Read it and weep...

[Huey]

7 hours ago, curious said:

It is like they are expecting the golden goose to land in the interim. But if that's it (geo), and I doubt it, it won't be here in the next 8 months. If the rest of us were faced with revenue cuts of that magnitude with further cuts almost certain, we'd be immediately cutting expenditures to match or we'd be out of business.

I think their reaction is more in line with how poorly the sport is travelling currently, not maintaining stakes may spook too many owners breeders etc. who are already on the edge of their seats.

Agree though its a bizarre strategy.

[Huey]

7 hours ago, Doomed said:

They have been relying on something like that for years. No windfalls so far.

I have often said on here that I can't understand how we can manage the stakes we currently have based on turnovers. Others keep saying we need to increase stakes.  Looks like I might have been right. Sounds like the only prospect for future stakes increases will be based on turnovers.

As long as I have been involved in racing income has always been dependent on turnover. We seem to have forgotten that. I don't think abandoning the on course experience and discouraging clubs from any innovation will help turnovers in the long term.

Agree , the homogenisation of the sport has made the experience boring , couple that with the party factor that seems to be wearing thin and we have a big problem .

[Huey]

5 hours ago, Doomed said:

The other thing to remember is that trainers and jockeys need a certain number of opportunities to remain viable.

 

Couple that with the fact that  lot of the smaller trainers are also the owners of the product who remain in the sport through participation in the smaller days and are the ones making the fields 5/6/7 or more (goodness knows where the industry would be without them) , having fewer race days would likely result in this much needed participation leaving the industry.

If there is to be a reduction in stakes it has to come from the top, is this likely to happen with the present lot in charge...probably no.

The part I find most interesting  of all of this is, they have been told over and over again what would happen and still they have pursued their pointless strategy.

[Huey]

4 hours ago, nomates said:

 

As i keep saying the industry leaders , and i use that term loosely , need to get together with industry participants and work out what works and what is needed to turn the game around , out of small seeds mighty oaks can grow . But they seem immune as ever to bringing participants into the conversation .

Part of that is probably because the "mouths" in the industry would call for more of the same and possibly even an increase in stakes at the top at the behest of the bottom, I've no doubt about that. Always been part of the problem imo

[Reefton]

3 hours ago, nomates said:

Too late , they've tried that one .

I think there is a little more sizzle in that sausage just yet.  There is some pretty valuable real estate to be gobbled up by these guys.  Ironically the likes of my Club will be not worth their effort because the assets are worth f all but not long ago we heard about Levin.  If Ellerslie comes up OK watch em leering at Avondale. Rangiora clearly, Timaru and God knows where else.

[NZRacing]

One matter the Statement of Intent didn't cover was the financial implications on the Racing Industy if the banning  of Greyhound racing gets leglislated in the next two years which is a distinct possibilty.  

If Greyhound racing is banned in NZ the resulting collateral financial damage on the Racing Industry will be huge. Racefield fees on NZ Geyhound races were only slightly behind what was received by NZ gallops and three times greater than NZ Harness. Last season there were approximately 480 greyhound meetings, 290 gallops and 250 harness. I don't know what the revenue on greyhound racing was last season but I do know if you take them out of the equation it will result in a huge downturn in profit distibution to the other two codes as less revenue will be going towards paying NZ TAB fixed costs .

Currently there is a petition before the Government to ban greyhound racing in NZ, it was put foward by the Greyhound Protection League whose spokespeson has for many years tried to get Greyhound racing closed down. Most countries have now banned Greyhound racing and the NZ GPL have strong backing from a number of Ministers with the strongest voice Chlöe Swarbrick from the Greens.

The petitions committee to foward their submission findings to the Government comprised of  Hon Jacqui Dean (Chairperson), Rachel Boyack Steph, Lewis Nicole, McKee Sarah, Pallett Teana Tuiono, Chlöe Swarbrick participated in much of the consideration of the petition. I doubt any of those members have a good knowledge of racing in NZ and would be easily swayed by the GPL and other anti Greyhound Racing groups. I hope Swarbrick has attended a Geyhound meeting to observe how the dogs are vetted and treated if injured but sadly I doubt she has. If she spoke to trainers and owners I am sure she would have found that nearly all of the connections have the best interests of their dogs health and well being as their number one priority. 

The petition commitee's report (link below) to the Government on the future of NZ Geyhound Racing is rather bleak. The NZGA and the RIU knew it's going to be tough going addressing the petitions reasons why the code should be banned so it's a worry to read the quoted section below of the report. If the information required was supplied in time for their deliberations then obviously it wouldn't have resulted in such a negative comment and lessening  confidence in the Code and RIU's handling of the complaints and concerns. 

