Race Fields Legislation

[barryb]

I see Peters has pulled pin on this today.

Racing Board had no idea he was doing it according to the report.

[hesi]

PETERS CONFIRMS RACING AMENDMENT BILL SCRAPPED

Posted by Garrick Knight | Sep 28, 2018 | Harness, News

The Racing Amendment Bill, better known as the ‘race fields’ legislation was withdrawn from Parliament on Thursday.
Racing Minister Winston Peters confirmed the move when speaking at the annual New Zealand Harness Racing Conference, being held in Auckland, on Friday.
“The Bill before parliament was withdrawn yesterday,” he said in response to a question on its progress.
“The Bill wasn’t fit for type; it wasn’t going to address the real issues the racing industry needs addressing.
“It was looking at one small aspect of it and we decided we need a complex piece of legislation as fast as possible.
“There’s no use trying to do a half-pie job with a piece of legislation that wouldn’t have done the job properly.”
The Bill, that sought to make numerous amendments to the Racing Act 2003 designed to improve the competitiveness of the New Zealand Racing Board’s betting operations, had been sitting in front of the Parliamentary Select Committee for a number of months.
The move wouldn’t have come as any great surprise to harness racing administrators as Peters has already strongly alluded to the move in discussions when unveiling the Messara Report in Hamilton on August 30.
But the New Zealand Racing Board’s CEO John Allen, who was present at the meeting, seemed blindsided by the news.
“I didn’t know that before (Peters) said it,” said Allen in response to a question from the floor asking if Peters’ revelation was true.
“It is a surprise and a disappointment.
“We’ve been waiting now for a year for that. That legislation has been in front of Parliament for that period of time.
“And while I understood the minister’s enthusiasm to do a whole lot of other things, I simply can’t understand why that legislation hasn’t progressed to being passed and put in place.
“It would benefit us by about a million dollars a month.
“It’s a surprise, it’s a disappointment, and I don’t doubt Shaun Brooks here, our CFO, is now thinking about our targets for this year because obviously we are not going to see any race fields money for this period.”
Allen had just spoken passionately, almost defiantly, in defense of the Racing Board’s direction after Peters had previously criticised the Board’s results on August 30.
National’s racing spokesman, Ian McKelvie, issued a statement later in the afternoon chastising Peters for the ‘race fields’ move and saying his Party was disappointed.
“It would have had considerable financial benefit to New Zealand’s racing industry,
“The Racing Amendment Bill took several years to develop and involved extensive consultation with the whole racing industry.
“The Bill had the support of the whole industry and was set to provide a multi-million dollar injection into the racing and sporting codes, which would have flowed through to race stakes.
“The Bill would have enabled the industry to receive approximately $1 million per month in extra revenue.
“This extra revenue has already been delayed since late last year as the Minister initially postponed the Bill.
“Now Mr Peters is making the industry wait even longer for that potential income.”
Peters, Allen, NZRB Chairperson Glenda Hughes and Harness Racing New Zealand Chairman Ken Spicer were among those to speak to delegates from 44 clubs and associations from throughout the country.
Outgoing HRNZ CEO Edward Rennell also joined Spicer, Allen and NZRB harness code nominee Rod Croon answering questions from the floor on numerous subjects primarily the contents and permutations of the Messara Report.

[hesi]

Peters completely sidestepped the RB, NZTR, Harness and Greyhounds by going directly to Messara.

He's just re-affirming he's in charge now

[Kihikihi Kid]

Read into it again  - the Racefields Legislation is not fit for purpose , this means that what John no nuts Allen has come up with is not worth the paper it is written on. it is hopelessly inept and written by incompetent fools. Allen and Hughes need to be shown the door , like yesterday . This is Peters saving the whole Industry from melting down completely (and I can't stand the prick) nut in this case he deserves everyones support and respect.

The Racefields Legislation is a misnomer and the fact that Allen so readily admits it's costing a $1 million from not being implemented is down to that f**** fool and anybody else involved in that fairy tale that was put before Parliament, The fact he so openly admits "they" are costing the Industry $1 million a month makes me concerned, very concerned.

Allen is a dangerous dog backed by the Rottweiler with lipstick and together their arrogant pushing through of their FOB platform will the demise of the game.

How can Thoroughbred racing borrow so much money to lift their stakes from $7k to $10K , around a 46% increase in stakes , and get no extra money in the coffers for at least the last 18 months and let's be real , it will be March before we know it .

Really I don't know how much longer we can last .....

[Dark Beau]

Thank God there was a change of Government, otherwise “the not fit for purpose” Race Fields Legislation Bill, written by National appointed people (Allen & Hughes) would have been pushed through by now.  

What a disaster that would have been! 

Even the enigmatic Leo Molloy, a self professed lover of the Tories, early on, publicly warned against it, because of the way it was written. 

[Freda]

Perhaps our resident statistician Curious can put up the more likely amounts that would have been garnered by the legislation?

I have seen them somewhere,  either from him or from Mardigras..but can't lay my hands on them.

