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I Don't suppose any BOAY Members had dinner with Winston?


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Winston Peters gives racing donors inside running on plans at $600-a-head dinner

 

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Horse breeder Graham Bax was at the same table as Winston Peters at the Tauranga Club; his daughter Kylie Bax was at the ...
JOHN SELKIRK / STUFF

Horse breeder Graham Bax was at the same table as Winston Peters at the Tauranga Club; his daughter Kylie Bax was at the Racing Minister's Claudelands announcement the next day.

 

Winston Peters disclosed plans to restructure the racing industry to guests at a $600-a-head party fundraiser, before announcing details to affected staff at his own Racing Board.

NZ First and four of its senior MPs hosted the dinner a the Tauranga Club on Wednesday night, 24 hours before the release of a controversial racing industry review. The Deputy Prime Minister – who is also Racing Minister –  promised his guests they would be pleased with the outcome. 

About 80 business leaders were present, a significant number of them from the thoroughbred and bloodstock industry, but also a mining contingent led by former Labour MP Clayton Cosgrove, and Sistema plasticware founder Brendan Lindsay.

At the dinner, Peters promised to restructure the NZ Racing Board – something his donors and supporters in the bloodstock industry have been demanding.

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Peters said the racing industry was in a very poor state and needed help, and the restructuring recommended by Australian racing expert John Messara would provide that. 

Racing Minister Winston Peters releases the Messara racing review at Claudelands Conference Centre in Hamilton.
DOMINICO ZAPATA / STUFF

Racing Minister Winston Peters releases the Messara racing review at Claudelands Conference Centre in Hamilton.

 

Peters was joined by his MPs Shane Jones, Fletcher Tabuteau and Clayton Mitchell, who organised the event.

The following night at Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton, he fronted up to the TV cameras and the NZ Racing Board to announce details of the restructuring proposals, as well as plans to outsource the TAB to be run by an Australian betting agency.

Speaking to Stuff on Saturday night, Peters insisted he did not reveal any compromising details at the dinner. "I didn't go into it," he said. "Why would I, I was releasing it the next day ... I would be letting the side down if I did."

Peters said he had no intention of releasing details of the report before it was given to the New Zealand Racing Board "lock, stock and barrel" the following day.

Racing TV presenter Karyn Fenton-Ellis with husband David Ellis.
IAIN McGREGOR / STUFF

Racing TV presenter Karyn Fenton-Ellis with husband David Ellis.

 

As Racing Minister, he had commissioned John Messara, a top administrator and stud owner in Australia, to review the New Zealand racing industry, which has been in an ailing state for the past decade.

Some of Messara's recommendations include renaming and restructuring the NZ Racing Board as Wagering NZ, with responsibilities devolving to individual codes.

It also recommends reducing the number of racetracks around the country from 48 to 28, building the three synthetic tracks, and increasing prize money to over $100 million a year

Guests at the dinner said he didn't give details of what was in the report, but he did say he was behind the recommended restructuring.

Jo and Brendan Lindsay, who has focused on his horse racing empire since selling off Sistema, the plastics company he ...
IAIN McGREGOR / STUFF

Jo and Brendan Lindsay, who has focused on his horse racing empire since selling off Sistema, the plastics company he founded.

 

Blandford Farm breeder Graham Bax said Peters and Mitchell spoke about the report coming out and told the crowd they were behind it.

That was pleasing: "It's time the rural communities were given back to. They have started on racing and that's a big thing. It's got to be positive doesn't it? Anything is better than nothing." 

His daughter, former supermodel-turned-breeder Kylie Bax, attended the Claudelands announcement the following evening.

"This restructuring is absolutely what the industry needs," she said. "Some people won't be happy but a lot of people are thrilled. It's a positive report and needs to be implements, otherwise we won't have a racing industry.

"I applaud Winston Peters. He's really set out to help the industry and stretched his neck out and gone the extra mile. It can put the racing industry back on a positive financial footing.

"There's nobody more passionate about the industry than Winston. Waikato is a big part of the racing industry and we support Winston however we can."

David and Karyn Fenton Ellis, from Waikato's Te Akau stud, were also at the dinner. David Ellis said it was about time the Government showed some support for racing. "All they have done in racing is take, take, take, they haven't appreciated the significant employment opportunities our industry gives people." 

Haunui Farms managing director Mark Chitty said he was at a table of eight people with racing interests including Brendan Lindsay (the Sistema plastics founder), Nelson Schick and Brent Taylor. "Everyone knew the report had been commissioned so we were aware of it but Peters didn't say anything about the report in detail."

