The Slot Holders in The Velocity

[Chief Stipe]

The Slot Holders

Meet the Slot Holders for The Velocity

The excitement of The Velocity, one of New Zealand’s newest premier slot races for 3-year-old pacers, is driven by the commitment of its slot holders. Each slot holder has secured a position in this high-stakes, $500,000 race, held on Show Day, November 15, at Addington Raceway. Below is the list of current slot holders who are shaping the future of this thrilling event. As race day approaches, you'll be able to explore detailed profiles for each slot holder, giving you an inside look at the key players behind The Velocity.

 

 

[Rangatira]

What was the cost of a slot?

[Gammalite]

47 minutes ago, Rangatira said:

What was the cost of a slot?

Being the same total Prizemoney (of $1/2 million ) for the 'Velocity' and the ''Ascent' at Addington as we had with the New 'Protostar ' 2 year old slot race in July.   I imagine it would cost the same Ranga. $30,000 + GST to get in these events.

Queensland needed ballots to assemble the field of slot holders. (8 Queensland applicants went in ballot for 3 slots) and another Ballot of 10 applicants were drawn for 5 slots) Ladbrokes (the main sponsor)  kept 2 slots in the 10 horse field.. 

And as if Kevin Seymour's luck is running hot enough with LEAP TO FAME he won a slot, and then won the race with FATE AWAITS picking up the $1/4 million first prize in a Fantastic 1.50.6 for the 2 yearolds.  absolutely flying. 

here was the media release about the slot holders and Price. 

(Seymour = Solid Earth) as he is a property developer multi millionaire and someone the ATC should call in to help lol) 

 

 

 

The $500,000 Ladbroke’s Protostar for two-year-old pacers is Queensland’s new showpiece event and will be held during the Constellations Carnival as part of the “Blacks A Fake” final night at Albion Park on Saturday, July 27.

The feature introduces the slot race concept in the north. Two “slots” were reserved for the sponsor Ladbrokes, and a further eight slots for $30,000 plus GST each.  Successful slot-holders are Ladbrokes (2); Gemma Hewitt; Jamie Durnberger-Smith; Solid Earth; Goozdolphin Racing; Daren Garrard Racing; Terry Cluse; Aaron Dunn Racing; and GSM Racing.

Edited September 25 by Gammalite

[Brodie]

What was the amount HRNZ is shelling out to subsidise this event?

[Rangatira]

26 minutes ago, Brodie said:

What was the amount HRNZ is shelling out to subsidise this event?

If it's 30k a slot there appears to be a shortfall of 200k per race lol

[Brodie]

1 hour ago, Rangatira said:

If it's 30k a slot there appears to be a shortfall of 200k per race lol

My point exactly!

So HRNZ are donating all these $ to owners who wouldve raced for $300k?

Seems like a diabolically poor use of money from HRNZ, all things considered?

[Rangatira]

17 minutes ago, Brodie said:

My point exactly!

So HRNZ are donating all these $ to owners who wouldve raced for $300k?

Seems like a diabolically poor use of money from HRNZ, all things considered?

Hmmmmmm

I get what you mean but It might not be as simple as that.

I might have to dust off my takatatai.

[the galah]

23 minutes ago, Rangatira said:

 

I might have to dust off my takatatai.

sounds like an r18 warning should have come with that post?

[Gammalite]

15 hours ago, Rangatira said:

If it's 30k a slot there appears to be a shortfall of 200k per race lol

They have race sponsors as well Ranga( investing some for their profile and taxes purposes lol) 

also what a great way to spend some of the millions they (HRNZ)  have to allocate each year in Prizemoney,  by assembling some of the best fields of horses ever seen in these quality race's. 

also they need to get the 3 Placegetter's to return a profit . it's probably $250,000 for 1st/ $100,000 for 2nd and $50,000 for 3rd , with $100,000 split between the other 7 runners to cover their transport costs and that.  (for a $500,000 slot race) 

So they do need HRNZ to chip in something. An excellent idea to help out where they can 😆.  

