Leaderboard

The anger and frustration of people with a lifetime of background in or around the racing industry is what shows through most in this thread. As someone who grew up and spent the first half of my adult life in provincial NZ I understand and share the memories that some have evoked on here. For the past decade I have had the privilege of working alongside one of the true geniuses of global racing in John Messara who has driven a wind of change through the Australian industry in the past 8 years that has made it arguably the best in the world with the exception of HK and JP. The most important net outcome was the lifting of stakes. This has enabled most of the other changes that have taken place. The bulk of this was achieved by winning the corporate betting court case. This has lifted stakemoney massively with country stakes almost doubling. While the NZ Racing Board continues to allow corporate bookies to plunder our product and pay nothing for the privilege, the NZ industry will suffer. NZ needs to have it's mindset about racing altered. It still retains genetic memory of children being hustled past the darkened alley where the TAB lay - that den of iniquity. The key difference between NZ and Australia with regard to racing is Aussies for the most part accepting racing as part of their culture unlike in NZ. This has to change and some very smart people need to be put to work on it. It would probably take a decade or more but it could be done. Regarding raceday in NZ. I think the Board should break the racing on offer into 3 separate categories- a) Feature racedays highlighted by top Group races and horses and a multi-layered entertainment package to suit all social stratas and pockets. b ) Saturday provincial racing - Big city clubs should only race on Saturdays when they have a type "a" meeting (see above). Otherwise Saturdays should be the domain of provincial clubs who engage the local community in every way possible. Not just sponsorship. Some clubs do this well already. Make it part of the local event scene, a date to remember. The Scone Horse week held here each May is a massive event with the centrepiece being the two local racedays. c) Industry racedays - city midweeks, provincial midweeks, etc. Just don't expect anyone to attend. These should be promoted as televised racing with an emphasis on unearthing up-and-coming stars. Punters and owners the only focus. Personally I have felt that the contracting of food and alcohol at clubs has led to gouging on an inferior product and does racing no favours. I believe clubs should offer better quality food at more or less foodcourt prices and pay the caterers a top -up out of their own pockets. This will help make it a destination for the day for families rather than something dad slopes off to while mum is at the mall or markets. Have the foodcourt and markets there at the races. Lastly for anything other than an "industry day", charge $10 at the gate per person or $30 a family but in return give them (in the case of $10) a $5 betting voucher and a $5 food voucher. Market it with the angle that it's a big benefit to help them start the day off. Make it $20 per person on premier days. people don't mind paying any amount if they can see a benefit. Last week our company sponsored at Muswellbrook. It is a small country meeting but every race was worth $20k or more. The crowd was small but enthusiastic with 5 oncourse bookies doing a solid turnover. It was a Friday but the club had engaged the local community, in this case the RSL (RSA) with an Anzac theme. They even had Light Horse Brigade demonstrations between races. Small can be successful but it's about understanding your participants, your sponsors and your public and giving everyone what they want. Lastly a word about product. As part of my job I watch every race broadcast from NZ (every race run in fact). Sometimes as a Kiwi I just cringe. There is a pervading lack of professionalism about much of this "product". Take your pick, the crap Trackside teams comments and banter, the state of disrepair evident at some courses or worst of all the inevitable tardiness in starting races on time. Usually less than half the field are loaded when start time clicks over. Traditionally races are 2-3 minutes late. The Oz punter watching will simply turn over to the next race about to jump or as a few have told me not even bet because they know the races will not start on time. Just lift your game is the message for some Kiwi clubs. I'm sure I'll get slaughtered for some of the things I have suggested here but Sobeit (nice Sobig horse from the 70s!). I hope it will be food for thought for others. For those that don't know me I am or have been an owner, breeder, agent, stud manager, syndicator, groom, trainer (briefly), on the NZTBA council and a club committee. Cheers

SCS , insider its gotta be, n0? one day u kiwis willl realise how good u are and embarce it n0?

Just trying to identify the rogues in the sport who need to be somewhere else - the RIU do not seem to worry about it.

