TAB NZ names preferred outsource partner. Why didn't McKenzie do this during the restructure?

[Chief Stipe]

It's a bit like asking Emirates to run Air NZ.

[The Centaur]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

It's a bit like asking Emirates to run Air NZ.

Yes with both squabling over the ever diminishing profit meaning the workers get less.

Just watched Weigh In and Bruce Sharrock.

This is just beyond unbelievable. The most we got from Sharrock about the deal is "it's going to be exciting" The questions Guerin asked were just beyond stupid if there is such a thing. Like with the deal will it be possible to race Saturdays on All weather tracks?....Really !!!.

There seems a great cop out. It all depends on changing legislation. Would it not be better change the legislation then look at deals. 

[Chief Stipe]

 

[Special Agent]

Is Centaur the only one concerned about the illegal side of this?

What penalties are there, and for whom, for breaching the Acts?

Centaur how can these misdemeanours be dealt with?

[The Centaur]

17 hours ago, Special Agent said:

Is Centaur the only one concerned about the illegal side of this?

What penalties are there, and for whom, for breaching the Acts?

Centaur how can these misdemeanours be dealt with?

Yeah its the same for everything. Go to a lawyer and you start a whole new conflict with greedy lawyers.

What gets me is that as long as I can remember club committees, racing boards, directors etc etc. all have seemingly very successful business persons, self appointed experts all keen to portray their credentials but when it comes to a decision on racing they are all quiet. They may be knowledgeable in their own business but when it comes to racing basically zero so don't want to a party to a wrong decision.

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, The Centaur said:

Yeah its the same for everything. Go to a lawyer and you start a whole new conflict with greedy lawyers.

What gets me is that as long as I can remember club committees, racing boards, directors etc etc. all have seemingly very successful business persons, self appointed experts all keen to portray their credentials but when it comes to a decision on racing they are all quiet. They may be knowledgeable in their own business but when it comes to racing basically zero so don't want to a party to a wrong decision.

Aren't you describing management of any organisation be it Corporate or Public in New Zealand?  Aren't we run by eunuchs?

[Freda]

2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Aren't you describing management of any organisation be it Corporate or Public in New Zealand?  Aren't we run by eunuchs?

It seems so, sadly.

[Chief Stipe]

Back to the title of the thread.  Why the hell wasn't TABNZ properly restructured when it was insolvent?  They had a chance to shaft the money sucking contracts and didn't do it.

Dean Mackenzie has a lot to answer for and I see the same old sycophants are not questioning anything.  Anyway Mackenzie is now a University Lecturer in Arizona.  Says it all really.

[Special Agent]

Lecturing on what?

[Special Agent]

9 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Why the hell wasn't TABNZ properly restructured when it was insolvent?

Is there anything legally that can be done respectively on this?  Or is it just another "stiff shit" situation for racing that we just have to cop?

[Chief Stipe]

32 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

Lecturing on what?

https://rtip.arizona.edu/dean-mckenzie

Dean McKenzie | RTIP

rtip.arizona.edu

 

Dean McKenzie

Dean most recently had responsibility for leading the largest reform programme in New Zealand racing history. Holding a dual governance/executive role with the country's wagering operator TAB New Zealand, he acted as Chair of the Board, whilst also undertaking the Chief Executives duties up until March 2022. TAB New Zealand has annual turnover exceeding US$2b in racing and sports betting and also operates extensive national retail and broadcast networks.  

 

Prior to this he held a number of senior executive and governance roles in the New Zealand racing/sport sectors, including being a Director and Deputy Chair of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, the governing body of the thoroughbred code in New Zealand, and also Chief Executive Officer roles with the Wellington Racing Club and the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, who hold New Zealand's largest domestic race day on the second Tuesday of November each year. Dean is also a keen handicapper and remains an active thoroughbred owner and breeder, selling his first yearling at public auction in 1995.

 

Senior sports management roles include 6 years with leading international sports agency Esportif (now Wasserman) and 4 years as Chief Executive Officer with Jade Stadium. Dean also served as a Director on the Board of Athletics New Zealand (Track and Field) from 2015-2018.  

