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As smoking isn't Illegal are they able to enforce this. The world has gone fucking mad now racing has as well.

Although the following may be contentious, it needs to be discussed... All weather track racing is very boring as the way the surface acts dictates the pattern of racing. Many grass track horses don't perform on all weather tracks. What actual artificial surface will be used because although the surfaces are adequate under specific conditions, New Zealand tends to have a completely different climate attitude so the success or not of the surface will be dependant on the right interpretation of the climate in that area It is the impression that the all weather tracks will be utilised during the winter season because it is the perception that because of the poor winter weather and tracks, the all weather will replace this issue. The winter could be perceived to be from May to August..What is apparent though is that there are as many race meeting called off outside of this time period, so the issue really is IF we invested the same funds on logical restoration and management of the current race tracks, would that eliminate many of the cancellations. It would seem that in the UK, France or Australia to name three, that they proportionately have less cancellations than we do. The question of the requirements for the tri-code to agree is interesting. It would seem that the disaffected party is galloping as both dogs and trots generally speaking run on all weather tracks anyway. The notion that all weather tracks are of benefit is to say that all weather racing (post better management of the current race tracks) creates a market niche for NZ racing that would improve the current betting revenue commensurate to the cost (IRR and that relevant barometer). I have yet to have been presented with any evidence to suggest this is investible. I may be boring to the extent that I repeat myself in respect of replacing the winter flat galloping with a proper jumping program and facilities. I repeat myself because I have seen the spectacle and participation/ betting figures in NZ. I believe that it will also enhance the longevity and value to the thoroughbred industry (both horse stock and human participant). I don't believe that the current tinkering with a flawed jumps program is a true reflection of the potential because no-one that I have met in this country understands the way you can structure the program (starting with a bumper program for three year olds all the way through to the championships). If we are going to do this, lets make it properly for the future. 4 super venues should be created. Each should have at 3000 acres at their disposal. Each should have two race tracks with multiple training tracks. Each of the racing tracks should be able to cater for at least 30 runners. One of the two tracks should be a championship track. At least one of them should have a home straight should be at least 1600m in length. Each venue should be built next to a small town so as to obtain resource consent for at least 1000 dwellings in order to create a real estate play to cover the cost of the entire project, and to provide accommodation for the industry participants (horses too) and support service providers. Part of this should be a retail development. The real estate play can be part sale/ purchase and part long term lease in order to provide affordable housing. Each venue should also accommodate facilities for alternative equestrian sports. If you want all weather tracks, this could be part of the centralised play. Just go to the UK and to China to see what the blue print looks like. Anyone that has been to Newmarket will understand what I am saying. We need to look 40 years ahead to get this right. It is not only all weather that will make NZ racing a viable proposition. Rationalise the current structure to accommodate the seed capital to execute the model.

Well done Chris !!

An interesting idea from over the ditch....how do you reckon this would go.....? FUNK IT UP This Armchair Punter has always been an advocate for more innovations in racing, as it is a sport which mostly doesn't sell itself. Rusted-on punters will bet anytime, anywhere, but most of the rest of the population only get seriously interested at Melbourne Cup time or when horses like Black Caviar or Winx come along. What better time than the horses birthday this week to spark more some conversations about what horse racing should look like in the future. Surely it must centre around the consumer and their experience. One of the more funky ideas I have heard comes from a marketing man who suggests an innovative way of getting racegoers back to empty tracks. "How cool would it be one day if you could be at the track and purchase those virtual reality goggles? You could select which horse you want for each race and you see what the jockey sees during the race," our man says. Sounds far-fetched? They are already looking into that sort of stuff in Aussie cricket's Big Bash. And VR technology is a big part of many American sports. Anything which can broaden racing's fan base and make it more appealing to the next generation is surely worth debating and exploring.

Maybe he reads Cafe, it's pretty fecken obvious how this should be done in a cost effective manner as we keep mentioning here. He might also want to reflect on the way we as a code have wasted hundreds of millions over the years in some bizarre pursuit of higher stakes, at the expense of infrastructural investment and R&M, hence we've got all these below par swamps and ramshackle facilities now. If only we had one decent brain in Petone since 2003, then none of this would've happened.