"We need to embrace the recommendations and change what we have been doing. Something drastically has to be done in the industry as it is dying a slow death."

The industry produced "very good horses and very good people" but the bureaucratic structure of the industry had served the racing community very poorly, Chitty said. "The current structure is archaic and no longer relevant." 

 - Sunday Star Times

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Was in the vicinity. Would've gone if I could have had dinner with Kylie. She's a smart cookie but I don't understand the supportive comments for the Messara report if they didn't know what was in it?

I think the quote from Mark Chitty is classic ... "The current structure is archaic and no longer relevant." 

Who was behind putting it in place in the early 2000s, despite protest from many?

Edited by curious
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Hypocrisy, a case for many of these people, of run with the hares and hunt with the hounds

How many of them went out on a limb and demanded previous Ministers, CEOs of RB's and NZTR use their position to bring about change.

Why, they were all busy doing alright, breeding horses, trading horses, racing horses in Aus.

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Looks like the only ones happy are the breeders, i suppose they are the only ones with a spare $600 laying around for a chop n veg! 

For me, the breeders are getting looked after, but for the trainers, especially the smaller types, they are getting the shit kicked out of them. How are they getting helped, by closing half the tracks, WTF. 

How many owners love their horses racing in their little home towns -GONE. 

How many owners love seeing their horses train at local track-GONE

How many owners are involved in their local small clubs- GONE

How many involved in each club work hard to organise events, crowds for race days. Those at this club level i feel sorry for. 

Comes a time, where trainers need to strike. This time, they will have the support of most owners & puntes. Stuff the suits and breeders! 

STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE

 

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Sums it all up really.

 

Really poor form from many of these people who know very well a lot of proposed recommendations such as  track closures borders on theft and their lack of empathy for those impacted says a lot about them really well it says "me me me me!!!"

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14 minutes ago, Newmarket said:

--

For me, the breeders are getting looked after, but for the trainers, especially the smaller types, they are getting the shit kicked out of them. How are they getting helped, by closing half the tracks, WTF. 

…..

Comes a time, where trainers need to strike. This time, they will have the support of most owners & puntes. Stuff the suits and breeders! 

STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE

 

It's been interesting to see the fall out from the report so far!

The strongest support is mainly coming from people who are all based in (the core) Waikato, while there is lots of distress being cried from the periphery.  The further from the core the louder the concern!

((' Core periphery model' is very helpful in gaining insight into where racing has come and been going for the last 40 years!))

Totally missing from discussions, seems to be around the 22% return to owners! NOTHING about the reality of the unrealistic cost of producing the horse!  Nothing about AI etc... It would be interesting to see how much the owning class has got back with tax right offs? I presume those numbers are missing from this 22% stat??

Re Striking as a option.

Lots of problems to be found there! Currently one can only 'strike, with hold ones labour' if it's a H&S issue or  if your agreement has run out.  Wages would have to still be paid or any employer would be open to charges of locking out any worker! 

The current historical reality - which can not be propagandized away, and this is what this report is really about, propaganda - It's been a simple fact that anyone that has done any diligence around the costs involved with racing in NZ say this century! is you have to be based in Waik/Camb area! OR you move to a bigger Core as in Au or HK or Sing, this is what the smarter ambitious players have done! If you are in the periphery it will just be getting harder and harder to make a economic go of it! Sad but true!

 

Enough prattle! I need to go and find my best pink attire! a day planned at the local trotting meeting! I'm looking forward to hear what they think of the report!

 

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53 minutes ago, Newmarket said:

Looks like the only ones happy are the breeders, i suppose they are the only ones with a spare $600 laying around for a chop n veg! 

For me, the breeders are getting looked after, but for the trainers, especially the smaller types, they are getting the shit kicked out of them. How are they getting helped, by closing half the tracks, WTF. 

Stuff the suits and breeders! 

 

 

NM - I take your point but your use of the term "breeders" is probably too broad.

Life clearly is darn good for the likes of Chitty, Chittick, Lindsays & co schmoozing at their $600 dinners - but it's still a hard slog for those of us who breed one or two mares.  None of the tax breaks or other recent initiatives help me one iota.  

Hey - it's my choice to still be in the game - but don't tell me it's easy for breeders - cos actually I'm one of those who's (in yr words) "having the  sh#t kicked out of me" ....

 

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2 hours ago, Turny said:

Classic example of who is running the industry

Turny - I beg your pardon - just checking in case there was a typo in your message  -  I don't know you personally so I have no idea how fat your fingers are as they engage with your keyboard ... and naturally I don't mean to cause offence ... 

Was that "running" or "ruining"? 

