint helped Owners.

Returns of 25% or less were miserable ,owners leaving in droves and the Industry in NZ basically insolvent unable to to pay its bills.Covid camouflaged this sad state of affairs . Yes Entain has stepped in with huge Investment , they have a plan and they trying to implement it . Obviously they committed for a limited time but there are many parts to their business which enables them to splash extra to NZ Racing. But they looking at increasing Ownership , attract new and lapsed punters and trying to resuscitate participation in the Auckland region where the most people live .

So we know we have at least 4 x years of this ,it won't all succeed but at worst things will still be at your finger tips...great racing from around the world , more racing on TV ,plenty to bet on .NZ will be still be breeding great horses and producing great horsepeople. Night will follow day.

I expect the tight five will call me names , again ,but please answer one question ...How are you personally adversely affected  by high stakes , small fields and a bit of synthetic racing while most of the South covered in snow and most of the rest in rain soaked tracks.

Us owners are actually quite pleased we  being better treated .....as LCohen would say.....Hallelujah !

 

[Chief Stipe]

@TAB For Ever can you explain how the strategy that you describe is going to work?

Is it just a double down on the failed strategy of the last two decades using more of Entains shareholder and the NZ Taxpayers money?

What's different this time that will make it work?

Don't you realise that at the bottom end stakes haven't improved that much compared to the top end.  That less and less opportunities are available for the feeder grades that provide the horses for the privileged few at the top end.

Don't you realise that increasingly access to enter the industry through readily available training tracks and other facilities are being closed down.  Where are the horses going to come from?

Why do trainers have to beg for trials?  Why do trainers have to start underdone horses in races because they can't get a trial?  Why is the race programme/calendar so screwed up that the printed version is out of date as soon as it is printed?  Why are there changes to races available just about on a daily basis within a week of a raceday?

Why are our top horses already looking at one run in NZ before heading to OZ?  It surely can't be because the stakes are better.  

My mantra is if your strategy isn't working then do a complete 180.  We won't see that unfortunately.

[Doomed]

11 hours ago, TAB For Ever said:

Gee Doomed , I think i'll join Chief and get some Leonard Cohen music to listen to and drift away and slit my wrists.

Your grizzle re higher stakes / small fields and wasted stakes on Synthetic racing is very discouraging for increasing the reach in NZ . it been done to death but Synthetic racing has proved useful for given non-mudders a reason to stay racing over winter and certainly helped track work /horse fitness enormously. A couple I have a share in have had more opportunities to earn a bit and kept trainers/ workers earning and provided jockeys with extra income. Ditto these extra stakes you object too.

 

 

It might surprise you TAB, but I am all in favour of AWTs. They have their place. That place is as a totally separate tier of racing providing opportunities for jockeys and trainers and certain types of horses during a particular time of the year. And also for providing betting opportunities to help maximise turnover and profits.

Unfortunately I think NZTR, and probably yourself, view them differently and, in the SI particularly, want to use them to eliminate several existing grass tracks. In the SI they see grass track and AWT racing as totally interchangeable.

As to your question about how am I adversely affected by high stakes etc. I am not adversely affected at all. I see myself as a totally impartial observer of the racing industry, both here and in Australia. I have a sense of the history of the industry in both countries, and while I accept that things inevitably change over time and nothing remains the same, I do feel a sense of sadness at how badly NZ racing has declined.

I am staggered at how many people look at the current scene and the new stakes levels and the flash new races and think the industry is going great guns. And as you say, it is great for owners, racing in small, poor fields for big stakes.

I come from the point of view that current stakes are only possible because of the largesse of Entain. It has nothing to do with running a sustainable and profitable industry. Even with Entain's generous contribution the total stakes pool is still finite. I find it sad that, in my view, a lot of the total stakes pool is being used inefficiently and an opportunity is being wasted largely due to incompetence. I'm sure many people think the money is being thrown at them so might as well just piss it away regardless of any concept of sustainability.

I'm sure some people still recall Winston's previous gift of $15m to the industry, which lasted 3 years and then the industry crashed again, with zero residual benefit.

So, as you say, I'm not adversely affected at all, other than feeling a sense of disappointment. And if my contributions upset you I am quite happy to ease off. 

[Freda]

Don't you dare.

[Murray Fish]

2 hours ago, Doomed said:

And if my contributions upset you I am quite happy to ease off. 

pardon.. 1000% of a reason to stay!

ps. re Tabby, 'born to rule' "go college" ra ra..  happy to throw in plenty of insults! ever quick to label others 'behaviours'..  not to sure how well he would settle in a Public Bar?

