On The Money

[Rangatira]

My Prediction for the Future of Harness Racing in New Zealand

 

It’s becoming increasingly clear that harness racing in New Zealand is heading for a serious crisis—one driven not by a lack of passion within the industry, but by poor leadership, financial mismanagement, and strategic failures at the top.

 

At the centre of this downward spiral is John Mooney. His reckless spending and apparent disregard for fiscal responsibility are putting our industry at serious risk. It’s baffling how someone with such questionable personal financial history was entrusted with oversight of our industry’s money in the first place. His mismanagement is evident in the race date allocations, where races are created in direct competition for the same small pool of horses. This not only splits fields but drains financial resources—losing the industry money instead of generating it.

 

Communication with clubs has broken down, leading to infighting rather than collaboration. The lack of transparency and consultation from those in charge only deepens division and alienation. This is not how a national sporting code survives—let alone thrives.

 

While the introduction of geo-blocking may offer a temporary fix, the real reckoning comes when the Entain funding deal ends. Our turnover figures are already falling short of what’s needed to sustain current stake levels. When that guaranteed money dries up in a few years, and we’re left exposed, those responsible—Mooney and Brad Steele—will likely walk away, leaving the damage behind for others to clean up.

We’re also wasting time and money fantasizing about training centres, at a time when we’re losing trainers and horses. The focus should be on retaining and supporting what we have—not building infrastructure for a future that may never come under the current direction.

 

Auckland Trotting Club is another financial sinkhole. Despite receiving disproportionate industry funding, it continues to produce small fields, low GBRs (gross betting revenue), and poor attendance. The decision to sell Pukekohe—yet still be in financial turmoil—makes no sense. Auckland is losing its training base, which will reduce horse and trainer numbers even further. Alexandra Park is a logistically difficult venue for many, and it’s not serving the wider industry.

 

The only sustainable path for Auckland is bold: sell Alexandra Park, retain Pukekohe, and invest in a world-class training and racing complex, similar to Menangle in NSW. With the right structure, Auckland could then re-emerge as a vibrant centre with strong prize money, improved horse numbers, and renewed interest from owners and trainers.

 

Meanwhile, the proposed handicapping changes—also driven by Mooney—threaten to destroy the bread-and-butter racing that actually generates revenue. Overemphasis on high-end age group races may look glamorous on paper, but it risks alienating the core participants who race week in and week out. It’s the country meetings in Canterbury and Southland that keep the engine running—alongside major days like Cup Week. Harness racing in New Zealand is a television sport, and that model only works if you have full fields, competitive betting, and regular racing.

 

In summary, if we don’t act decisively now—by stopping the flawed handicapping changes, completely reworking our major race dates, developing logical and aligned carnivals, placing the right people in charge of the industry’s money, and getting clubs working collaboratively—the sport will not survive in its current form.

We are on the edge of the cliff

 

Mark Jones

Edited 6 hours ago by Rangatira

[the galah]

its good to see someone like mark jones with the confidence to say what he is thinking.

i've posted on here, how i've wondered why people in canterbury are so complacent and so willing to accept seemingly obvious poor decision making by those leading the industry ,when it will be themselves that will be impacted in the future.I'm of the opinion that those who just  sit back and say nothing, sort of deserve what they will get in the future. 

Obviously mark jones is someone willing to fight for what he believes is best for the industry.

as i've said a few times,if what hes saying is false,then those he has criticised will easily counter his comments by referring to the data which proves what he says is wrong. In other words they would have no reason to be threatened by what he says if he's wrong.

On the flip side of course, if all the data shows hes accurate,then those he criticises will attack not what he has to say,but will attack him. And of course they will try and silence him.my guess is that is what will happen or may indeed be already happening.

so interesting to see how it plays out.

interesting how he has said he's unhappy with mr mooney and mr steele. I wonder if he thinks they will play fair and debate him on the merits. Does he not know how they operate? I could only speculate myself,i guess it depends whether you happen to be someone who has said something to upset them in the past and seen how they have reacted.

As to my opinion as to what mark jones has said.

i think hes summed up the financial state of the industry very well.

I don't agree with everything,e.g. he says they should  retain the training centre at auckland. i think its far too late for that and theres most likely too many factors at play, to go back on that decision even if they wanted to. The auckland club must have spent a fortune on getting that land rezoned for residential development.And given they are in such terrible shape,i can't imagine the auckland club is in the decision making drivers seat anyway . Wouldn't it be the bank calling the shots. 

i do agree with him in what he says about the auckland club and hrnz current handling of their plight and the impact such poor decision making will have on the industry elsewhere..

Its staggering that HRNZ haven't already seen the writing on the wall and made a call about racing at alexandra park.

actually only last month m geurin wrote an article saying the auckland club was adamant racing will always remain at alexandra park.

