Congrats Bernard - another one bites the dust

[Huey]

Is this finally a realisation that they have been wasting prizemoney?

ITM Interprovincial Message from Taranaki Racing

The draft system will need to be utilised for the ITM Interprovincial, as several provinces will not be represented, including no nominations from the South Island.

Nominations remain open until Tuesday 17 August. The $30,000 consolation will not be run, unless there are 10 acceptors on Wednesday 18 August.

[curious]

You really wouldn't/couldn't know. Aside from anything else, the programming is insane.

[Dark Beau]

From Bernard down it’s a lost cause in my opinion. 
Wherever  I look it’s been a disaster. 
Being based in the CD I absolutely despair. 
Take for example the clown who was in charge of RACE including Trentham, which he all but destroyed before he disappeared under very unusual circumstances!
I suppose that all the millions gained from selling off every bit of land (possible) at Trentham , has gone into clearing RACE’s debt and the portion left went to pay for the AWT on the swamp, not paid for by the Provincial Fund. 
God help us all. 
Amen

[JJ Flash]

On 13/08/2021 at 9:30 AM, Chief Stipe said:

But it's all good!  @JJ Flash reckons Mackenzie, Saundry and Co are doing great!

More fake shit from you and the nutters who commented below. Yes that's you Joe and Bob

NZTAB has nothing to do with NZTR except to rubber stamp program as they have to get Trackside to venues . 

Also, i have never made any comments about Saundry as i have never met the bloke so cant say what sort of job he is doing. So, Chiefy stop making stuff up!!

McKenzie has his job to run TAB and make as much as possible to  distribute to codes , what Bernie does with TB's is his and his boards concern . Nothing to do with McKenzie or anyone else.

If you cant understand that then your conspiracy theories are even wackier than i thought.

Edited August 14, 2021 by JJ Flash

[Joe Bloggs]

Like Kristina Kenneally Saundry keeps failing upwards, that takes some doing, him going to NZ was your loss and our gain, but like a boomerang he will return, and we can't wait.

[Chief Stipe]

2 hours ago, JJ Flash said:

NZTAB has nothing to do with NZTR except to rubber stamp program as they have to get Trackside to venues . 

Blinded by sycophancy!

Who decides what races to import?

[Chief Stipe]

2 hours ago, JJ Flash said:

McKenzie has his job to run TAB and make as much as possible to  distribute to codes , what Bernie does with TB's is his and his boards concern . Nothing to do with McKenzie or anyone else.

So you believe there is NO symbiotic relationship between TAB NZ and NZTR?

Are you deliberately naive?

[The Centaur]

5 hours ago, JJ Flash said:

NZTAB has nothing to do with NZTR except to rubber stamp program as they have to get Trackside to venues . 

 

What a huge coincidence they are in the same building. Have board members that are simultaneously on the both. Share a lot of the facilities. Constantly meet. You are right on one thing. The rubber stamp. 

[JJ Flash]

16 hours ago, The Centaur said:

What a huge coincidence they are in the same building. Have board members that are simultaneously on the both. Share a lot of the facilities. Constantly meet. You are right on one thing. The rubber stamp. 

Possibly one of your more humorous posts Slam 

[curious]

Another high profile one for the list ...

https://www.racingnews.co.nz/group-one-winning-trainer-bows-out/

[Chief Stipe]

Group One winning trainer bows out

By

 NZ Racing Desk

 -

August 19, 2021

 

 

Share

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew Campbell (right) pictured with Tommy Heptinstall. Photo: Trish Dunell

Andrew Campbell has become the second high-profile trainer in the past week to announce his retirement.

Last week Stephen McKee, famous as the co-trainer of champion racemare Sunline, went public on his intention to pull stumps at his South Auckland operation, and it can now be confirmed that Campbell is following suit.

The Cambridge-based horseman, likewise a Group One trainer per the outstanding sprinter-miler Tavistock, recently sold the property that he bought in 2017 after training from Masterton’s Opaki racecourse for more than 20 years.