Bring Peter back and give him the job of running NZTR. He would be a super star and would bring all the Messara knowledge for free.

Without meaning to sound critical in any sense, there is nothing particularly original or innovative in anything Peter has said. It is just straightforward common sense. Makes you wonder why no one has bothered to think along those lines to date. Stick to the basics and don't over complicate things. And get back to racing people running racing. We have wasted enough years with outsiders trying to tell us what to do.

WOW did u idoits see Z M ?? what a race, n0? (nz) does it again at the bool, I had to stop Boris jumping off the lounge chair screaming all up its gunna be a long day.

From what I hear the highland flings aren't as big as in your days

Starts today, n0? lots of kiwi runners and jocks, with shorn fanning on slowpokes Rodriguez on Thursday in the big one only bad thing is having to listen to rick mackintosh , that idoit would give a Panadol a headache. boris says lump on Je Swiss tycoon today and thank him L8R gambol responsively.

Oh no it's not - it happens all the time with the current Selection Criteria in place. A weighted pointscore would be a step in the right direction not just locally but it should be implemented nationally.

No one wants to admit it , but the weather is fXXking up a lot of race meetings.

Will it be a Kiwi or will it be an Aussie? With the way they are treating our Uni Students over there it has to be a Kiwi for me. Why give an outsider another opportunity when they have failed? If those who make the decision choose someone from offshore then they have the same inferiority complex that our handicappers have of our horses based on the International ratings that they put forward year after year unless of course the animal has traveled to Australia and performed! Why do NZ's continuosly think that they (Aust) are always better than us?????

I was at Taupo as had a horse in the first. No sure what the track staff were told but the track looked good to start with and had a cushion on it. The rain that came before the 3rd race was heavy and it really just teamed down for a good 15 to 20 minutes at least. I would say no matter which course it was at for the amount of heavy rain we had in that brief time would have more than likely affected any track. I am not defending anyone I am just stating what I experienced. It was heavy rain not just light showers.

You cant be serious, the Flemington track has been dreadful since the Spring. The track bias was so bad at the Autumn carnival (Aus Gns and Aus Cup) that nothing that didn't draw inside 6 and run on pace had any hope of winning. Michelle Payne called him out and rightly so.

I don't know what you all think but when Melody Belle started racing I thought to myself "how could a horse be named Melody Belle again?" if I remember correctly ( and I'm prone to the odd bout of mad cow) Melody Belle about 40 years ago was a group winner that the Sartens bred from the famous "Belle" family. How can there be named two of them in our country? This seems like utter madness to me. Why don't the powers that be use common sense in our country and make a policy that if any horse wins/ places in a black type race in this country then no other horse can be named the same. Simple logic I would have thought. And while I'm onto names, and I know another thread is dancing around the edges of this one, but why aren't we keeping the base name(historical) for all of our stakes races and allow the sponsors to peg their name on the front of the Historical name? It is ludicrous to change these names because the breeder and follower of pedigree form can't/ won't be able to, be tracked in ones mind accurately. The Elerslie Sires Produce is a prime example of this. In a pedigree any international will see its former name but now it's the Sistema. Talk about screw with history and re-write the book. This does not make sense

Aren't "some" of PJ's comments currently in line with NZ Racing? Auckland RC races on what? About 20 days or so in a year? Similar for Wellington? Then most racing is held in provincial towns. I think the problems with NZ racing run a bit deeper.

Be interesting to se what unfolds price wise betting in the run today catalano what about the brierley yesterday, if that doesn't get the blood pumping nothing will. gotta love the jumps season

You'd only want Beadman's advice when you're going to McDonalds

He's the person who stopped me going to see my horse on raceday even when there's even no one on-course!

I enjoy McIntosh as a race caller. He is something different and his calls are genuinely passionate.

Rubbish Fitzy! The Aust Cup was won by Humidor, which settled 3rd last from the start to the 400. Watch the replay. Jameka settled 2nd outside/or behind the leader but couldn't hold off the run of Humidor from near last on the turn. As for the Guineas, Hey Doc settled in 4th spot and held off an unlucky Prized Icon, which had settled mid-field in the run. Third went to Snitson which came from near last! So what was wrong with the track? How many times do you hear of Flemington races being abandoned because of the track? Rarely.