[Huey]

4 hours ago, Murray Fish said:

pardon.. 1000% of a reason to stay!

ps. re Tabby, 'born to rule' "go college" ra ra..  happy to throw in plenty of insults! ever quick to label others 'behaviours'..  not to sure how well he would settle in a Public Bar?

Also not to be taken seriously at all, absolutely clueless and makes CS look cooperative.

[curious]

58 minutes ago, Huey said:

Also not to be taken seriously at all, absolutely clueless and makes CS look cooperative.

Does add some hilarity to this joint though.

[Murray Fish]

10 minutes ago, curious said:

Does add some hilarity to this joint though.

when he drops the polemics and focuses on historical reflection re horses and people... 

[TAB For Ever]

23 hours ago, TAB For Ever said:

Gee Doomed , I think i'll join Chief and get some Leonard Cohen music to listen to and drift away and slit my wrists.

With Spring approaching and the best horses about to step out again I'm brimming with excitement about what is coming up. Tomorrow the iconic Taupo trials are held which leads into Group racing at Te Rapa , Hastings then into big Aussie racing ,Christchurch Cup week then into Summer racing and the New Year .More Group racing  and the picnic Summer meets with the big once a year crowds. 

Coming up is the end of Jumps season ....this Sunday a huge Jumps day at Ballarat [Victoria] then the Great Northern races at Te Rapa. Save some breathe and write in to help save NZ Jumping. I've taken taken shares in a couple of jumpers ,one this week ,so I'm hoping that we get the green light for at least another 5 years of Jumps so it can be reprieved long term.Then there is the excitement of whether any two year olds show the zip to be aimed for Karaka millions and seeing if the 3 year olds show classic potential.

Your grizzle re higher stakes / small fields and wasted stakes on Synthetic racing is very discouraging for increasing the reach in NZ . it been done to death but Synthetic racing has proved useful for given non-mudders a reason to stay racing over winter and certainly helped track work /horse fitness enormously. A couple I have a share in have had more opportunities to earn a bit and kept trainers/ workers earning and provided jockeys with extra income. Ditto these extra stakes you object too.

Trainers and jockeys in particular earning much better money .A few seasons back there were few jockeys who rode  $1mill stakes ,I think there 27 last season with 7 over $3 mill. Inflation helped no doubt but it aint helped Owners.

Returns of 25% or less were miserable ,owners leaving in droves and the Industry in NZ basically insolvent unable to to pay its bills.Covid camouflaged this sad state of affairs . Yes Entain has stepped in with huge Investment , they have a plan and they trying to implement it . Obviously they committed for a limited time but there are many parts to their business which enables them to splash extra to NZ Racing. But they looking at increasing Ownership , attract new and lapsed punters and trying to resuscitate participation in the Auckland region where the most people live .

So we know we have at least 4 x years of this ,it won't all succeed but at worst things will still be at your finger tips...great racing from around the world , more racing on TV ,plenty to bet on .NZ will be still be breeding great horses and producing great horsepeople. Night will follow day.

I expect the tight five will call me names , again ,but please answer one question ...How are you personally adversely affected  by high stakes , small fields and a bit of synthetic racing while most of the South covered in snow and most of the rest in rain soaked tracks.

Us owners are actually quite pleased we  being better treated .....as LCohen would say.....Hallelujah !

 

Well Chief , what specifics are you interested in....as far as jumpers concerned if racing folk want it to continue they need to commit to getting more horses qualified to race. There are several trainers around who have been in jumpers in past but MIA now.

What else do you need to know ?

My way of thinking rarely gets agreement from the naysayers on here....so many kind words printed about me . i feel bullied  ! I just write my experiences on here and hope that the crumbs of knowledge from you racing 'experts' will blow my way ..It been a bad year for me ,I actually won a competition on here but I got cancelled from that .

A winner outside the tight five was not permitted.

But as I said ,i'm really looking forward to this season ......can't waste time worrying about things outside my control.

Booked for Cup Week , all Group ones in North including Great Nothern day.....and batting for both sides I have interest in a few useful Harness horses as well so plenty to look forward to .

Some great racing to look forward to !

ps...looked like I typed on the wrong post ,I intended answering one of Chiefs banging on about the lack of trials .

 

[Chief Stipe]

6 hours ago, TAB For Ever said:

But as I said ,i'm really looking forward to this season ......can't waste time worrying about things outside my control.

But you have time to comment on how great those things are going outside your control!!!  WHO is in CONTROL?  Tell us - we need to talk directly to them. 

6 hours ago, TAB For Ever said:

Booked for Cup Week , all Group ones in North including Great Nothern day.....and batting for both sides I have interest in a few useful Harness horses as well so plenty to look forward to .