Campbell worked as a plumber in Wellington before opting for life in the Wairarapa developing and trading horses. His focus changed some 15 years ago when he met Wellington real estate guru Tommy Heptinstall, who encouraged him to raise the bar in partnership with a syndicate of investors.

That’s how he became the trainer and part-owner of Tavistock, purchased as a Karaka yearling for $85,000, champion sprinter-miler of his year with earnings around $600,000 and retired to stud with a value of more than $3 million.

As a sire, Tavistock was the source of Campbell’s Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) winner Gobstopper and his brother Werther, a dual Derby placegetter in Australia before his sale to Hong Kong, where he became Horse of the Year.

At age 54, Campbell departs his profession with mixed feelings yet convinced that life as a trainer has lost its allure. Rising costs versus returns, sourcing staff and other challenges have become a burden, but a recent run-in with racing’s judiciary has fast-tracked his decision.

Earlier this month Campbell pleaded guilty to presenting a horse at a Cambridge trial meeting in May with a banned substance in its system, incurring a fine of $2,500.

The unnamed two-year-old did not compete after dropping his rider and being late scratched, but ironically it had been randomly selected for a pre-trial swab which was to reveal traces of the anti-inflammatory corticosteroid dexamethasone.

At the subsequent Racing Integrity Board hearing on August 9, Campbell stated that the horse had a slight puffy eye, and he was given an ointment by his vet to treat it. He applied a fingertip amount to the eye on the afternoon before the horse trialled the next day. He was not aware that Dexamethasone was a prohibited substance.

Despite an acceptance that the amount could not have influenced the horse’s performance, and that the only intention in applying the ointment was for the horse’s welfare, Campbell was found culpable on a presentation charge. 

The horse concerned has since been named Riverplate and won a subsequent trial before finishing second on debut to talented filly Mustang Valley at Te Rapa in June. He is scheduled to be flown this week to Melbourne, where he will continue his career.

“I had already made up my mind to finish in November, but when they came at me like that, I decided I’d had enough, that was the final nail in the coffin,” Campbell said.

“I’ve never been big on vets and I’m definitely no cheat, so it’s been tough having to deal with what is my first supposed breach of the rules. It’s not a good feeling.

“Life as a trainer is a big enough battle without having to deal with that sort of stuff. Staffing and costs that just keep going up are making it impossible.

“My family and I have to work every Sunday because the cost of employing people is simply too much, so now I’m actually looking forward to packing up and heading back to the Wairarapa to enjoy life.”

Heptinstall, who now lives in Melbourne and has gradually migrated the bulk of his racing team to the likes of Victoria-based expats Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young and South Australian Michael Hickmott, supports Campbell fully in his decision to relinquish his licence.

“I don’t blame Andrew at all,” he said. “As if trying to get by as a trainer in New Zealand isn’t tough enough, to get treated like that for something so insignificant is just too tough on such a genuine guy.

“Talk about using a brick to kill a fly, it’s pathetic.”

Campbell harbours no regrets at the path his profession has taken him, most of all for the people he has been associated with and the horses that have been integral to that.

“Racing has been a wonderful game,” he said. “I’ve had plenty of good times with some fantastic people who have become lifetime friends.

“It’s just a bloody shame it has to end like this.”

He had intended for Tannahill to be his final raceday starter at Cambridge on Wednesday, but with the abandonment of the meeting due to COVID lockdown, the final curtain will now be at Saturday’s rescheduled meeting.

“I’ve entered him for Saturday and hopefully he’ll be a starter,” Campbell said. “That will be it though, end of story.”

[Chief Stipe]

Well with Tommy focussing on OZ it was inevitable.

I see Te Akau have already sent their two top horses there - Entriviere and Sword of State.

[Gospel of Judas]

NZ Racing pretty much slightly above picnic grade in Aussie, bar our big races, not enough of them for you make top class living. Why see a few more pulling out. Covid 19 in reality, just spread up the process, by five -ten years. That's net reality.

[Freda]

21 hours ago, curious said:

Another high profile one for the list ...

https://www.racingnews.co.nz/group-one-winning-trainer-bows-out/

Trainers as a group must be an ageing demographic, too, surely?    Which doesn't augur well for the future quite apart from the economic side of things.