[Poisoned Dwarf]

Poor old racing. Never there when the Gods of Karma make their handouts

[Boxie]

2 hours ago, Dark Beau said:

Thank God there was a change of Government, otherwise “the not fit for purpose” Race Fields Legislation Bill, written by National appointed people (Allen & Hughes) would have been pushed through by now.  

What a disaster that would have been! 

Even the enigmatic Leo Molloy, a self professed lover of the Tories, early on, publicly warned against it, because of the way it was written. 

I'd be very afraid of what Peters and his puppet masters are going to try and push through Parliament.  Especially if I was a club like Reefton, Harness, Dogs or other sports that get funding from the TAB.

As a Wellingtonian Dark Beau you should start to plan your move to the Waikato.

The Racefields legislation in my opinion wasn't poorly written however the touted returns to the industry were based on poor analysis and were as such false.

Does Thoriughbred Racing deserve more handouts - quite frankly NO.  Do they deserve to be favoured over any other code or sport - NO.

The new legislation that Peters is possibly eluding to will probably be.designed to favour the so called sport of Kings (subsidised by the minions).  It will most likely have an unfair distribution of revenue and will attempt to land grab.  It will be a perverse combination of socialism and nationalism at its worst.  Muldoon will be well pleased with his suited Maori.

[Tonkatime!]

Interesting when prior to the last election the nz first racing spokes person was calling for the bill to be passed under urgency and also spoke about how it’s great that race tracks are used by communities for things outside of racing and how important they are for communities. 

[hesi]

13 minutes ago, Boxie said:

I'd be very afraid of what Peters and his puppet masters are going to try and push through Parliament.  Especially if I was a club like Reefton, Harness, Dogs or other sports that get funding from the TAB.

As a Wellingtonian Dark Beau you should start to plan your move to the Waikato.

The Racefields legislation in my opinion wasn't poorly written however the touted returns to the industry were based on poor analysis and were as such false.

Does Thoriughbred Racing deserve more handouts - quite frankly NO.  Do they deserve to be favoured over any other code or sport - NO.

The new legislation that Peters is possibly eluding to will probably be.designed to favour the so called sport of Kings (subsidised by the minions).  It will most likely have an unfair distribution of revenue and will attempt to land grab.  It will be a perverse combination of socialism and nationalism at its worst.  Muldoon will be well pleased with his suited Maori.

Don't forget your bucket and spade DB, whether it be Te Rapa or Cambridge, sand is going to be involved

[Turny]

Incredible that Allen learned if the scrapping at the Harness Awards  - Our Winnie rates John and the team - they aren't even consulted or involved - the slippery slope has just got more difficult - change is pending and Winnie will drive it hard

[Poisoned Dwarf]

Spare a thought for Sir Patrick  " Vote for Winston " Hogan. He has poached eggs for breakfast and has to wipe them off his face, before deciding that Winston won't be required for the remake of HOGAN'S HEROES

[curious]

6 hours ago, Freda said:

Perhaps our resident statistician Curious can put up the more likely amounts that would have been garnered by the legislation?

I have seen them somewhere,  either from him or from Mardigras..but can't lay my hands on them.

From the DIA regulatory impact statement. Estimated net revenue from racefield legislation:

1.         However, in the most active scenario for which DIA has prepared estimates, the break-even point rises to a 68.4 per cent compliance rate for racing bets (57.4 per cent for racing and sports combined).  Full compliance would deliver $1.8 million after costs for racing bets ($2.9 million for racing and sports combined).

 

[Freda]

Thanks.

 

[curious]

19 minutes ago, Freda said:

Thanks.

 

That is consistent with my own earlier estimates based on the AUT research and I think somewhere in line with Mardigras' as well.

[Mark D]

Clearly a tactical move by Peters to force people to support all the other issues he wants to force upon the clubs.  No extra money unless you agree.  Blackmail.

[Mooncoin]

11 hours ago, hesi said:

Don't forget your bucket and spade DB, whether it be Te Rapa or Cambridge, sand is going to be involved

Any news on the preferred racing surfaces for the new tracks Hesi? 

[hesi]

I'm sure they will make the right decision

But after all we have heard about Strathayr, and it's success in Aus and Asia, I would have thought it a lay down misere to have a series of Strathayr tracks at the main racing areas in NZ

Edited September 29, 2018 by hesi

[curious]

1 hour ago, hesi said:

I'm sure they will make the right decision

But after all we have heard about Strathayr, and it's success in Aus and Asia, I would have thought it a lay down misere to have a series of Strathayr tracks at the main racing areas in NZ

How would that be affordable? About half the current wagering revenue on racing is on Oz racing. I don't see how you could make a business case to install Strathayrs or synthetics for that matter in NZ.

Edited September 29, 2018 by curious

[Chief Stipe]

8 hours ago, hesi said:

I'm sure they will make the right decision

But after all we have heard about Strathayr, and it's success in Aus and Asia, I would have thought it a lay down misere to have a series of Strathayr tracks at the main racing areas in NZ

The more I think about this the more I think it is a fantasy.   The proposal is for a whole new venue in the Waikato.  The Industry doesn't earn enough from racing alone to pay for the maintenance costs.

