Boys Get Paid (BGP) Wings Clipped?

[Newmarket]

On 24/09/2025 at 9:23 PM, TAB For Ever said:

A lot of old favourites have gone into decline.

Workingmens Clubs ...only 3 x left in South Island now ,and bowls clubs started folding too before they saw they needed things to change !

Horse racing is so bloody boring , always was but little else to follow and it was all you old dogs could bet on ,a half decent double could get you a deposit on a house !

Rare today ,and the young ones much prefer to dabble on Sports.

And participants love to blame the admin folk but it wasn't them who behaved badly and got the industry such a bad rating among the general public !

Only 3 Workingmans Clubs in the Sth Island?? Its easy to see you worked for TAB…

[Newmarket]

No need for BGP, Betcha is now catering for the young sports / racing punters. 

[hesi]

1 hour ago, Newmarket said:

No need for BGP, Betcha is now catering for the young sports / racing punters. 

Good point

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, Newmarket said:

Only 3 Workingmans Clubs in the Sth Island?? Its easy to see you worked for TAB…

Yet surf and league clubs are still doing OK in OZ.  As for "Workingmans Clubs" in NZ the members are either deceased and/or not working.

[Newmarket]

4 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Yet surf and league clubs are still doing OK in OZ.  As for "Workingmans Clubs" in NZ the members are either deceased and/or not working.

Your probably right about membership numbers, but here in Christchurch the 3 main clubs, Richmond, Hornby & Papanui seem to be very busy. 
With drinking driving, no smoking etc, certainly see less people drinking large amounts, which is probably good. But they all have cafes, lunch and dinner which numbers fill up each night, so i assume its just moving with the times, a few of the other smaller clubs will be hurting

[Special Agent]

On 9/25/2025 at 10:16 PM, hesi said:

Marketing 101 says, find out what the customer thinks about your product, adapt the product if need be and promote and market accordingly.

I doubt this has ever been done in racing in NZ.

The same principles and modus operandi would apply to animal welfare

To me racing has not valued the customers they have/had for a long time now.  As far as Boys Get Paid is concerned I agree that the mainstream marketing was something money couldn't buy.  Yes, the favouritism they received did annoy some but, there could have been some compromise rather than losing their custom completely.

Marketing 101 - I know someone who went to one day of the National meeting at Riccarton, stating it was the most boring race meeting they have ever been to.

The industry is running scared re animal welfare, instead of addressing the problem/perceived problem.

RIB/RIU - There seems to be a lot of emphasis on the wrong things, with no consultation with those in the industry who might actually have some workable ideas.

[Special Agent]

16 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Yet surf and league clubs are still doing OK in OZ.  As for "Workingmans Clubs" in NZ the members are either deceased and/or not working.

We are not Australia and have a smaller and different population.  I don't have much contact with Workingman Clubs but, the Hornby one used to be a wealthy and well patronised establishment.

[Special Agent]

On 9/23/2025 at 11:46 AM, Chief Stipe said:

What are you doing about it?

Nothing.  Sitting on my hands.

[Special Agent]

On 9/25/2025 at 5:42 AM, Huey said:

Which club are on the rise these days?

All sport appears to be suffering.

It looks like Waipukurau are giving it a go and providing enough on course to draw a crowd.

[Chief Stipe]

5 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

We are not Australia and have a smaller and different population.  I don't have much contact with Workingman Clubs but, the Hornby one used to be a wealthy and well patronised establishment.

Covid lockdowns was the final nail for many.  I know a few club patrons that suddenly found they had a lot more money in their bank accounts by not going to the local.  Some never returned and most of those who did have cut back consumption.  LOL one I know saved enough to buy a new car!

[Chief Stipe]

2 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

It looks like Waipukurau are giving it a go and providing enough on course to draw a crowd.

Well I daresay that they have a point to prove and the Hawkes Bay is hungry for a spring race meeting.

[Chief Stipe]

8 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

Nothing.  Sitting on my hands.

Then you can't expect change.

[Chief Stipe]

12 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

Marketing 101 - I know someone who went to one day of the National meeting at Riccarton, stating it was the most boring race meeting they have ever been to.

What would have entertained them?  Free booze?  Not allowed to do that.

A Bouncy Castle?

A band?  Yeah Na all the old farts would complain.

Lady Godiva as Clerk of the Course?

What did they actually boring?

[Chief Stipe]

18 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

The industry is running scared re animal welfare, instead of addressing the problem/perceived problem.

"Running scared" of what exactly?  A rabid vocal minority of anti-racing nutters who you won't change regardless of what is done.

[hesi]

21 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

To me racing has not valued the customers they have/had for a long time now.  As far as Boys Get Paid is concerned I agree that the mainstream marketing was something money couldn't buy.  Yes, the favouritism they received did annoy some but, there could have been some compromise rather than losing their custom completely.

Marketing 101 - I know someone who went to one day of the National meeting at Riccarton, stating it was the most boring race meeting they have ever been to.

The industry is running scared re animal welfare, instead of addressing the problem/perceived problem.

RIB/RIU - There seems to be a lot of emphasis on the wrong things, with no consultation with those in the industry who might actually have some workable ideas.

Good post, but the customer of the racing industry is the punter, their losses fund the industry.  So back to Marketing 101, always find out what your customer wants and you will be successful

[Special Agent]

13 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

"Running scared" of what exactly?  A rabid vocal minority of anti-racing nutters who you won't change regardless of what is done.

Yes, they are scared of the minority.

[Chief Stipe]

9 minutes ago, hesi said:

Good post, but the customer of the racing industry is the punter, their losses fund the industry.  So back to Marketing 101, always find out what your customer wants and you will be successful

Sometimes the customer doesn't know what they want.  If you listen to all the moaners online that say they are punters all they want is free bets.

[Special Agent]

I think when customers take the time to phone or write to a club praising their service or personnel that's a good place to start.

[hesi]

34 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Sometimes the customer doesn't know what they want.  If you listen to all the moaners online that say they are punters all they want is free bets.

They still fund the industry

[Chief Stipe]

25 minutes ago, hesi said:

They still fund the industry

More than owners do?