(don't listen to the Brodster.😉 nothing 'Diabolical 'about it  lol . great racing is great racing. The best of the best. )

Edited September 25 by Gammalite

[Brodie]

40 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

They have race sponsors as well Ranga( investing some for their profile and taxes purposes lol) 

also what a great way to spend some of the millions they (HRNZ)  have to allocate each year in Prizemoney,  by assembling some of the best fields of horses ever seen in these quality race's. 

also they need to get the 3 Placegetter's to return a profit . it's probably $250,000 for 1st/ $100,000 for 2nd and $50,000 for 3rd , with $100,000 split between the other 7 runners to cover their transport costs and that.  (for a $500,000 slot race) 

So they do need HRNZ to chip in something. An excellent idea to help out where they can 😆.  

(don't listen to the Brodster.😉 nothing 'Diabolical 'about it  lol . great racing is great racing. The best of the best. )

Wouldnt consider $200k to be a chip in, when you consider the state of harness racing at the moment.

Yes we have had this influx of money from Entain for a few years but personally do not have any confidence in the way things are currently being done!

 

 

[the galah]

2 hours ago, Brodie said:

Wouldnt consider $200k to be a chip in, when you consider the state of harness racing at the moment.

Yes we have had this influx of money from Entain for a few years but personally do not have any confidence in the way things are currently being done!

 

 

i agree .

Harness racing is on a pathway of self inflicted decline.

HRNZ decision to inject the extra cash into the top end is yet another example of how they window dress with a facade.

HRNZ have a deliberate policy,enabled by harness reporting media,of rewarding the elite,the highly visible.

Harness racing used to be like a pyramid,built on a solid base of participants with the money trickling down from the top to the bottom at a rate that was enough to see each layer of the pyramid survive and each layer of the pyramid also felt there was a chance of them getting higher on the pyramid and the greater rewards that went with that.

That basic design of the pyramid has gone out the window and its inevitable that the current design is unsastainable.

So brodie and myself,with our comments,are pointing out the above. Not because we don't want those at the top end to be rewarded,but because we don't want those at the top end to be rewarded at the expense of the viability of the industry as a whole.

Edited September 26 by the galah

[Gammalite]

5 hours ago, the galah said:

Harness racing used to be like a pyramid,built on a solid base of participants with the money trickling down from the top to the bottom at a rate that was enough to see each layer of the pyramid survive and each layer of the pyramid also felt there was a chance of them getting higher on the pyramid and the greater rewards that went with that.

That basic design of the pyramid has gone out the window and its inevitable that the current design is unsastainable.

So brodie and myself,with our comments,are pointing out the above. Not because we don't want those at the top end to be rewarded,but because we don't want those at the top end to be rewarded at the expense of the viability of the industry as a whole.

What a lot of balderdash. you must of missed the many threads where I've argued the point with Brodie about putting races on regularly for the Battlers. and Cambridge have been doing that.

The Base of the Pyramid racing. Brodie has put many threads to can them as dogmeat. and they only race for $45-50 k for the entire meeting. Here's Brodies Pyramid for you 😁😉 

and by the way , the Slot holders DON"T have to be the elite either. so you got that wrong too.  An average joe friend of mine had a slot in the Queensland one , and therefore the opportunity to race a GREAT horse for a day. was thrilled to bits. 

What an amazing innovation by forward thinking people. Well done NZ harness going with the times and putting these amazing races on for Not just the BEST Horses, (and elite owners as you say) But some Happy savvy slot holders from all walks of life too.  NZ gallops will have em' soon to keep up with the best innovations going. 👍🏆

 

[Brodie]

1 hour ago, Gammalite said:

What a lot of balderdash. you must of missed the many threads where I've argued the point with Brodie about putting races on regularly for the Battlers. and Cambridge have been doing that.

The Base of the Pyramid racing. Brodie has put many threads to can them as dogmeat. and they only race for $45-50 k for the entire meeting. Here's Brodies Pyramid for you 😁😉 

and by the way , the Slot holders DON"T have to be the elite either. so you got that wrong too.  An average joe friend of mine had a slot in the Queensland one , and therefore the opportunity to race a GREAT horse for a day. was thrilled to bits. 