New animal welfare team for all three racing codes At the date of its written submission in April 2022, the RIB was developing a new animal welfare team to work across all three racing codes (greyhounds and the two horse-racing codes). The function of the team is to support and monitor the operation and effectiveness of each code’s animal welfare policies and initiatives. It is also expected to promote and ensure compliance with animal welfare standards. The RIB expected the animal welfare team to be in place in time for the new racing year in August 2022. However, three months later, in November 2022, we did not find an online reference to the new team.

They shouldn't have been required to do a search online re a new animal welfare team they should have been advised in writing 01 August 2022. The GPL and Swarbrick are now going to use it for further ammunition that the Industry didn't take the concerns raised seriously enough, reading between the lines its obvious thats also the thoughts of the Petition committee especially when reading their last comment.

https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-NZ/SCR_130029/39fb0f8f6799ca645a5e750b3daf32b2a08d0f23

 

Edited December 5, 2022 by NZRacing

[Special Agent]

Pardon the pun but Aaron Cross appears to be a dog with a bone with this issue.  While I accept the greyhound industry is not perfect it seems that even with improved fatality and care statistics Aaron is citing such matters as some transport for dogs is substandard and some kennels are cold in winter.

On the whole people in the industry love their animals, much more in fact than the increasing number of humans who appear in the news on a more regular basis for maiming and murdering children in their care.  Possibly the number of individuals and families living in cars or poorly insulated homes are cold in winter and outnumber greyhounds of said same fate.

Reefton's sizzling sausage is sounding good for all.  However, having seen the price of a few snags at the supermarket Aaron, Chloe and co should direct their attention towards how to keep a family alive on a budget, how to stop supermarket thieving, how to address ramraiding and murder etc etc .... the list is an ever growing one.  All problems are relative and I am yet to see politicians or racing administrators prioritise correctly.

Another gaping hole in intelligence is that nothing is learned from history.  Can anyone explain how the short term gain of cashing up club assets has kept the identities of those clubs alive and benefitted the communities where their tracks once stood?  Members of clubs such as Amberley, Feilding and many more would be able to answer but, alas members of such clubs still with enthusiasm for racing will be hard to find.

[Huey]

25 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

 

Another gaping hole in intelligence is that nothing is learned from history.  Can anyone explain how the short term gain of cashing up club assets has kept the identities of those clubs alive and benefitted the communities where their tracks once stood?  Members of clubs such as Amberley, Feilding and many more would be able to answer but, alas members of such clubs still with enthusiasm for racing will be hard to find.

There was some propaganda put out by NZTR (more to justify BS Venue Plan)a couple of years back about how well it had worked out for Fielding or Marton JC I think.

The short answer is that it hasn't worked, but that wont stop them from continuing on down that track , despite the total lack of benefits to the industry particularly medium to long term in doing so.

[Doomed]

1 hour ago, Huey said:

There was some propaganda put out by NZTR (more to justify BS Venue Plan)a couple of years back about how well it had worked out for Fielding or Marton JC I think.

The short answer is that it hasn't worked, but that wont stop them from continuing on down that track , despite the total lack of benefits to the industry particularly medium to long term in doing so.

Fielding and Marton have been their only success stories for years, but you do wonder how those two are going these days with RACE having wasted a lot of their money.

It would probably be more interesting to hear how Wairoa, Gisborne, Waipukurau, Masterton, Levin, Paeroa, Te Awamutu, Te Teko, Marlborough, Nelson, Westport, Hokitika, Banks Pen, Rangiora, Amberley, Hororata, Waimate, Geraldine, Waikouaiti, Tapanui, Beaumont, Winton, Omakau, Wyndham etc etc are finding it these days. Do their members and supporters still enjoy their day out in the big city? Do those clubs put on a fleet of buses to take the locals to Riccarton or Hastings etc?

[curious]

Don't really see how they could claim the likes of Feilding as a success story. Total assets are $2.1m investment in RACE which is basically broke.

Marton has $228 in cash and an $805,000 investment in RACE.

[curious]

What would they get if they put those "investments" up for sale?

[Doomed]

17 minutes ago, curious said:

What would they get if they put those "investments" up for sale?

Marton, with their $228 in cash, could consider putting in an offer for Awapuni. They would probably get it for a knock down price. They could sell the whole lot up and move racing back to Marton.

[Huey]

2 hours ago, Doomed said:

Do those clubs put on a fleet of buses to take the locals to Riccarton or Hastings etc?