Nice idea to encourage turnover but I get the impression often on course that punters who do turn over a bit are a pain in the ar@e - otherwise why would they have so few windows open, man them with old biddies who can't work the machines, and who all take their lunch and morning tea breaks at the same time leaving one window open, and also not have enough cash to pay out even a modest collect ....... It's no wonder everyone who does go on course just drinks - it's easier to get a beer

Thank you for your comments. I/We have "enjoyed the ride" but the time had come as Alyson, kennels official, and I have been heading to Addington now for over 130 meetings a year for quite a few seasons. A total of 25 years between us and it felt just right to bring it to an end while we were still able to enjoy it. That was my same philosophy when I retired from teaching. We had paid our dues, as the saying goes. Today was strange as we watched and listened. It was pleasing to see the greyhounds loving their work* for their owners, trainers and handlers. For the first time in a very long time I could not say that I had been to the races at Addington and made money. *Bad luck Danziger. Next time!

Haunui has an excellent international stallion line up. Probably the best sire offering at any NZ farm. Showcasing has 330 foals from his last three SH foal crops so there is a lot more progeny yet to race. In the U.K. He stands for PDS 25,000 which is the high esteem in which is placed in the NH. Power stands in the UK for PDS 8,000 but stands for the same fee in NZ

I don't quite follow the logic of an all-weather track stopping the 34 abandoned meetings we had last season. Most of our abandoned meetings occur in the summer time on slippery tracks, and often after the first race or two. I can't see an all-weather track at Matamata helping a meeting at Gore in January that gets called off after the first race. On the positive side though it is good to see something being done.

Well BB, smoking isn't illegal you correctly point out. But it is banned in many public places, school grounds, sports stadiums, on trains, buses etc. I can remember back when smoking was allowed anywhere! Including aeroplanes, movie theatres, buses, offices, etc. Now nearly all, if not all, Office Buildings are smoke free. So yes, not illegal. But neither is urinating. But urinating in a public place "is" illegal. Just ask Dover Samuels !

Whatever CWJ is riding is good enough for me

Any truth to the rumour Mrs Cubes has been asked to present the Cup ?

I've been a Miss Three Stars fan for quite a while now.So i'll be putting my money on her and she definitely won't mind the conditions.Always love GN Week....am sure it will be a cracker.

Too right!, well done Chris..just carry on regardless

"We can’t keep living with infrastructure that was appropriate 40 or 50 years ago." "We need some track infrastructure, particularly in the main horse population areas, that can support racing more reliably over more of the year. New facilities can mean existing tracks may need to go and the clubs that race there need to make some tough decisions about their futures. I think everybody is recognising we can’t keep on with this. We have got to make some calls as a group and we have got to start making some changes." hallelujah!!!! Because it needs to happen!

Interesting to note that the two highest rated horses by Timeform are Almansor (By Wotten Bassett) rated 133 and Ribchester (by Iffraaj) rated 131. Wotten Bassett is of course by Iffraaj. Now that's some achievement and Iffraaj is only $25k at Haunui. What more do you need? Gingernuts....Turn Me Losse...Rizeena....what a stallion

The GN Carnival is nearly upon us - always a great week here in ChCh. Three race meetings in a week - toss in the GN Luncheon and a trot meeting or two and it's almost as tough as Cup Week. Looking at final Winter Cup noms are there any geniuses out there with a winner ? Pretty skinny market from the TAB I thought with 10 horses under $20.... My thoughts are Doiknowyou $14 then Nashville (yeah a sentimental bet but still the class horse) and Strolling Vagabond each way at $50. Look forward to seeing a few Racecafers on course over the week.

I can't stand smoking! But I have to say I haven't experienced a problem with smokers on a race course or a pub for that matter for years. I can understand the alignment with the cancer foundation etc, but I simply do not have a problem with respectful smokers having their cigarette in a designated area it seems to have worked well for years. This appears to be a real beat up and is the beginning of pandering to social groups that will never stop and racing may pay a very dear price for it in the long run.

I remember those days so well and how great it is that we no longer have to go into a pub, club and go home smelling like an ash tray. I was a smoker many moons ago and smoked on the bus on the plane, oh how things have turned around. I find 99% of smokers are very aware of non smokers and go away to a quite area to have a fag. My post was a quick response to how those people in authority or in positions to make these decisions believe they know how people should live there lives. As leighton Smith will tell you, little by little before we know it we won't be allowed out our front door.

Just reading the meeting changes TAB have issued - Avondale meeting that became ARC's now moved to Whangerei , Waipa meeting moved to Avondale , Oamaru meeting to Pukekohe and Pukekohe meeting to Oamuru . Reads like something put together by assembly of village idiots.

Come on, whose next from the Trump bash brigade.

