Ludwig Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 And so we come to the "mystery" course in proposed South Island race course closures . Namely the one they seem determined to keep open at all costs. And yet logically it should be one of the first to close. Not a great track, only two starting points, and never huge fields. So why are they so determined to keep Waikouaiti open ahead of courses such as Washdyke? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitman Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 (edited) Because we base there for the circuit!!! Is that the answer you want to here. Or could it be that it is hugely popular with the public and always has good on and off course turnovers. Actually it has three starting points, but don't let the truth get in your way. Edited December 30, 2019 by Pitman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwig Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 9 minutes ago, Pitman said: Because we base there for the circuit!!! Is that the answer you want to here. Or could it be that it is hugely popular with the public and always has good on and off course turnovers. Actually it has three starting points, but don't let the truth get in your way. The angry man speaketh. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitman Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Is angry another word for the truth and you don't want to be told, then thanks. Another stirrer with no skin in the game hiding behind a nom de plume, who are you? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mustang Kenny Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 I am with Michael on this one - an awesome club with a rich history. Heartland racing at its best. Wonderful crowd on Wednesday full of families introducing the next generation of punters and owners. Kill these meetings and you kill our future. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 That seems to be the plan, Kenny. No one at head office can be convinced otherwise. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloke Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 Massive crowd at Tauherenikau yesterday, with cars parked right out to the gate at State Highway 2. I saw that Bernard and the NZTR staff had a tent there, hopefully they got a good vibe about country racing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray Fish Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 5 hours ago, Mustang Kenny said: Wonderful crowd on Wednesday Smallest crowd this century! 10 years ago when it was free to get in the crowd was Massive! 5 times more than the other day! 10 bucks to get in! 5 bucks for a race book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitman Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 So this year they must have made a lot more money than 10 years ago and still had a WONDERFUL CROWD good work!!! 10000 for free equals nothing 2000 @ $10 equals $20,000 I know which day I'd want to be counting the cash 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, Pitman said: So this year they must have made a lot more money than 10 years ago and still had a WONDERFUL CROWD good work!!! 10000 for free equals nothing 2000 @ $10 equals $20,000 I know which day I'd want to be counting the cash That's such a myopic short term view Michael IMO. Typical of the thinking in Petone. Remember that the other 8000 would be exposed to or participating in the game, spending money on course, possibly having a few bets. A small percentage may decide to continue to participate in some way. I'd rather have a small percentage of 10,000 doing that than a small percentage of 2,000. If you wanted to attract new owners to your business would you not rather be pitching to 10,000 than 2.000? Edited January 3, 2020 by curious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 13 hours ago, Mustang Kenny said: I am with Michael on this one - an awesome club with a rich history. Heartland racing at its best. Wonderful crowd on Wednesday full of families introducing the next generation of punters and owners. Kill these meetings and you kill our future. Agree with you on this, Kenny, the day at Kurow was also super and well attended by families . Just consider how the absence of racing at Westport and Nelson has negatively impacted betting in that region, and you have to be concerned how continued closures will affect still more areas. The Coast will be the next to go if the plans are implemented. Michael is of the opinion that the all weather track at Riccarton will save S.I racing, with the redundant race permits transferred there ....on that we differ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitman Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 (edited) 4 hours ago, curious said: That's such a myopic short term view Michael IMO. Typical of the thinking in Petone. Remember that the other 8000 would be exposed to or participating in the game, spending money on course, possibly having a few bets. A small percentage may decide to continue to participate in some way. I'd rather have a small percentage of 10,000 doing that than a small percentage of 2,000. If you wanted to attract new owners to your business would you not rather be pitching to 10,000 than 2.000? Do you really think one day at Waikouaiti can be that influential.. By the way I don't believe for one minute that they have ever had close to 10,000 at Waikouaiti- not my figures. But maybe 2000 to 4000 and I have been coming here for over 35 years Edited January 3, 2020 by Pitman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shad Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 Let's hope they get good weather and a crowd at omoto tomorrow, been a bit of light rain over there, good to see the north islanders continuing to support the meeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billy connolly Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 4 hours ago, Freda said: Michael is of the opinion that the all weather track at Riccarton will save S.I racing, with the redundant race permits transferred there ....on that we differ. The two saviors of South Island racing are M. Pitman and J. Parsons, once they're gone Mills and Co. will struggle to to hold a SIX race meeting ! Waikouaiti is a prick of a track but it has a prime date, good atmosphere, good weather and a good hill setting to view races. Much rather go to Wakouaiti than than Kumara. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 (edited) 4 hours ago, Freda said: Michael is of the opinion that the all weather track at Riccarton will save S.I racing, with the redundant race permits transferred there ....on that we differ. It would reduce travel time and costs which are a bit of a killer down there, so that would be a plus. My fear likewise though is that it will reduce participation in those areas, and revenue, when considerably more revenue will be needed to fund and maintain an all weather. Edited January 3, 2020 by curious 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefton Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 (edited) 49 minutes ago, curious said: It would reduce travel time and costs which are a bit of a killer down there, so that would be a plus. My fear likewise though is that it will reduce participation in those areas, and revenue, when considerably more revenue will be needed to fund and maintain an all weather. And if history repeats itself they will cock the all weather up by picking the wrong one and it will be a million plus dollar disaster. There is no real point though in bagging one course or club and demanding it's closure. In the fragile state that NZ racing finds itself we need EVERYONE. Arbitrarily closing Waikouaiti or Kumara or Reefton or wherever only alienates those who put their heart and soul into it. It might be only four or five people in each case but racing needs ALL the friends it can get. There is talk of how the Westland Club has fragmented and interest is totally gone in many cases because they were forced out by NZTR decree. Had NZTR expressed support and humoured them though their last years (like all our clubs it was a matter of time before the inevitable closure took place) then the $250k they gave the WDC would have come back to the industry but no NZTR took a sledgehammer approach and the industry is poorer financially and from a morale perspective as a result. Some probably don't care or are too stupid to comprehend it but those sorts of moves are dumb dumb dumb. Edited January 3, 2020 by Reefton 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 On 4/01/2020 at 11:02 AM, Reefton said: And if history repeats itself they will cock the all weather up by picking the wrong one and it will be a million plus dollar disaster. There is no real point though in bagging one course or club and demanding it's closure. In the fragile state that NZ racing finds itself we need EVERYONE. Arbitrarily closing Waikouaiti or Kumara or Reefton or wherever only alienates those who put their heart and soul into it. It might be only four or five people in each case but racing needs ALL the friends it can get. There is talk of how the Westland Club has fragmented and interest is totally gone in many cases because they were forced out by NZTR decree. Had NZTR expressed support and humoured them though their last years (like all our clubs it was a matter of time before the inevitable closure took place) then the $250k they gave the WDC would have come back to the industry but no NZTR took a sledgehammer approach and the industry is poorer financially and from a morale perspective as a result. Some probably don't care or are too stupid to comprehend it but those sorts of moves are dumb dumb dumb. Exactly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.