Why would they bother, when the experience is the same homogenous garbage they are getting at those venues all year at any rate.

What BS,NZTR and their consorts failed to realise was it was a completely different experience at those country venues and thats why people went, not to just support some club name on a racebook. Part of the reason the industry has headed backwards at an accelerating rate in terms of race days.

 

This is what they get - 

 

 

A bunch of boozed up kids who get the same experience they get when they go to a music festival as they do at a race day, 99% of them couldn't tell you the name of a single horse that raced , so there is no followup or flow on benefits for the sport of racing , just some booze sales.

 

 

[Peanut]

Agree Huey, The Love Racing "marketing" team should be sacked if thats the best they can come up with. 

[mikeynz]

On 12/6/2022 at 11:02 AM, Doomed said:

Fielding and Marton have been their only success stories for years, but you do wonder how those two are going these days with RACE having wasted a lot of their money.

It would probably be more interesting to hear how Wairoa, Gisborne, Waipukurau, Masterton, Levin, Paeroa, Te Awamutu, Te Teko, Marlborough, Nelson, Westport, Hokitika, Banks Pen, Rangiora, Amberley, Hororata, Waimate, Geraldine, Waikouaiti, Tapanui, Beaumont, Winton, Omakau, Wyndham etc etc are finding it these days. Do their members and supporters still enjoy their day out in the big city? Do those clubs put on a fleet of buses to take the locals to Riccarton or Hastings etc?

Tuepeka harness racing at Ascot Park instead of Roxburgh seems a odd setup, one wonders how many trekked all the way to invers for another ordinary days racing that might have gone to an actual local course that is still actually open.

As I have stated before, what do I know anyway.

[curious]

October Operational Performance

• Reported Profit for the month was $12.0m, which was $3.1m below Budget.
• Operating Expenses were $11.1m for the month, which was $1.1m above Budget.
• Year to Date Reported Profit is $33.6m, which was $5.6m below Budget
• Year to Date Operating Expenses were $32.1m, which was $1.6m above budget.

[Doomed]

If they were down over $3m profit in Oct, extrapolated out over another 9 months that could be a $27m short fall if that trend continues.

I wonder if the codes have noticed that? Should someone tell them? They haven't noticed such things in the past, so perhaps we should tell them.

[Reefton]

On 6/12/2022 at 1:58 PM, Huey said:

Why would they bother, when the experience is the same homogenous garbage they are getting at those venues all year at any rate.

What BS,NZTR and their consorts failed to realise was it was a completely different experience at those country venues and thats why people went, not to just support some club name on a racebook. Part of the reason the industry has headed backwards at an accelerating rate in terms of race days.

 

This is what they get - 

 

 

A bunch of boozed up kids who get the same experience they get when they go to a music festival as they do at a race day, 99% of them couldn't tell you the name of a single horse that raced , so there is no followup or flow on benefits for the sport of racing , just some booze sales.

 

 

Lets not knock the 'big day' marketing too much though.  If there is one out of every hundred of those kids actually notices the horses and thinks 'I quite like this game' then it is at least something.   Kumara is a classic example (although a bloody sight cheaper for the NZ industry than NZ Cup day or KM night) and very important to us guys.  However it should not be at the expense of paying attention to the genuine devotee who has had their local meeting ripped away and is understandably badly disillusioned with the game on that basis(a classic local example being the Westland Racing Club guys who were booted in the guts and retaliated).

All this focus on the big Clubs and big days due to the Waikato Mafia is all fine but the looming economic crunch is going to bite them too.  Some 5% owner with one of these syndicators who can't pay the mortgage is hardly going to stump up in Feb next year for another nag.

And we all know the old story - the bigger they are.....

We have had 'good times' economically in this country for a bloody long time and if they(TAB) could not make a quid then how are they going to do it with what looks likely to be coming?

 

[nomates]

26 minutes ago, Reefton said:

All this focus on the big Clubs and big days due to the Waikato Mafia is all fine but the looming economic crunch is going to bite them too.  Some 5% owner with one of these syndicators who can't pay the mortgage is hardly going to stump up in Feb next year for another nag.

 

This is exactly what's going to happen , i currently have small share in 2 horses with one of the big syndicators and fortunately both are going well , bought one each of the last 2 sales , but i have all but made the decision that i won't be going back in next sales .

It's not cheap even with my small share cost but with the expected slashing of stakes i just can't justify it , 1 of mine in particular could well be competing in some of our better races next year but if they are slashed to the level that they should i will be pushing for my horse to be racing in Australia .