So you are a successful owner therefore you do have some control.  Exert some pressure and leave a racing legacy that survives.

6 hours ago, TAB For Ever said:

ps...looked like I typed on the wrong post ,I intended answering one of Chiefs banging on about the lack of trials .

I'm only publically commenting on what I hear when I listen to frustrated trainers trying to get the product on that shelf that the industry makes revenue from!

[Assange]

On 8/20/2024 at 6:24 PM, Doomed said:

A programming issue in the broader sense, but in all honesty just further indications that the industry is being appalling and incompetently run.

Better hope that NZTR don't move the 1000 Guineas to Ellerslie to protect its Group 1 status.

[curious]

23 minutes ago, Assange said:

Better hope that NZTR don't move the 1000 Guineas to Ellerslie to protect its Group 1 status.

Why? It needs some sort of help.

[Chief Stipe]

10 minutes ago, curious said:

Why? It needs some sort of help.

Why does it need help?  I would have thought that Molly Bloom and Legarto would have helped keep its G1 status.

[curious]

11 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Why does it need help?  I would have thought that Molly Bloom and Legarto would have helped keep its G1 status.

Oops. That should have read, does it need some sort of help?

[Chief Stipe]

30 minutes ago, curious said:

Oops. That should have read, does it need some sort of help?

Yes both the 2000 and 1000 Guineas hold their status quite well.  Some very very nice horses have won either.

[TAB For Ever]

9 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

But you have time to comment on how great those things are going outside your control!!!  WHO is in CONTROL?  Tell us - we need to talk directly to them. 

So you are a successful owner therefore you do have some control.  Exert some pressure and leave a racing legacy that survives.

I'm only publically commenting on what I hear when I listen to frustrated trainers trying to get the product on that shelf that the industry makes revenue from!

You a funny man Chief .......my posts clearly outside the parameters of the standard expected on here , this thread alone my character been assassinated and my feelings hurt and even my ability to fight in a bar room questioned.

I comment to provide some balance...from the naysayers , doom and gloom merchants etc who claim they like horses ,NZ Racing or both . Every couple of weeks I find myself among 'life-long' racing enthusiasts who stand around moaning about NZ racing and wonder why young people aren't joining them in the Sport of Kings ! Jeez...attitudes are contagious...I ask them ...is yours worth catching !

I genuinely enjoy spring racing into the summer meetings etc  In a recent survey [ about 18 months ago] Harness owners /participants were asked several questions .When asked what the main few attractions were to Harness ....the top answer was , Passion for Horses followed by Fun and Engagement. Not rated highly was moaning about Administrators , embarrassment with stakes and betting numbers or the TV presenters !

Re Ownership.....haha....NO , not a successful owner ,actually not even big enough to register / rate a mention. I have a few small shares in areas of interest ,like jumpers , with smaller battling trainers and also a taste with the big stables so I can see how they run , what they do etc and increase the chance to have a runner on Group 1 day.. And you wrong ,I don't frequent the Champagne bars as a chick magnet ,I prefer to be around the grumpy old stale males and marvel that they can't see what scares off new and young enthusiasts. Except ,of course , for one or two involvements per annum with the mighty BGP team. But hard work having to shave and shower to wear my BGP lucky sox ! And like you Chief ,I cant see the value /point of SLOT races but I don't bang on about it.

Interesting that frustrated trainers confide in you......maybe you need to filter their comments and understand that the bitches and moans could be isolated , off the cuff comments telling you what they think you want to hear.Misery loves company !

Up walks the grumpy old Chief , known for his dislike of Ellerslie , Synthetic tracks and Entains generosity ...so what do you tell him ? Many will launch into one of these subjects , and some will run with the hares and hunt with the hounds.. I walk up and maybe they see me as a potential sharepurchaser tho if they say me drive up in my 1996 Honda logo they wont think that. So they will talk positively about life ,say they have some nice young horses ,good staff etc NO negativity. Often my next comment will be a question which gives em a chance to launch into a huge selection of excuses eg I backed your horse Slimey Fish the other day ?...oh yeah ,had a bad ride , didn't handle the track and there's been a bug going around stable etc etc. Excuses ,excuses...a topic for another day. Must look at todays trials now....wonder if they on bog track ? the ones I went to recently were . Mondays trials at Cambridge well attended by the way ! 

But all that for another day.......some great racing lies ahead...A passion for horses , leading intoFun and enjoyment.

PS ...typing error , the bottom paragraph fell off the page  ,more bad luck for me !

 

My days of committees/Boards etc and well meaning ideas about improving  things /leave legacy is well gone.Volunteering in responsible positions a thing of past. the new Incorporated Society demands etc has ended this. If you want to get into the inside , apply for a paid position and take your chances ! Nah , not for me !