Yes two or three Strathayr tracks would be nice.  But the only way they would work is if they are installed at existing venues that have sound infrastructure in place and alternative additional streams of revenue.  Can anyone think of any that meet the bill?

Ellerslie perhaps but then a Strathayr would be hard to implement on a hill over a rock.

Any other suitable existing venue would have to be out of action for close to two years given the state of existing tracks.  Which club can sustain that?

Even selling up the existing location for any single club isn't going to produce enough cash for a new development.

So that leaves a legislated land grab on a large number of existing clubs.  It will need to be more than those identified in the report to met the costs of any new developments.  

For example even if you could sell the assets of Hokitika, Greymouth and Reefton you wouldn't realise much in the way of capital.  As far as I know there isn't a housing crisis in those places and the racing venues don't have a lot of potential for alternative use.

Closing those 3 clubs isn't going to do much to lower operating costs at the NZRB either.

Finally I wish someone would expose the analysis of how much abandoned race meetings cost the industry.  The current analysis has as much veracity as that which underpinned the Racefields legislation.

[Freda]

Yes,  I agree.

I don't want to be thought 'negative and backward looking'  or 'parochial and selfish'  as Winston termed resistant thinking  [ which in itself is odd considering his politics are ALL about the regions - supposedly ] but I don't see how the whole operation is supposed to work.

Yes definitely to NZRB shake-up,  no brainer for most I think...but implemenation of the venue thingy is far less straightforward.

Just in Canterbury,  for example,  Timaru and Waimate are on the close list,  as well as Motukarara and the CjC's portion of Rangiora, with Ashburton being the second designated track in the region.

But Ashburton track and facilities are woeful,  and will cost megabucks to bring up to a reasonable standard.

So where do all the trials regularly held by Rangiora go?   

Where will the races held at the not-required tracks go while Ashburton is brought into the 21st century?

On the allweather at Riccarton,  we are told.  But that hasn't been built yet,  and - if it ever happens - may be years away.

Will the trainers dispossessed by track closures at Timaru and Rangiora meekly sell up,  move house/farm/kids' schools and go to Ashburton?  That's even presupposing there are suitable facilities for them - as there certainly isn't room in the Riccarton training area.

Don't think so somehow.

The CJC management are right behind Ashburton being  ' the second-tier training facility in Canterbury '  which tells me whose fingerprints could be on some of the paperwork.     Those folk dispossessed ' won't be able to afford to live in CHCh and train at Riccarton Park '     has been stated..the arrogance is astounding.

As for abandoned racemeetings - I think it has been stated here already that they are the only racemeetings that don't lose money!

 

 

Edited September 29, 2018 by Freda

[mardigras]

They have left things so long and made so many bad decisions, their options have become limited. 

My view is that currently, NZ gallops racing actually makes zero net revenue through NZRB. Whilst some new tracks with updated technology may help with punter attraction, it won't be enough by themselves to right things. The overall confidence of punters betting on NZ racing won't be enhanced due to the majority of racing being on surfaces that aren't up to scratch. These are what need to be fixed. They should be pulling tracks out of racing on a rotation basis imo. Not spending vast sums on new tracks that won't actually be enough to stimulate punter investment across the year.

Whatever they do will take time, but it has to be a wholesale approach, not a piecemeal one. They don't think long term. That is obvious. So they keep going forward (actually backwards?) with kneejerk reactions to situations (those situations coming about largely of their own making).

[barryb]

The reality Freda is that Kiwis are just not interested in race gambling anymore, the average Kiwi  likes simplistic gambling like pokies, lotto and instant kiwis. The races are a long drawn out yawn over one of the busiest days of the week and no one has the time to sit through it today.

Look at Avondale yesterday, the racing was low class and bloody boring for even someone like myself. 

Racings shelf life is 25yrs I think, drastic measures are needed and whilst what is proposed may not the be answer, something equally drastic is needed to even get to the 25yr mark. Some serious pain for many is reqd as is seen in many other industries to survive, adapt or die.

[mardigras]

2 minutes ago, barryb said:

The reality Freda is that Kiwis are just not interested in race gambling anymore, the average Kiwi  likes simplistic gambling like pokies, lotto and instant kiwis. The races are a long drawn out yawn over one of the busiest days of the week and no one has the time to sit through it today.

Look at Avondale yesterday, the racing was low class and bloody boring for even someone like myself. 

Racings shelf life is 25yrs I think, drastic measures are needed and whilst what is proposed may not the be answer, something equally drastic is needed to even get to the 25yr mark. Some serious pain for many is reqd as is seen in many other industries to survive, adapt or die.

Yep, pretty fair comment. NZ racing punter interest has never been huge. And largely on the decrease. But it was sufficient even 10 yers ago. They needed to ensure whatever interest there was, was still on NZ racing rather than shifting that interest elsewhere. It's hard enough getting people to bet on racing, now it's nearly impossible to get them to bet on NZ racing.

[Mark D]

Let's work as a team and do it my way - Winston Peters