What an amazing innovation by forward thinking people. Well done NZ harness going with the times and putting these amazing races on for Not just the BEST Horses, (and elite owners as you say) But some Happy savvy slot holders from all walks of life too.  NZ gallops will have em' soon to keep up with the best innovations going. 👍🏆

 

Gamma, can you name one of the “average Joe” that has bought into any one of the slot races in NZ?

[the galah]

1 hour ago, Gammalite said:

What a lot of balderdash. you must of missed the many threads where I've argued the point with Brodie about putting races on regularly for the Battlers. and Cambridge have been doing that.

The Base of the Pyramid racing. Brodie has put many threads to can them as dogmeat. and they only race for $45-50 k for the entire meeting. Here's Brodies Pyramid for you 😁😉 

and by the way , the Slot holders DON"T have to be the elite either. so you got that wrong too.  An average joe friend of mine had a slot in the Queensland one , and therefore the opportunity to race a GREAT horse for a day. was thrilled to bits. 

What an amazing innovation by forward thinking people. Well done NZ harness going with the times and putting these amazing races on for Not just the BEST Horses, (and elite owners as you say) But some Happy savvy slot holders from all walks of life too.  NZ gallops will have em' soon to keep up with the best innovations going. 👍🏆

 

You seem to have missed the consistency in the point that i make.

That is HRNZ need to be fiscally responsible in their spending,irrespective of whether the races are for the elite or the battlers at cambridge.

I have criticised both the decision to put unsustainable $ into stakes for slot races and into the tuesday cambridge meetings. I have said i think the tueday race meetings are a good idea,but the $8,000 stakes they pay at cambridge are too high.

so to me you've missed that point going by your above post.

To me,you want everyone to race for good money and for everyone to be able to sustain their involvement in the industry.Thats fair enough,but i don't believe its possible to have stakes at the level you suggest they should.

I'm pointing out that money doesn't grow on trees and there is only so much of it to go around and that if you overspend on one thing then someone else will miss out.

i've never heard brodie say they should dogmeat any horses,as you have said he has. I have heard him question why some horses are persevered with given the costs and returns for some who aren't earning.To be honest,i think thats the way 90% of trainers operate with the horses they train and discard now days.Believe it or not,thats not the way i see things,but i've come realise my approach has been unrealistic.

Then you said i said the slot holders were the elite. ...Thats not something i've commented on. I have no idea who most of the people that are slot holders are,nor do i care.

I'm talking about the connections of the horses involved. The horses/ owners and trainers of them who line up in those races are the elite.Surely you must realise that HRNZ have already pumped huge extra money into the stakes for many other races that they will have oppotunity to run in before the end of the year and also into the bonuses they have earnt that hrnz gave them along the way.

And no,neither i nor brodie have ever said we are against slot races. You can say it as much as you like,but i have never said that nor have i read where brodie has.

What we both have said is the slot races are supposed to be self funding and thats what they should be. It should not be for HRNZ to divert stakes into them.

again i say,hrnz may act like they have a bottemless pit of money when it comes to the elite races,but they don't when it comes to the average races. 

As to nz gallops having them soon. They already have them planned for riccarton next year.

 

Edited September 26 by the galah

[the galah]

1 hour ago, the galah said:

 

As to nz gallops having them soon. They already have them planned for riccarton next year.

 

that should have read ..planned for auckland next year.

[Gammalite]

1 hour ago, the galah said:

What we both have said is the slot races are supposed to be self funding and thats what they should be. It should not be for HRNZ to divert stakes into them.

It's part of a HRNZ race program . So you guys are wrong if you think HRNZ should not be contributing to it's feature races ? that's just rediculous. Who said the Slot races are supposed to be self funding anyway? that's just your guys wishful thinking because you want the money for someone else. As some believe the Cambridge /North Island racing should be stopped because Canterbury deserve it more because there's more players there (whether involved in the industry or as punters)  pretty much a LOP-Sided Pyramid ? lol😂 

We used to pay acceptance fees to start horses in races at one stage, until someone worked out that you had to pay the competitor to turn up , with some petrol money or so , so everyone gets a few bucks for turning up now. even if at the back. 