[Huey]

36 minutes ago, Freda said:

Trainers as a group must be an ageing demographic, too, surely?    Which doesn't augur well for the future quite apart from the economic side of things.

Absolutely and with the hours and work involved its not an attractive proposition for many let alone the next generation. I'm actually surprised at how quickly its demise seems to be taking shape, I thought it had a little more depth to it than what we are seeing at present. 

Wasn't the M Report & the venue plan etc supposed to resuscitate the industry and not put it in ICU? Absolute incompetents have been let loose in this industry over the years and unfortunately many of them still pervade it.

But look on the bright side we've got 2 perhaps 3 AWTs which are serious gamebreakers for the industry or so I'm being told. 

[Gospel of Judas]

27 minutes ago, Huey said:

Absolutely and with the hours and work involved its not an attractive proposition for many let alone the next generation. I'm actually surprised at how quickly its demise seems to be taking shape, I thought it had a little more depth to it than what we are seeing at present. 

Wasn't the M Report & the venue plan etc supposed to resuscitate the industry and not put it in ICU? Absolute incompetents have been let loose in this industry over the years and unfortunately many of them still pervade it.

But look on the bright side we've got 2 perhaps 3 AWTs which are serious gamebreakers for the industry or so I'm being told. 

Reality is cost to revenue structure was out reality before  M report and still would have been. Just effects of what going on, been spread up by proper financial crisis in Covid. A few are facing net reality now in much more bigger  way. Racing in reality by M report, would just taken old Muldoon quote "Economic Tea Break" for 5-10 years before hit.

[nomates]

35 minutes ago, Huey said:

Absolutely and with the hours and work involved its not an attractive proposition for many let alone the next generation. I'm actually surprised at how quickly its demise seems to be taking shape, I thought it had a little more depth to it than what we are seeing at present. 

Wasn't the M Report & the venue plan etc supposed to resuscitate the industry and not put it in ICU? Absolute incompetents have been let loose in this industry over the years and unfortunately many of them still pervade it.

But look on the bright side we've got 2 perhaps 3 AWTs which are serious gamebreakers for the industry or so I'm being told. 

The biggest single issue going forward for participants , and that includes every group within racing , is the complete lack of any plan on how the industry is going to gain traction , to 1 stop the decline and 2 start gaining forward momentum . A plan that can give industry participants confidence , especially the ones that are at the brink , on deciding whether to continue or cut their loses . So far i am seeing high profile people getting out , so if they are getting out how many of the lesser lights are going , without the publicity .

As of this moment there is nothing in the shape of a plan , The A/W's can't be the plan surely .

Expecting the small increase in distributions to be the pathway for the resurrection of racing is deluded , it is a drop in the ocean . Participants are disillusioned with every aspect of NZ racing , yet nothing is changing . We have the same ratings , programming is fundamentally buggered , stakes at the lower level are a joke , and on and on . 

We are now at the cliff edge , we need some radical thinking and management , racing needs major rebuilding . 

Will we get it , i hope we do , but we need a plan , and fast .

[Reefton]

33 minutes ago, nomates said:

The biggest single issue going forward for participants , and that includes every group within racing , is the complete lack of any plan on how the industry is going to gain traction , to 1 stop the decline and 2 start gaining forward momentum . A plan that can give industry participants confidence , especially the ones that are at the brink , on deciding whether to continue or cut their loses . So far i am seeing high profile people getting out , so if they are getting out how many of the lesser lights are going , without the publicity .

As of this moment there is nothing in the shape of a plan , The A/W's can't be the plan surely .

Expecting the small increase in distributions to be the pathway for the resurrection of racing is deluded , it is a drop in the ocean . Participants are disillusioned with every aspect of NZ racing , yet nothing is changing . We have the same ratings , programming is fundamentally buggered , stakes at the lower level are a joke , and on and on . 

We are now at the cliff edge , we need some radical thinking and management , racing needs major rebuilding . 

Will we get it , i hope we do , but we need a plan , and fast .