You have to laugh when you read some of the comments people in charge,make about auckland.

I used to think that jamie mckinnon was a smart cookie,but now i think someone has dunked that cookie in some hot tea for too long.

Mark jones expressed optimism,  if alexandra park was sold,that auckland could re-emerge as a vibrant centre with strong prize money.

I don't get how he thinks that could happen.Sure i agree they could still have a fututre,but put to one side the financial woes,theres reasons for the decline in so many other apsects and theres no evidence to think your ever going to be able to reverse those trends.

He mentions training centres. Now i guess hes talking about auckland,but when it comes to canterbury,he must be aware that part of the reason its decline will speed up in the fututre, is because people can't afford their own training establishments anymore and without a training centre there,all you will get in 10 years times is the big stables and next to no one else training.Everything i've predicted 10 years ago is happening in canterbury and i bet my bottom $ i'm right about where the industry is heading without a training centre in canterbury.Thats not to say having one is still realistic. The contraction of the industry thats been going on in canterbury may mean its its become too late for that anyway.

as to mr jone's  comments about mr mooney. Now i'm the last one who would want to be an apologist for him,given the past,but i think it should be acknowledged that the Horse utlisation report that he chaired ,and a dozen or so industry figures, prepared ,had a lot of good common sense things in it.Again,unfortunately,i think hrnz moved too slow on implementing that and the possible positive impacts from those changes will not be as sugnificant due to the delay in implementation.

but ,to summarise,i really do think mark jones has good instincts on the state of the industry and where changes need to be made.

Mark jones said above  "over emphasis on high end age group racing risks alienating the core participants who race week in and week out".That shows mr jones really does have his finger on the pulse of the industries well being.

 

Edited 2 hours ago by the galah

[mikeynz]

4 hours ago, Rangatira said:

My Prediction for the Future of Harness Racing in New Zealand

 

It’s becoming increasingly clear that harness racing in New Zealand is heading for a serious crisis—one driven not by a lack of passion within the industry, but by poor leadership, financial mismanagement, and strategic failures at the top.

 

At the centre of this downward spiral is John Mooney. His reckless spending and apparent disregard for fiscal responsibility are putting our industry at serious risk. It’s baffling how someone with such questionable personal financial history was entrusted with oversight of our industry’s money in the first place. His mismanagement is evident in the race date allocations, where races are created in direct competition for the same small pool of horses. This not only splits fields but drains financial resources—losing the industry money instead of generating it.

 

Communication with clubs has broken down, leading to infighting rather than collaboration. The lack of transparency and consultation from those in charge only deepens division and alienation. This is not how a national sporting code survives—let alone thrives.

 

While the introduction of geo-blocking may offer a temporary fix, the real reckoning comes when the Entain funding deal ends. Our turnover figures are already falling short of what’s needed to sustain current stake levels. When that guaranteed money dries up in a few years, and we’re left exposed, those responsible—Mooney and Brad Steele—will likely walk away, leaving the damage behind for others to clean up.

We’re also wasting time and money fantasizing about training centres, at a time when we’re losing trainers and horses. The focus should be on retaining and supporting what we have—not building infrastructure for a future that may never come under the current direction.

 

Auckland Trotting Club is another financial sinkhole. Despite receiving disproportionate industry funding, it continues to produce small fields, low GBRs (gross betting revenue), and poor attendance. The decision to sell Pukekohe—yet still be in financial turmoil—makes no sense. Auckland is losing its training base, which will reduce horse and trainer numbers even further. Alexandra Park is a logistically difficult venue for many, and it’s not serving the wider industry.

 

The only sustainable path for Auckland is bold: sell Alexandra Park, retain Pukekohe, and invest in a world-class training and racing complex, similar to Menangle in NSW. With the right structure, Auckland could then re-emerge as a vibrant centre with strong prize money, improved horse numbers, and renewed interest from owners and trainers.

 

Meanwhile, the proposed handicapping changes—also driven by Mooney—threaten to destroy the bread-and-butter racing that actually generates revenue. Overemphasis on high-end age group races may look glamorous on paper, but it risks alienating the core participants who race week in and week out. It’s the country meetings in Canterbury and Southland that keep the engine running—alongside major days like Cup Week. Harness racing in New Zealand is a television sport, and that model only works if you have full fields, competitive betting, and regular racing.

 

In summary, if we don’t act decisively now—by stopping the flawed handicapping changes, completely reworking our major race dates, developing logical and aligned carnivals, placing the right people in charge of the industry’s money, and getting clubs working collaboratively—the sport will not survive in its current form.

We are on the edge of the cliff

 

Mark Jones

Gee I thought Rangitira, not like you to write such long sentences until I  got to the end, good article, one or two here say the same, but how many others?