The feature are only run Once per year each , and the people at HRNZ have expert staff that allocate the annual budget of prizemoney as they see fit. I'm sure they are doing the best job they can , like any accountant does at any company, to pay all the workers/participants. 

Queensland sadly has just the one month of Group Racing per year , with ALL the features.   NZ being much better off , running features through the year so is way more entertaining . 

I think it's pretty cool the new Features for Show Day anyway. 

personally, .I sort of think the NZ DERBY should of been bought forward to that date (from December) , for various reasons , but will definitely settle for a Brilliant Slot races contest for the 3 yearolds   . Will be an absolute cracker!! 🏆 Viva La Velocity !!   

[Gammalite]

2 hours ago, Brodie said:

Gamma, can you name one of the “average Joe” that has bought into any one of the slot races in NZ?

Who is Small car world ? sounds like a small player ? 😆

yes it is probably companies likely to buy slots as can use it for Tax/expenses right-off , etc. 

actually I was telling balderdash by saying the bloke in QLD buying a slot was a average Joe, when really( now I think about it)  he is quite a wealthy man these days. was just normal when I raced him.  

NevertheLEss if you guys were more 'motivated' and ''keen to support the industry and race one of the Top 10 horses in the 2 Nations  BOAY could/would/should  of bought a Slot 👍🍻 and a few of us Average Joes raced a BIG winner (in halvies with the actual owner for the day ) and a great old time once a year. But everyone here Far To Negative to anything proactive like that. Probably could of roped in Chief Stipe ? maybe not 😂  but TABman would of been a starter I reckon.  He seems to know a good thing when he sees it. not many of us left. 

 

[Blackie]

There’s a good article on HRNZ about the Pukekohe Punter, a relatively young fella having a go. 
Gotta love his passion, no negativity there.

https://www.hrnz.co.nz/news/who-is-the-pukekohe-punter/

[Brodie]

8 hours ago, Gammalite said:

Who is Small car world ? sounds like a small player ? 😆

yes it is probably companies likely to buy slots as can use it for Tax/expenses right-off , etc. 

actually I was telling balderdash by saying the bloke in QLD buying a slot was a average Joe, when really( now I think about it)  he is quite a wealthy man these days. was just normal when I raced him.  

NevertheLEss if you guys were more 'motivated' and ''keen to support the industry and race one of the Top 10 horses in the 2 Nations  BOAY could/would/should  of bought a Slot 👍🍻 and a few of us Average Joes raced a BIG winner (in halvies with the actual owner for the day ) and a great old time once a year. But everyone here Far To Negative to anything proactive like that. Probably could of roped in Chief Stipe ? maybe not 😂  but TABman would of been a starter I reckon.  He seems to know a good thing when he sees it. not many of us left. 

 

Small Car World, is not a small player in harness racing.

Very well known businessman, large owner over the years and heavily restricted Punter!

[Gammalite]

4 hours ago, Brodie said:

Small Car World, is not a small player in harness racing.

Very well known businessman, large owner over the years and heavily restricted Punter!

He bought a slot in the trot the 'Ascent' I see on the same day.

Maybe we can pick the winner of the Velocity by the Slot holder before knowing who the horse is? 😆.  The list at the beginning of Chief's thread here.

I'll go for number 4. Montana Park stud (that's in QLD) and Dean Shannon is blessed really in these sort of things , and of course races MERLIN . near best NZ horse. 

Would love to see no9.  Arna Donnelly Racing win it though !! she is doing great really, and had the 4th best 3 year old last season in the country (with Joliemont 4th in the Nz Derby to Merlin) I wonder if she has any nice 3 year olds this year/season to put in the VELOCITY ? ?? 

