Levin Surplus to Requirements

[Huey]

1 hour ago, curious said:

You'll probably say it's a bit of an archaic business model, but what about going back to funding clubs based  on their wagering earnings?

Can't disagree with that , but even that's rigged with NZTR deciding who gets race days or specific race dates.

[Huey]

3 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Levin doesn't have the facilities to run their own racedays and would require considerable capital investment to get up to scratch.  Arguably they struggle to maintain what they've got as it is.  

Meanwhile Otaki has to maintain all its facilities and rents to Levin for three days for peppercorns.  

That's not true , they probably could maintain or update , but what's the point given they'll never likely see another race day there again through no fault of their own.

[Chief Stipe]

2 hours ago, Huey said:

That's not how it works @Chief Stipe , NZTR take race dates off clubs, deliberately neglect clubs , attempt to neutralise or hope the volunteer base of the club falls over and then look to come to the industry rescue by stealing the asset.

Clubs falling over has less to do with NZTR than you assert.  They are falling over for the same reason other clubs are falling over be it the local rugby club or RSA.  Those drivers have nothing to do with NZTR.  Sure NZTR have stopped propping every Club up because they don't have the resources to support all of them.

2 hours ago, Huey said:

Under no circumstances should it ever be in the clubs or the industry's best interest to see the asset go to NZTR.

Why not?  I gather you approved of what the Westland Racing Club did when if a fit of churlish pique they gave their assets back to the local community.  Racing on the West Coast lost to parochialism and an inability for the four clubs to work together.  Oh the irony @Huey if you dig deeper into what the Westland Racing Club did you'll find that on the surface it may have looked a benevolent charitable donation to the community but underneath some benefited just the same way that some are benefitting from the Wellington Racing Club sell off.  But that's OK because in your mind the WRC stuck the finger to NZTR!

2 hours ago, Huey said:

Just because Levin don't have races at their track (likely not their fault) the contribution Levin make to the industry like a few other clubs is still huge and the story NZTR are trying to sell is that they don't contribute to the industry and are surplus to requirements is just downright deceit.

Yes Levin's contribution is significant but it isn't sustainable.  If Otaki want to subsidise them then that's their business.  Where have NZTR ever said that these Clubs DON'T contribute?  In terms of them being surplus isn't it more of a question of is the capital they have invested returning an income that makes them sustainable?  The accounts (that we have visibility of) say they aren't.  There is a bigger strategic picture that Clubs just don't want to address.  If Levin had racedays then very quickly they would end up in the same situation as Ellerslie (was), Te Rapa, Hastings, Trentham and so on.

[Chief Stipe]

19 minutes ago, Huey said:

Can't disagree with that , but even that's rigged with NZTR deciding who gets race days or specific race dates.

Oh dear the mafia theory again.  How should the allocation be determined?  Given there are a limited number of dates available which is decreasing in line with the decreasing horse population.  I've suggest in the past that the majority of the dates should be contestable.  But the fact is most of the Clubs couldn't afford the contest!

[Chief Stipe]

19 minutes ago, Huey said:

That's not true , they probably could maintain or update , but what's the point given they'll never likely see another race day there again through no fault of their own.

It is true.  Levin has already sold off what it could.  That realised cash is slowly diminishing as it funds opex.  There isn't enough in the bucket to do anything substantial.  I do note though that there are "consultants" clipping the ticket annually.

[curious]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

I have no opinion on whether it is archaic or not however even that model wouldn't generate enough revenue for Clubs to pay their way unless they had significant sources of other revenue.

It would if stakes were aligned to it as they were 20 years ago.