Sale of Levin track

[nomates]

15 minutes ago, Reefton said:

Yeah I just wonder if we can cling like the proverbial to a blanket it might be a last man standing situation for the Coast clubs.  But then again I suppose if they shut down most of the country clubs there will probably not be the horses available to participate at what is left.

Don't worry about yourself Reefton , there will always be the need for the SI as a home for the northern castoffs . It's the CD that could really feel the effects , year on year there has been a clear decline in not only numbers but standard of horses filling the CD fields . Also the number of tracks in the CD with surface issues is a major concern , yet again they are doing patch and repair jobs but nothing that would be called long term problem solving , just keeping the hang man from the door .

The northern area is not immune to the horse issue either , not so much quantity but quality , their big races are not being filled with any thing like the quality of previous years , and i'm not talking about decades ago , the quality is way worse than even 5 years ago and getting worse year on year . Taumaranui Cup is a window into the predicament , it is barely a 75 rating race . Saying a rating 75 is giving it too much quality .

[Doomed]

It would be interesting to hear what RACE would do with their $30m windfall if that did come to pass.  It could fund a couple of AWTs. The Auckland trots and RACE itself have shown how easy it is to piss away a lot of money very quickly. You can just imagine what will happen when they try to redevelop Trentham.

[nomates]

2 minutes ago, Doomed said:

It would be interesting to hear what RACE would do with their $30m windfall if that did come to pass.  It could fund a couple of AWTs. The Auckland trots and RACE itself have shown how easy it is to piss away a lot of money very quickly. You can just imagine what will happen when they try to redevelop Trentham.

Well they will start with paying down all their debt . As for the Trentham development , if you read all the words none of them said anything about upgrading the track . So flash buildings everywhere but racing on a shit surface .

Perhaps they will do the track with the spare 10+ mil left from the Levin money , more likely Awapuni if anywhere .

It could fund a couple of A/W's but any more is the last thing racing needs .

[Reefton]

2 hours ago, nomates said:

Don't worry about yourself Reefton , there will always be the need for the SI as a home for the northern castoffs . It's the CD that could really feel the effects , year on year there has been a clear decline in not only numbers but standard of horses filling the CD fields . Also the number of tracks in the CD with surface issues is a major concern , yet again they are doing patch and repair jobs but nothing that would be called long term problem solving , just keeping the hang man from the door .

The northern area is not immune to the horse issue either , not so much quantity but quality , their big races are not being filled with any thing like the quality of previous years , and i'm not talking about decades ago , the quality is way worse than even 5 years ago and getting worse year on year . Taumaranui Cup is a window into the predicament , it is barely a 75 rating race . Saying a rating 75 is giving it too much quality .

Only problem is if there are only five or six opportunities each year in the south for horses which are not Riccarton material why would you keep one?

The Winter Cup this year looks a high enough rated race based on nominations.  There are ten so so R85 plus nags there which I think is a bit better than past years

 

[Special Agent]

I don't think this is a "goer" at all.  It will be voted on by members at the club SGM 21st August.  The first members heard of this idea of joining RACE was when the President and Vice President pushed it upon them at the latest AGM.

As for there being no young enthusiastic people coming through, maybe it takes those filling the spots to know when it's time to move on.

[Michael]

6 hours ago, Reefton said:

Does being a dick come naturally to you or do you have to work at it?

Ask Richard Alspach

It's completely natural

[Chief Stipe]

6 hours ago, Reefton said:

Does being a dick come naturally to you or do you have to work at it?

Ask Richard Alspach

You didn't answer the question.  When has the new land grab legislation been enforced?  I don't recall any Racing Minister approving a request from NZTR to acquire a Clubs assets.  As I said "correct me if I'm wrong"!  

[Special Agent]

In fact has anyone cited such a request from NZTR?  I doubt it very much as it would be a ruthless act by any decent person.

Edited July 29, 2022 by Special Agent
Typo

[Michael]

19 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

You didn't answer the question.  When has the new land grab legislation been enforced?  I don't recall any Racing Minister approving a request from NZTR to acquire a Clubs assets.  As I said "correct me if I'm wrong"!  

I thought that it was going to be enforced way up North but the Club melted in the face of pressure

Am I wrong?

[Special Agent]

Which club?

[Reefton]

1 hour ago, Michael said:

I thought that it was going to be enforced way up North but the Club melted in the face of pressure

Am I wrong?

they came to an arrangement

The Club did not melt under pressure

[Reefton]

1 hour ago, Special Agent said:

In fact has anyone cited such a request from NZTR?  I doubt it very much as it would be a ruthless act by any decent person.

they've got the power to do it and if a club steps out of line I would say they(NZTR) would use it

[nomates]

1 hour ago, Reefton said:

The Winter Cup this year looks a high enough rated race based on nominations.  There are ten so so R85 plus nags there which I think is a bit better than past years

 

Just had a look at the nom's , 10 over 82 , 5 ex northerner's , highest rated at 101 garnered those from overseas form , hardly a standout field , basically an 85 rated race , no where near the quality it used to be , but then what open cup is .

[nomates]

2 hours ago, Special Agent said:

I don't think this is a "goer" at all.  It will be voted on by members at the club SGM 21st August.  The first members heard of this idea of joining RACE was when the President and Vice President pushed it upon them at the latest AGM.

As for there being no young enthusiastic people coming through, maybe it takes those filling the spots to know when it's time to move on.

Sounds like Race has got into the committee's ear . Don't know what the membership numbers are like now , i know 20 odd years ago when Race and NZTR tried to force it on the club the membership wasn't that big and mostly of a fair age .

The present committee from what i have seen are reasonably new to it , and they are the ones promoting it to the membership .

Young enthusiast people , not just racing committee's needing them to come thru , the whole industry are looking for them .