[the galah]

13 hours ago, Gammalite said:

It's part of a HRNZ race program . So you guys are wrong if you think HRNZ should not be contributing to it's feature races ? that's just rediculous. Who said the Slot races are supposed to be self funding anyway? that's just your guys wishful thinking because you want the money for someone else. As some believe the Cambridge /North Island racing should be stopped because Canterbury deserve it more because there's more players there (whether involved in the industry or as punters)  pretty much a LOP-Sided Pyramid ? lol😂 

   

 

I guess when you say "some believe cambridge/north island racing should be stopped because canterbury deserve it more", is reference to something i posted.

I'm not sure how many times i have to say it,but once more i have never said that about cambridge or north island harness racing. I have given my thoughts on possible pathways to ensure north island harness racing continues,so thats the opposite of what you have stated above.I have questioned the wisdom of HRNZ planning to invest so much money in racing at alexandra park when the club still owes the bank $80 million.

i have said i believe canterbury harness racing is being taken for granted and will pay the price of hrnz's policy of over funding north island harness racing at canterburys expense,and gave an example of a prudent investment hrnz could make in canterbury using a significant portion of the money they have from the forbury sale.

But really i'm not sure why you have extrapolated that out to infer what you say i said.

I have pointed out that if you have a top horse,you get several chances each season to run in heavily subsidised races at the top end. If you have a top 2 year old that becomes a top 3 yo,then 4yo then so on,he may well run in 30 or 40 such races. Of course HRNZ  should ensure the  stakes  are good,but i have suggested they have gone too far and that an inevitable cash flow crisis for the whole industry will occur, if they continue such policies.

Ask yourself this. If HRNZ really do have so much extra money just sitting around,(which i find hard to believe),to put into stakes at the high end,or into auckland,then why don't they reward the clubs that run at a profit and generate the stakes for the top end.

for example,why not say to clubs like methven,banks peninsula,geraldiine and rangiora..How about you get together. We appreciciate the work you do so we have decided to take 10% of the stakes directed at the top end races and we want you to use that money to have 2 higher stake days in say march.You ,the clubs can work out how the money is to be distributed on the day,but the guidelines are to be the money should be relatively spread across all races for the grade of horses catered for throughout the season.I would imagine that those clubs could come up with a finals day and a consolation day for horses that didn't make the finals fields.They could have conditions like you have to had started 5 or 6 times on canterbury or west coast grass tracks in that season and that group or listed winners or placegetters are excluded. 

That concept would not be anything to do with winter rewards type races which must remain

then they could do the same,to a lesser degree funded,for southland/otago and central districts. they could call it money making march or whatever.

The inclusiveness of such a policy would substantially lessen the criticism HRNZ get around favoritism.

But everything coming out of hrnz indicates they are blinkered and unrealistic and i would guess in say 5 years will be proven to have been fiscally irresponsible.

Edited September 27 by the galah

[Rangatira]

7 hours ago, Brodie said:

Small Car World, is not a small player in harness racing.

Very well known businessman, large owner over the years and heavily restricted Punter!

Barely restricted.

Restrictions are a fluid thing.

[Rangatira]

16 hours ago, Gammalite said:

Who is Small car world ? sounds like a small player ? 😆

Started out small.

Formerly Smithburn Motors

A 25 year old the boy from the West Coast, teamed up with Ian Smith and together they formed Smithburn Motors. With very little money but a ton of enthusiasm they commenced business on Moorhouse Avenue with no signs, power or telephone and with a 10-foot caravan for an office.

[the galah]

57 minutes ago, Rangatira said:

Started out small.

Formerly Smithburn Motors

A 25 year old the boy from the West Coast, teamed up with Ian Smith and together they formed Smithburn Motors. With very little money but a ton of enthusiasm they commenced business on Moorhouse Avenue with no signs, power or telephone and with a 10-foot caravan for an office.

Does he still live in fendalton,on christchurch's most expensive street,where he has one of the flashest houses? Hes come a long way from that caravan.

[Rangatira]

5 minutes ago, the galah said:

Does he still live in fendalton,on christchurch's most expensive street,where he has one of the flashest houses? Hes come a long way from that caravan.

That I can't tell you but I haven't seen him in Manurere St EVER !!!