Get used to it we had that experience three times over a month with the same horse which totalled approx 1500 kms of travelling .

Zelda you genius!

Nah

I too concur with everything you've written here Peter. Thank you.

And Jockeys are on 10% in HK not 5% in Aussie

No need for you to get slaughtered, you post is one of the best I have read on this subject. I cannot find fault with any part of it.

Free entry to the casino on a quiet night, whenever its packed you pay $20 at the door. Same with clubs and pubs. Racing should be no different. If the demand exceeds the space available then you charge. If not, all welcome!

ECPC http://www.forbesadvocate.com.au/story/4630067/fun-and-fashions-at-bedgerabong-photos/?cs=719

Gee, over 1,700 posts from someone who hasn't been to the races for over ten years and who doesn't have trackside. I suppose everyone is entitled to their opinions.

if they did as you say - some of those people that think they are very very important - won't feel so important anymore !

As someone who is a racing fan, since a child sitting with Pop listening to races on his little radio, but not from a race going family. I have only attended a few race meetings, I went to Te Rapa a few years ago on jumps day, by myself as I was in the area, I found it a bit daunting. I ran into people I know in the stands, they were trainers and owners, they were lovely, very welcoming, when the race finished they all headed into the members bar, I didn't go as I looked at the signs and thought well I can't go in there. I went and sat by myself at the parade ring and waited for the next horses to come out. On days like that where there are very few people, it would be much more welcoming to new comers if things like members bars were open to all, and there was a nice welcoming sign, like "ALL WELCOME, come in out of the cold" The more the public can mingle with the racing people, trainers, owners, etc, the better, I follow people I know, back their horses, a lot of people do this. I know a little group of retired farmers who occasionally go to the races at Hastings, they sit in the public bar, I very nearly got them to join a syndicate, I'm sure if they had a day sitting with people who are owners, seeing the excitement of actually having a horse racing, they would be in! As long as it wasn't our syndicate which was a total disaster!! It needs to be a welcoming experience, not a segregated feeling. When you go to a race meeting with a small crowd, and you see someone you know, but they're in the (half empty) members bar, and a serious looking guy on the door checking passes won't let you go and say hello! Mmm may as well save money and driving, and be warm in front of trackside at home!

Rite 0, crowds are diminishing because the things they like on course have been taken away, gotten to expensive or we are not allowed to bring certain things anymore. Ellerslie for example no need for gate admission or upping it on big race meets - keep it low and one same price so we know what to expect - no rude suprises, same with drink/food....I went to a normal race day 10 odd years ago a beer stubbie was $5, Jug $7, week after Easter meeting beer stubbie $8, Jug $11 - to me that was utter greed, so we left the course went to the wholesaler and listened to the races on the radio....we were left with a bitter taste of ARC.(my local tab/pokies bar sell steiny bottles for $3..that todays price - they don't have a problem with low participation.!) Still Ellerslie my mum went to an Easter meet only 2 or 3 years ago got stopped at the gate for bag search by security who then wanted to take her water bottle from her, she told him she was diabetic and only then she was allowed to take it in...very bad PR.! Another sample of greed. Just noticed a month a go the grass carpark where the home straight is has a concrete wall across the whole entrance - no more public parking....seem like this club does not want big crowds anymore. Let us in the gate for a small price, let us bring our chilly bin with beers and sandwiches, give us our picnic areas back, just give us some freedom. Hope that's not to much to ask.