Get with the programme  NM - the plan is to grab all the assets of the small clubs who have looked after their money then piss that up against the wall then the plan is to think of another plan(and hope nobody notices that that plan didn't work) 

[Freda]

1 hour ago, Huey said:

Absolutely and with the hours and work involved its not an attractive proposition for many let alone the next generation. I'm actually surprised at how quickly its demise seems to be taking shape, I thought it had a little more depth to it than what we are seeing at present. 

Wasn't the M Report & the venue plan etc supposed to resuscitate the industry and not put it in ICU? Absolute incompetents have been let loose in this industry over the years and unfortunately many of them still pervade it.

But look on the bright side we've got 2 perhaps 3 AWTs which are serious gamebreakers for the industry or so I'm being told. 

The M report - whether or not one subscribes to it wholeheartedly, pays it a passing glance, or detests it  -  has NOT been implemented in the manner advised.  The fundamental point, the game-changer, was the outsourcing/partnering of the TAB.

JM said, if that doesn't happen, the rest is just  irrelevant tinkering.  

[Doomed]

Yee of little faith. 

Things could have been a lot worse.

I suspect there are several trainers out there who were thinking of giving up, but have changed their minds and are now thinking "bugger it, we have $50m of AWTs, I'm going to hang in there." 

Game changer.

[Doomed]

8 minutes ago, Reefton said:

Get with the programme  NM - the plan is to grab all the assets of the small clubs who have looked after their money then piss that up against the wall then the plan is to think of another plan(and hope nobody notices that that plan didn't work) 

And even that plan isn't original. They are just copying Awapuni and Trentham who have sold off everything that wasn't tied down and pissed that up against said wall. They are now working on another plan that NZTR will copy in due course as well.

[Chief Stipe]

16 minutes ago, Doomed said:

Yee of little faith. 

Things could have been a lot worse.

I suspect there are several trainers out there who were thinking of giving up, but have changed their minds and are now thinking "bugger it, we have $50m of AWTs, I'm going to hang in there." 

Game changer.

Have you missed not using the sarcasm font?

[nomates]

14 minutes ago, Reefton said:

Get with the programme  NM - the plan is to grab all the assets of the small clubs who have looked after their money then piss that up against the wall then the plan is to think of another plan(and hope nobody notices that that plan didn't work) 

Even a conman doesn't just take your money without giving you the dream of what your money can bring you if you give it to said conman . I detest the whole land grab idea , but they are that dumb they are not even trying to sell the concept with the big shinny plan on how they intend to spend , more of the same is never going to get any body to part with their asset . I honestly believe if they had a plan , done in conjunction with clubs like your own and the rest of the coast that showed the coast had a strong future , and so on with the rest of the country , set in reality that gave everyone a picture of a bold new future that included everybody being on the ride then a lot more people would more positive about restructuring the NZ industry . Maybe not ?

[Huey]

1 hour ago, nomates said:

The biggest single issue going forward for participants , and that includes every group within racing , is the complete lack of any plan on how the industry is going to gain traction , to 1 stop the decline and 2 start gaining forward momentum . A plan that can give industry participants confidence , especially the ones that are at the brink , on deciding whether to continue or cut their loses . So far i am seeing high profile people getting out , so if they are getting out how many of the lesser lights are going , without the publicity .

As of this moment there is nothing in the shape of a plan , The A/W's can't be the plan surely .

Expecting the small increase in distributions to be the pathway for the resurrection of racing is deluded , it is a drop in the ocean . Participants are disillusioned with every aspect of NZ racing , yet nothing is changing . We have the same ratings , programming is fundamentally buggered , stakes at the lower level are a joke , and on and on . 

We are now at the cliff edge , we need some radical thinking and management , racing needs major rebuilding . 

Will we get it , i hope we do , but we need a plan , and fast .

Won't happen, current leadership have made that much damage to the industry already it can only go one way for the majority of participants, as I've already stated this deluded bunch have no idea of the interdependence within the racing industry.

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, nomates said:

We are now at the cliff edge , we need some radical thinking and management , racing needs major rebuilding . 

Will we get it , i hope we do , but we need a plan , and fast .