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Bit Of A Yarn

Kumara Gone


Newmarket

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3 minutes ago, nomates said:

You are assuming any were watching , they could just as easily have been playing golf , lawn bowls , cribbage even , nothing would surprise me seeing as how little they understand racing .

It was a Saturday so none of them would have been working.

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19 minutes ago, Reefton said:

I said to a few that day 'the view of this racecourse crowd on Trackside will be having them cringing given there will be not a soul in sight at Trentham'. 

I happened to watch the trots from Cromwell and Motukarara last weekend, big fields and massive crowds at both events. I have always said Racing's ability to take the events to the people is one of its greatest strengths, but they are hell bent on centralisation. Much more excitement about a multi million dollar AWT at Riccarton than massive on course crowds at the "despised" tracks.

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28 minutes ago, Doomed said:

With that sized crowd at Trentham you do have to wonder why the meeting wasn't transferred to Woodville. They would have almost certainly been able to do just as much turnover with much less cost to the industry and shorter travelling distances for almost all concerned. And it is the old Woodville date anyhow.

Perhaps there could be a prize draw for every member of the public who attends every Trentham meeting this month. There would only be about 10 of them. You could gather them all together in the birdcage on Cup Day and one lucky (hardy) soul could win a car or something, or life membership of the Wgtn RC, their choice.

Even though there was a miniscule attendance at Trentham, I can assure you that they would have had minimum, twenty security guards on course and that would have included a security guard posted to the Committee Members Car Park.  

 

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3 minutes ago, Bloke said:

Even though there was a miniscule attendance at Trentham, I can assure you that they would have had minimum, twenty security guards on course and that would have included a security guard posted to the Committee Members Car Park.  

 

Surely there were no committee members there?

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5 minutes ago, Doomed said:

Surely there were no committee members there?

I did not attend but I saw Wayne Guppy, The President, on Trackside. I have been to Trentham on small days and there has always been a Security Guard on the Committee Members Car Park. It basically sums them up.

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You would have thought so.  A racing club needs something NZTR don't take a piece of. 

When Jenny Fenwick was Secretary at Tauherenikau the gate takings were an important part of the income/business.  Gate takings were around $80K per their major meeting.  That's not something you would give away.

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48 minutes ago, curious said:

Did Kumara have a gate fee? I see Wingatui (Waikouaiti) have a $10 charge for Saturday.

$15 I think.  And there were eff all free tickets dispensed I tell you(there never is).  I heard a story of owners being hit up for their $15 due to presumably overlooking to bring their NZTR email

Kumara might be raking in a bit more in gate takings that Waikouaiti I would say.  Bit ironic since Waikouaiti has been jammed onto their traditional day(second Saturday in January) 

 

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3 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Well I agree $50 is overs but you should expect to pay something.

General Admission for the Auckland Cup is free. They are paying the price for stuffing up the racing calendar by moving The Cup to March and having a CEO at the time tell punters that they can piss off as they only want to sell booze.

This has resulted in very few being interested in Cup Day, so entry is free now as the try to attract back a crowd.

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1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

Depends on the Movie.  Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar 2 have been sold out frequently.  What does that tell you?

TV news tonight article on the down turn of the cinema, I must be physic, was well after my post, I guess some will be more popular than others.

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13 hours ago, Special Agent said:

You would have thought so.  A racing club needs something NZTR don't take a piece of. 

When Jenny Fenwick was Secretary at Tauherenikau the gate takings were an important part of the income/business.  Gate takings were around $80K per their major meeting.  That's not something you would give away.

Yes, and from memory the charge then was $10, and it is now $20 still attracting huge crowds to rock up.

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So, that would mean about 8,000 paying guests at Tauherenikau not that long ago.

Judging the Marton meeting on turnover as others on here have done, highlights the inadequate performances to get people oncourse who place bets.  That means normal race going public, not the privileged boys get paid and other passing gimmicks.

If geographically challenged Kumara, once bagged Cromwell, and Levin on a scabby Friday can outpunt Marton's patrons, racing in the nation's capital, you have to wonder what those at club level and NZTR are being paid to do.  Members of the Marton club must surely be rueing the day they joined RACE with their membership numbering around 50 now.  Look at the other club membership figures in that conglomerate and realise why merging NZ racing clubs however you dress it up is a piss poor idea.

The crux of racing in New Zealand lies at grass root level.  As we enter a government induced recession, going by historical evidence watch how popular racing will become, and it's nothing to do with marketing even though there will be much back slapping at NZTR.  Anyone running a Lotto shop will tell you how business is currently booming.  Pretty obvious that putting the screws on country clubs and bringing in the new licensing system is no way to move successfully forward.

Please NZTR, have a rethink before it is too late.

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