Slot race Cambridge.

[pete cook]

I'm becoming a bit bored with this, but just got back from walking the dog and would like to point out two things. First, the Industry was told, when Slot races were introduced, that the main advantage was that they would "cost the Industry nothing". Who, or what changed that? (and to be fair to Mr. Steele, it was before his time).

Second, in his speech at a "future is Now" presentation just after he started, Mr. Steele suggested that slots could be bought by groups of say, 30 young people, who could put in $10k each. At the time, I remember laughing out loud at the naivety of that idea. Sadly I have been proven right.

Oh, and just a last thought regarding having good horses. Using Mr. Boots as an example, how many horses has he bought that have been developed by excellent NZ trainers and gone on to be his stars? The problem is that your average owner has little alternative than to sell to rich owners like him.

[Gammalite]

9 minutes ago, pete cook said:

Using Mr. Boots as an example, how many horses has he bought that have been developed by excellent NZ trainers and gone on to be his stars? The problem is that your average owner has little alternative than to sell to rich owners like him.

yes the NZ stock is great.

The racing there is Not consistent . you need regular week to week racing like Mildura, Redcliffe, Hobart, Penrith and a heap of other locations just to Break even by winning 4 Races per year.

The West Australia famous HALL and BOND stables have been buying horses from Southland for years and years Peter. Probably 1000 horses by now. I'm theMightyQuinn probably the best.  they're still buying now. Pete McMullens owner bought top slot trotter GUS from down there at Nathan Williamsons in recent years too.

Boots raced Captains Mistress out of Nathans as well. Tonight she'll win the Chariots of Fire and be a star of all time. Unfortunately Nathan was going to win a Group 1 at Auckland with her but his sulky' fell apart 100m from the line. Probably the worst bit of BAD LUCK I've ever seen in the Sport. (Hope Nathan has mended from Injury) 

Village Kid and Lightning Blue went on to be Interdominion Grand Final Champions after being Sold to the Aussies for $40,000 each in the 1980's . I helped bring about 50 horses out of NZ with the South Auckland Standardbred agency and they nearly all went on to win in Australia. 

NONE of The NZ Owners Had to Sell . They just wanted to. They knew they couldn't compete up in the grades against Roy and Barry , Charlie Hunter ( who would export to USA)  and in the south DerekJones , Smolenski,  Butt family, Dunn and Dalgety , etc. they are world class and too good for them.

Hence most of the owner trainers are still hacking around out your Sunday meetings  on grass or whatever to this day. And always Looking for an Aussie Buyer. thankfully Shannon and Boots at the yearlings sales leave a few horses with NZ trainers these days . Very enterprising men . and ultra successful in life.  

 

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, pete cook said:

Oh, and just a last thought regarding having good horses. Using Mr. Boots as an example, how many horses has he bought that have been developed by excellent NZ trainers and gone on to be his stars? The problem is that your average owner has little alternative than to sell to rich owners like him.

But that's nothing new.  It has been happening for as long as I can remember.  We got good money selling horses to the USA in the 70's.  Then again I doubt any average owner would sell a really good horse if they knew it was good.

[Brodie]

2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

They haven't squandered all of it.  They have improved their cash assets from $12m in 2021 to $32m in 2025.

Thats good that it isnt all gone!

Is there anywhere that shows us this increased cash position?

The increase is clearly from Entain and is the extra $20m you say they have, the money from Entain for the next couple of years that will be used for stakes over the next couple of years?

What is the true asset position of HRNZ do we know?

In the Entain Terms and Conditions was it written that HRNZ has to spend the full amount on stakes and bonuses in the 5 years?
Investing the funds from Entain wisely to give them a good return to be able to fund the stakes would have been a helluva better option!