[Murray Fish]

4 minutes ago, TAB For Ever said:

his thread alone my character been assassinated and my feelings hurt and even my ability to fight in a bar room questioned.

 

sigh....

[Gammalite]

22 minutes ago, TAB For Ever said:

You a funny man Chief .......my posts clearly outside the parameters of the standard expected on here , this thread alone my character been assassinated and my feelings hurt and even my ability to fight in a bar room questioned.

I comment to provide some balance...from the naysayers , doom and gloom merchants etc who claim they like horses ,NZ Racing or both . Every couple of weeks I find myself among 'life-long' racing enthusiasts who stand around moaning about NZ racing and wonder why young people aren't joining them in the Sport of Kings ! Jeez...attitudes are contagious...I ask them ...is yours worth catching !

I genuinely enjoy spring racing into the summer meetings etc  In a recent survey [ about 18 months ago] Harness owners /participants were asked several questions .When asked what the main few attractions were to Harness ....the top answer was , Passion for Horses followed by Fun and Engagement. Not rated highly was moaning about Administrators , embarrassment with stakes and betting numbers or the TV presenters !

Re Ownership.....haha....NO , not a successful owner ,actually not even big enough to register / rate a mention. I have a few small shares in areas of interest ,like jumpers , with smaller battling trainers and also a taste with the big stables so I can see how they run , what they do etc and increase the chance to have a runner on Group 1 day.. And you wrong ,I don't frequent the Champagne bars as a chick magnet ,I prefer to be around the grumpy old stale males and marvel that they can't see what scares off new and young enthusiasts. Except ,of course , for one or two involvements per annum with the mighty BGP team. But hard work having to shave and shower to wear my BGP lucky sox ! And like you Chief ,I cant see the value /point of SLOT races but I don't bang on about it.

Interesting that frustrated trainers confide in you......maybe you need to filter their comments and understand that the bitches and moans could be isolated , off the cuff comments telling you what they think you want to hear.Misery loves company !

Up walks the grumpy old Chief , known for his dislike of Ellerslie , Synthetic tracks and Entains generosity ...so what do you tell him ? Many will launch into one of these subjects , and some will run with the hares and hunt with the hounds.. I walk up and maybe they see me as a potential sharepurchaser tho if they say me drive up in my 1996 Honda logo they wont think that. So they will talk positively about life ,say they have some nice young horses ,good staff etc NO negativity. Often my next comment will be a question which gives em a chance to launch into a huge selection of excuses eg I backed your horse Slimey Fish the other day ?...oh yeah ,had a bad ride , didn't handle the track and there's been a bug going around stable etc etc. Excuses ,excuses...a topic for another day. Must look at todays trials now....wonder if they on bog track ? the ones I went to recently were . Mondays trials at Cambridge well attended by the way ! 

But all that for another day.......some great racing lies ahead...A passion for horses , leading intoFun and enjoyment.

PS ...typing error , the bottom paragraph fell off the page  ,more bad luck for me !

 

My days of committees/Boards etc and well meaning ideas about improving  things /leave legacy is well gone.Volunteering in responsible positions a thing of past. the new Incorporated Society demands etc has ended this. If you want to get into the inside , apply for a paid position and take your chances ! Nah , not for me !

get a grip man.  the boys here always grumpy (the big boy anyway) reminds me of the real racing stipes from the driving days. always seemed  grumpy with something ya did/said , but still keen to give you a holiday all the time 😂

Ellerslie must be about to jump? . can't wait. have to try and pick something in the Te Rapa mudfest this week-end though 🙄, for comps, but at least some goodies  are kicking off at Royal Randwick (with Jmac on another 3-4 winners ) to keep the action smoking.

Bad enough battling the trotting blokes wanting to take the winners at Cambridge off the poor folk there, (as not enough of them apparently so why should HRNZ support those that are left at all ) when the All important South Island deserves the punting dollar more. Any hows some good Spring Racing should cheer them up shortly.  

dodge those bar fights mate. you only spill ya beer and get grumpy yourself then 😁😂🍺

[Wingman]

Totally confirmed TAB For ever, you are Oscar from the odd couple. I would give you a virtual hug to try and improve your overall demeanor however as you have casually admitted that having a shave and shower equates to hard work you will have to settle for a covid high five 🤣

[Doomed]

Despite what he might think, I enjoy TAB's contributions. He provides good balance and some interesting insights. I am sure we all have the best interests of the industry at heart.

I think the disconnect comes with some of us being interested in the logistics of running a massive industry and broader picture questions while others are more interested in specifics.