[Chief Stipe]

27 minutes ago, Reefton said:

they've got the power to do it and if a club steps out of line I would say they(NZTR) would use it

I don't think they will.  

[Huey]

18 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

I don't think they will.  

I think they are warming the industry up for a round of it in the next few years, you've only got to read between the lines at almost every press release from the current CEO. 

[Reefton]

9 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

I don't think they will.  

Don't you?  Look at the way they treated Westland who sidestepped their plans.  A club flush with cash(well they were) all revved up with no place to go.  Reduced to disposing of what the have left by sponsoring the other Clubs becuase they are not allowed a meeting of their own (even if not on their own course). And a committee now of two

[Reefton]

9 hours ago, nomates said:

Just had a look at the nom's , 10 over 82 , 5 ex northerner's , highest rated at 101 garnered those from overseas form , hardly a standout field , basically an 85 rated race , no where near the quality it used to be , but then what open cup is .

Still better than an R74.  One wonders if an R85 field is of the same quality as it might have been five years ago.

[Reefton]

9 hours ago, nomates said:

Sounds like Race has got into the committee's ear . Don't know what the membership numbers are like now , i know 20 odd years ago when Race and NZTR tried to force it on the club the membership wasn't that big and mostly of a fair age .

The present committee from what i have seen are reasonably new to it , and they are the ones promoting it to the membership .

Young enthusiast people , not just racing committee's needing them to come thru , the whole industry are looking for them .

There are no young enthusiastic people.  I stood in the birdcage six or so years ago and told them straight the Club was finished if we did not get more committee.  Called a Special GM - yes we got half a dozen new people but none younger than me.  I would be gone tomorrow if anyone showed the slightest sign of wanting to step up.  But equally there is no point in chucking a hospital pass to someone.

[Freda]

2 hours ago, Reefton said:

Don't you?  Look at the way they treated Westland who sidestepped their plans.  A club flush with cash(well they were) all revved up with no place to go.  Reduced to disposing of what the have left by sponsoring the other Clubs becuase they are not allowed a meeting of their own (even if not on their own course). And a committee now of two

Yes.

Sufficient funds - and support in the form of local contractors- to have implemented any 'improvements' to the course that NZTR deemed necessary.  But weren't given the chance.

Agenda driven all the way.

[Special Agent]

I know where Reefton and Freda are coming from and I think what has happened is disgusting and short sighted.  However, I think RACE aside, licence holders and owners who have horses trained at CD tracks are manning up.  No longer are they going to be pushed by bureaucrats into losing livelihoods, income and pleasure.  It is abundantly clear huge mistakes have already been made about which clubs and tracks are not required.  Which of the "big wigs" want to be branded with any further closures of useful facilities?  Awapuni is going well with no running rail and no lights.  Levin will not be sold to fund those.

[Huey]

1 hour ago, Special Agent said:

I know where Reefton and Freda are coming from and I think what has happened is disgusting and short sighted.  However, I think RACE aside, licence holders and owners who have horses trained at CD tracks are manning up.  No longer are they going to be pushed by bureaucrats into losing livelihoods, income and pleasure.  It is abundantly clear huge mistakes have already been made about which clubs and tracks are not required.  Which of the "big wigs" want to be branded with any further closures of useful facilities?  Awapuni is going well with no running rail and no lights.  Levin will not be sold to fund those.

If only such big talk was true SA, the problem has been no one has spoken up unless it impacted on their patch, when in reality in the world of  nzracing many patches are required and we are now paying the price for such apathy and nepotism.

Many in the industry blindly follow the words of some of the bigger trainers , owners , studs and industry participants as they way forward when if the truth be known they have little regard for anyone but themselves.

[nomates]

5 hours ago, Reefton said:

Still better than an R74.  One wonders if an R85 field is of the same quality as it might have been five years ago.

We'll never know they don't run 85s anymore , most open handicaps have more horses under 85, even 75 , than over 85 . Go and look at the " open " stayers handicaps run this winter , mostly low rated horses winning them .

The rating system needs a complete overhaul , to reflect the reality of to day's horses racing in NZ , not to show we are still part of the big boys racing circle .

Oh and give it enough time and it could well be a 74 Winter Cup in a few years .

[Huey]

2 minutes ago, nomates said:

We'll never know they don't run 85s anymore , most open handicaps have more horses under 85, even 75 , than over 85 . Go and look at the " open " stayers handicaps run this winter , mostly low rated horses winning them .

The rating system needs a complete overhaul , to reflect the reality of to day's horses racing in NZ , not to show we are still part of the big boys racing circle .

Oh and give it enough time and it could well be a 74 Winter Cup in a few years .

Yes, its just about time for Benchmark 55's in NZ.

[Joe Bloggs]

2 hours ago, Special Agent said:

I know where Reefton and Freda are coming from and I think what has happened is disgusting and short sighted.  However, I think RACE aside, licence holders and owners who have horses trained at CD tracks are manning up.  No longer are they going to be pushed by bureaucrats into losing livelihoods, income and pleasure.  It is abundantly clear huge mistakes have already been made about which clubs and tracks are not required.  Which of the "big wigs" want to be branded with any further closures of useful facilities?  Awapuni is going well with no running rail and no lights.  Levin will not be sold to fund those.

Sorry, you're dreaming, if you believe that, you need help........as I said in an earlier post, Apathy will win over, as it's done for a decade or more, the strong got stronger and the weak got weaker.......it's a gone burger NZ racing, fucking disgusting pardon my French, but that's the only way to describe it........it was financially and emotionally raped and pillaged by self interest mercenaries, the only way to fix it, the ONLY way is a Royal Commission, and being NZ that will never happen.....and aint that fucking sad!!! no apology......