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28 minutes ago, jess said:

NM - I take your point but your use of the term "breeders" is probably too broad.

Life clearly is darn good for the likes of Chitty, Chittick, Lindsays & co schmoozing at their $600 dinners - but it's still a hard slog for those of us who breed one or two mares.  None of the tax breaks or other recent initiatives help me one iota.  

Hey - it's my choice to still be in the game - but don't tell me it's easy for breeders - cos actually I'm one of those who's (in yr words) "having the  sh#t kicked out of me" ....

 

Yep, i agree Jess. It was aimed at those $600 a head gobblers. The ones affected are the small breeders/ trainers/ owners. 

These are the ones that should be helped, but instead they are getting bent over and given one

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21 hours ago, Newmarket said:

Looks like the only ones happy are the breeders, i suppose they are the only ones with a spare $600 laying around for a chop n veg! 

For me, the breeders are getting looked after, but for the trainers, especially the smaller types, they are getting the shit kicked out of them. How are they getting helped, by closing half the tracks, WTF. 

How many owners love their horses racing in their little home towns -GONE. 

How many owners love seeing their horses train at local track-GONE

How many owners are involved in their local small clubs- GONE

How many involved in each club work hard to organise events, crowds for race days. Those at this club level i feel sorry for. 

Comes a time, where trainers need to strike. This time, they will have the support of most owners & puntes. Stuff the suits and breeders! 

STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE

 

Strike ?  owners say, sorry we're off to Aussie with our horses. Instead of the Te Awamutu midweeker trashed by strike action the TAB will just slot in a meeting from Burrumbuttock or Bong Bong for the pathological gambling addicts.

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20 minutes ago, Poisoned Dwarf said:

Strike ?  owners say, sorry we're off to Aussie with our horses. Instead of the Te Awamutu midweeker trashed by strike action the TAB will just slot in a meeting from Burrumbuttock or Bong Bong for the pathological gambling addicts.

I think majority of smaller owners would be right behind it now, especially now that their local track may be lost. 

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6 hours ago, curious said:

Was in the vicinity. Would've gone if I could have had dinner with Kylie. She's a smart cookie but I don't understand the supportive comments for the Messara report if they didn't know what was in it?

I think the quote from Mark Chitty is classic ... "The current structure is archaic and no longer relevant." 

Who was behind putting it in place in the early 2000s, despite protest from many?

Curious..I think you are misreading / misinterpreting the breeders' comments. Typical of the media, the Stuff HEADLINE suggests/implies something 'wrong' (ie Winston giving the well-heeled the inside running) ...but the breeders comments quoted have come AFTER the release of the Messara Report not on Wednesday night at the dinner. Catching my drift?

As always the media look for comments from the glitterati and ignore most/all of the others - so Stuff's article lacks balance, being top-heavy on the response of the wealthy breeders only.

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38 minutes ago, Weasel said:

Curious..I think you are misreading / misinterpreting the breeders' comments. Typical of the media, the Stuff HEADLINE suggests/implies something 'wrong' (ie Winston giving the well-heeled the inside running) ...but the breeders comments quoted have come AFTER the release of the Messara Report not on Wednesday night at the dinner. Catching my drift?

As always the media look for comments from the glitterati and ignore most/all of the others - so Stuff's article lacks balance, being top-heavy on the response of the wealthy breeders only.

The media knew what was in there by mid Thursday so someone was yapping. Probably pissed Winston

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7 hours ago, Reefton said:

The media knew what was in there by mid Thursday so someone was yapping. Probably pissed Winston

Media often receive info from official sources with an 'embargo', Reefton. And many of the big breeding organisations will have been directly involved with Messara, so you have to cut them some slack. They know a lot about the issues being grappled with. Key point is that their quoted comments in Stuff article weren't made to the journo PRIOR to the Report being released, as Curious (and others) could easily conclude from a reading of the article. They would have been asked for comment SUBSEQUENT to the dinner evening! 

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8 hours ago, Weasel said:

Media often receive info from official sources with an 'embargo', Reefton. And many of the big breeding organisations will have been directly involved with Messara, so you have to cut them some slack. They know a lot about the issues being grappled with. Key point is that their quoted comments in Stuff article weren't made to the journo PRIOR to the Report being released, as Curious (and others) could easily conclude from a reading of the article. They would have been asked for comment SUBSEQUENT to the dinner evening! 

Yeah like the Media always know what's in the budget early because 'official sources' tell them?  We all know Winston and the way he loves to be the centre of attention.  He would not be able to help himself but spill at least some of the beans to this benefactors. Especially after a couple of whisky.

Having said that if reports about his health are right he may have been struggling to remember what was in there.

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