 

Dean is a Chartered Accountant (CPA equivalent), holds Bachelor's Degrees in Commerce and Arts from Otago University (NZ) and also holds a Master's Degree in Sports Administration and Facility Management from Ohio University (USA)

[The Centaur]

15 minutes ago, Special Agent said:

Is there anything legally that can be done respectively on this?  Or is it just another "stiff shit" situation for racing that we just have to cop?

What gets me is that we can't get past the basics.

1. What does a partnering arrangement entail ? Putting out the requirements does not cut across so called confidentiality agreements. Is it really a partnering deal in the first place?

2. Anyone explain? Top managers were put in place supposedly because of their credentials to turn the business around. Their way of turning things around is - admit they know nothing therefore get in an overseas parasitic outfit to do their jobs. Great.... their expertise is in finding out they know nothing. I could have told them that from day one - FOR FREE. 

3. I don't know if its racing peoples fault but these managerial imports come in assuming racing people are stupid and themselves blessed with some magical gift. I will say though coming in at a huge salary then get an overseas outfit to do their work is absolute genius.

If we could get past the basics then perhaps some solid examination could take place.

[The Centaur]

3 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

https://rtip.arizona.edu/dean-mckenzie

Dean McKenzie | RTIP

rtip.arizona.edu

 

Dean McKenzie

Dean most recently had responsibility for leading the largest reform programme in New Zealand racing history. Holding a dual governance/executive role with the country's wagering operator TAB New Zealand, he acted as Chair of the Board, whilst also undertaking the Chief Executives duties up until March 2022. TAB New Zealand has annual turnover exceeding US$2b in racing and sports betting and also operates extensive national retail and broadcast networks.  

 

Prior to this he held a number of senior executive and governance roles in the New Zealand racing/sport sectors, including being a Director and Deputy Chair of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, the governing body of the thoroughbred code in New Zealand, and also Chief Executive Officer roles with the Wellington Racing Club and the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, who hold New Zealand's largest domestic race day on the second Tuesday of November each year. Dean is also a keen handicapper and remains an active thoroughbred owner and breeder, selling his first yearling at public auction in 1995.

 

Senior sports management roles include 6 years with leading international sports agency Esportif (now Wasserman) and 4 years as Chief Executive Officer with Jade Stadium. Dean also served as a Director on the Board of Athletics New Zealand (Track and Field) from 2015-2018.  

 

Dean is a Chartered Accountant (CPA equivalent), holds Bachelor's Degrees in Commerce and Arts from Otago University (NZ) and also holds a Master's Degree in Sports Administration and Facility Management from Ohio University (USA)

What a load of BS. $2B US turnover is an absolute lie. Business turnover and gambling turnover are two hugely different things. Think of a casino. How many times is the same dollar turned over at the pokies, roulette, blackjack etc. The amount would be staggering. A whole lot different to what's taken in at the end of the day. OK the list of roles is impressive but when it comes to racing his crossover into sports doesn't help racing. 

[Special Agent]

So one job, no matter how well you do in it, just leads to another and another.

Real job title should be spin doctor.

[Special Agent]

32 minutes ago, The Centaur said:

What gets me is that we can't get past the basics.

1. What does a partnering arrangement entail ? Putting out the requirements does not cut across so called confidentiality agreements. Is it really a partnering deal in the first place?

2. Anyone explain? Top managers were put in place supposedly because of their credentials to turn the business around. Their way of turning things around is - admit they know nothing therefore get in an overseas parasitic outfit to do their jobs. Great.... their expertise is in finding out they know nothing. I could have told them that from day one - FOR FREE. 

3. I don't know if its racing peoples fault but these managerial imports come in assuming racing people are stupid and themselves blessed with some magical gift. I will say though coming in at a huge salary then get an overseas outfit to do their work is absolute genius.

If we could get past the basics then perhaps some solid examination could take place.

Yes, I don't think it is rocket science no matter how these affairs are dressed up.

I don't know about anyone else but, I feel physically sick about what is going on in racing.

I can't explain any of it.  We can't keep looking for people to blame.  There are just so many incompetents stumbling into our industry.  I think what these folk have on the rest of us is the ability to talk their way out of a paper bag.