I don't have solutions Barryb. Don't think I said i had. I acknowledged my post a tirade. I kick myself for trying to be coherent in the far too early hours of the morning. Apologies. but I was genuinely interested in comments to my questions however and subsequent posts were constructive and true. There are too many courses not caring well enough for racegoers or industry participants in all the ways described. Starting there would be produce outstanding results for getting patrons to keep going back and introducing new enthusiasts. Sadly, the Clubs are responsible for that and too many are inept at doing a good and professional job of it. When I asked a celebrated and highly successful business person in New Zealand some years ago what his maxim was for success, he replied "ASK THEM WHAT THEY WANT, GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT THEN TELL THEM YOU'VE GIVEN THEM WHAT THEY WANTED". I understand and believe completely the intelligence of that. As for the boat conversation, I don't own a boat nor am I passionate about them, but I am really good at hooking fish so I could be lucky with the interview being a success. The subject actually landed me a very important job interview once! As did my knowledge of cricket and a raft of sports both local and international. I learned very early in life how to categorise those who need to play the "man's" game. It has served me well. As for the interview situation you pose at the end; I would have to include my passion for racehorses and racing, but no mention of my betting habits. Wouldn't be relative to who I am as a person. Your one example is a poor one to pose to me. It is gender biased.

https://fasttrack.grv.org.au/Dog/Litters/-738594

One thing frustrating(bloody frustrating!) to us at Reefton is this Summer Festival of Racing. To go into the promotion you have to charge to get in(which we refuse to do). So everyone else around the Christmas circuit gallops and trots gets radio, newspaper and TAB poster advertising and our meeting is not mentioned. Bloody pain in the a#*e! We pay the same levies and fees as everyone else but because we will not fleece the poor bloke bringing the wife and kids to the races once a year....

A very good jumper indeed Zelda. He won ten over the fences including a Great Northern Hurdles and Grand National Hurdles. Probably the best jumper Rogie has trained. After winning the 1983 Great NorthernHurdles by twelve lengths with Laurie Cavanagh up, his next start was at Moonee Valley on the flat where he ran second with 'The Babe" Brent Thomson riding.

When boris was a younger idoit he drove to datpo dogs on a Thursday to bet on kawanina at its first hurdle race in Melbourne provincials so he could get bookies odds it payed moron the tab petrol was cheaper then he keeps telling me great jumper , n0?

Apparently the stipes are going to interview drivers and review race tapes to try and work out what caused the smash. As What a Post said, Blind Freddy could see who caused in as it happened in real time, and Stevie Wonder could tell from the replay! Why they still even interview drivers is beyond me, The stipes already have videos from every angle possible, and I've yet to see a driver that tells the truth in the room anyway!

Oh god.....that rolled around fast.Probably a good thing however as when it was my turn in round 1..i scored a big fat ZERO.So it's fair to say that i'll be looking at doing MUCH better this time around...and Hopefully Steve P is going to smash it as well.

So you think that the costs for transport,jockey,noms should be all on the owner who is already paying there own costs and training fees to have to turn around and go home again!!!

It was a shame about the rain at Te Rapa but there was still some excellent racing. All the sectionals, including notable last 200 metres and blackbookers can be seen here with no login required.

About time Gary Foskett got on the phone and had a chat to Mick Goodie the Flemington Track Manager. Hate to admit it but Mick is light years ahead of any of his Kiwi counterparts.

Gd replies already! Cheers guys. Louise - that would be great if you didn't mind .... Rgds, Jess PS: have been away fm cafe for a long time - felt burned by some of the bitching but most of all, the bullying and arrogance from certain dominant characters on here - so just dipping my toes back in. Have in the past really enjoyed the contributions of many here however .. will see how we go I guess ...

I'm no expert and I will be interested to hear what the experts amongst us think .... but I reckon Iffraaj is going to prove to be a very good broodmare sire also.

Another quality Iffraaj 3 year colt with Prince Hareem winning impressively at Te Rapa on Saturday.

I dont think you can compare NZ market to Australian sires. Australian sire market is through the roof at an unsustainable level and NZ market doesn't have the demand that they do. In my humble opinion Iffraaj is priced at a very fair fee at the present time - Next year sales his stock should average 60-100K in K2 and if they get that then I think that a stallion deserves that sort of fee. I think anything in NZ above $30K has to be exceptional. Don't get me wrong, some of them deserve their value up there, but i also feel that some fees are staying up that high to be fair to breeders that have bred at an over inflated price and are protecting the client.