[Special Agent]

Message from Bruce Sharrock says a decision expected by end of May on Entain partnership.

[The Centaur]

On 4/05/2023 at 4:34 PM, Special Agent said:

Message from Bruce Sharrock says a decision expected by end of May on Entain partnership.

Perhaps someone can oblige.

Have these groups who depend on TAB payout been consulted??

Jockeys Association?

Trainers Association?

Owners Federation?

Breeders Association?

Club managers?

[Assange]

1 hour ago, The Centaur said:

Perhaps someone can oblige.

Have these groups who depend on TAB payout been consulted??

Jockeys Association?

Trainers Association?

Owners Federation?

Breeders Association?

Club managers?

At a guess - none.  Or none at the coal face anyway.

[The Centaur]

Investors in USA are eyeing up the opportunities from sports broadcasting when linked to sports betting.

Bruce Sharrock had some sort of stake in Espotif a sports management company. In 2022 this company was merged with Wasserman a US sports marketing and marketing enterprise which immediately launched a rugby division.  Wasserman are doing various deals with sports betting firms such as Ladbrokes e.g. https://insidersport.com/2023/03/14/ladbrokes-channel-5-wasserman/

So the link is there Sport, TV, Sports betting. and right in amongst all that is Bruce Sharrock and one has to ask is Sharrock conflicted?

With the help of Sharrock Entain will have a back door entry into NZ sports broadcasting adjacent to monopoly sports betting.

Its all to do with sports betting. 

 

[Freda]

Another thought of mine - although the devil is in the detail, of course...IF the deal with Entain goes ahead, there has to be a split of revenue between them and NZTAB.  Depends on what legislative unravelment transpires, but the Govt may require TAB to conduct betting on the local front with Entain managing the overall.  With the TAB taking costs out of their portion, and forwarding the balance to the Codes, and Entain, with their portion, fulfilling obligation to shareholders and other normal business costs, taxes, duties, etc....is there a chance that racing may actually get less than before?

The carrot pointed out by Centaur about a backdoor entry to a huge online gambling market, as well as the perceived possible conflict with Sharrock right in the middle of the pond...hmm.

[mikeynz]

You not duckshooting Freda?

Or anybody else for that matter.

Edited May 5, 2023 by mikeynz

[Freda]

39 minutes ago, mikeynz said:

You not duckshooting Freda?

Or anybody else for that matter.

Shocking aim, Mikey.

[The Centaur]

3 hours ago, mikeynz said:

You not duckshooting Freda?

Or anybody else for that matter.

She's probably planning the birthday party for her horses if the best season win div courtesy of Light Up holds up and the big feed prize comes through

[The Centaur]

4 hours ago, Freda said:

Another thought of mine - although the devil is in the detail, of course...IF the deal with Entain goes ahead, there has to be a split of revenue between them and NZTAB.  Depends on what legislative unravelment transpires, but the Govt may require TAB to conduct betting on the local front with Entain managing the overall.  With the TAB taking costs out of their portion, and forwarding the balance to the Codes, and Entain, with their portion, fulfilling obligation to shareholders and other normal business costs, taxes, duties, etc....is there a chance that racing may actually get less than before?

The carrot pointed out by Centaur about a backdoor entry to a huge online gambling market, as well as the perceived possible conflict with Sharrock right in the middle of the pond...hmm.

The way I see it the conflict of interest is a huge scandal. Reading the piece above about the history of McKenzie we see he had 6 years with Esportif (now Wasserman). Apparently TAB still been relying on McKenzie input.

So we have the duo McKenzie and Sharrock linked through Esportif to Ladbrokes. Not hard to assume McKenzie and Sharrock have been putting their heads together and its nothing to do with racing.

How naive can racing hierarchy be if they believe that income from sports betting will always flow through to racing.

 

[Chief Stipe]

41 minutes ago, The Centaur said:

How naive can racing hierarchy be if they believe that income from sports betting will always flow through to racing.

It would be beyond naive it would be just plain stupid.  The payment of sports betting revenue to national sports associations is enshrined in legislation.

 

Racing has NO right to it.