Now she says she is taking 72 hours to take stock of Labour policies.Translation i never agreed with Andrew,i was waiting for him to resign. These guys have been in opposition for 9 years and if they haven;t got policies that they can get voted in on by now can you trust them with new policies made up on a whim. What have they been doing for 9 years,it would appear to be not much.She has already mentioned changes to tax which when translated means those who have will be giving to those who don't have.

Which sponsor is that ?

Thank god I'm too ignorant to get involved in this conversation.

Yep much better approach than smoking stipes - just what we want more trumped up idiots in vests enjoying a little power trip. Probably lead to trouble.... Despite all this fair play to the Club - they are looking after a sponsor and trying something different. Seems a bit off the mark - but at least it isn't same old same old !!

My gut feeling is they won't stop people smoking on the day . Older guys are part of that generation that have smoked and punted from day dot . There's no way they could stop cold turkey when they aren't interested in giving up. Commonsense will prevail I reckon .

Yes I think GG Cullect has a done a good job, considering he was at the lower end on Alabars Sires List. Most of the good mares would have gone to the more higher priced sires with better credentials.

Very sad news to hear the pocket rocket has died at 21. Remember him well in the late 90's winning Derbies in a row...saw him many times at Alex Park. Having him and Christian Cullen on the programme was a marketers dream. RIP fella. https://www.racenet.com.au/news/136167/Courage-Under-Fire-dies-aged-21#CommentsView

See john allen promoting multi code venues,this only works if you have a triangular granstand and each code has its own track and viewing area,trotting tracks inside galloping tracks create a no atmosphere situation and greyhounds tracks inside trotting tracks need a solid outside wall,what is the greyhound fraternitys view,do you want your own trackside like manukau,do you like inside trotting tracks such as cambridge or the silly situation at invercargill where they are inside galloping and trotting track 50m from stands would you prefer two standalone venues in each island

All-weather racing by far preferable to the dreadful racing NZ serves up on Heavy 11 surfaces. Currently a poor visual spectacle with inconsitent, random results, giving punters little confidence. A betting medium I choose to avoid if possible. Another positive an all-weather brings is as a training surface during the frustrating late winter and early spring. Preparing spring horses for feature races currently very difficult.

A lot to like - esp for those who liked him before he was proven at his 12K service fee Notwithstanding the mare's side of things - what do the breeding buffs say about the best chance stallion-options for kiwis with Iffraaj mares in the broodmare paddock?

A typo, "I repeat myself because I have seen the spectacle and participation/ betting figures in NZ" is meant to be "the UK" not NZ.

We have spare kennels available. We are looking for race dogs to buy, lease or train that may be suited to Auckland or Cambridge. Please contact Glennis or Geoff Farrell 0272824847 or 021486254

One of the many examples of this is the ridiculously monthly change in the distribution of bonus funds which the TAB (possibly illegally) retain from unstruck pools. Last month it was terminating pick sixes, in August it will be distributed via quaddies and a $50,000 guaranteed first four on the feature race every Saturday. They have been mixing it up like this every month for more than two years now without apparently noticing that it is not working, as turnover continues to fall. Punters are generally creatures of habit, and I imagine the TAB would be much better served by seeding the same pools every week regardless of month, for example offering a guaranteed 100k Pick Six every Saturday on the best six races of the day. Whatever they decide, they need to do something DIFFERENT as their current "plan" is clearly not working. Another idea.. how about asking some punters what they think would work? They could do worse. Because rest assured no one at Petone has a fucking clue.

Best wishes to all participants for the upcoming season and Happy Birthday to all the equine animals . Whats on your wish list for the new season ?

I love this stallion and I'm so happy for Haunui. And I guess we are very lucky that he was never a hype horse otherwise we would never have had the absolute pleasure to see TML, Gingernuts or Jon Snow race here as the dedicated followers of fashion would have snapped them up for Asia. So I hope people analyse the damage that our export industry does to NZ racing. What is gives in the short term is takes away long term. The upside for the 2 still racing is fantastic with the Melbourne Spring upon us. The downside is every man & his dog will now seek them out and we may not get to see anymore TML, GN or JS. Enjoy while we can!

I think this is a great idea, but why stop at telling punters they can't go outside and have a smoke at the races? I think racing clubs should start limiting punters to a maximum bet of $5 or so to show they also support gambling responsibly and within limits.

are they really willing to have jockeys ejected

Good luck to the Jockeys!

Will Livermol day support an Alochol free day to support the liver ? Opening a can of worms I reckon.

Whoop de do! What about having a healthy BMI(Body Mass Index) day. All visitors that go through the turnstiles, any with a BMI of 30+ are herded into a marquis. They are all given a healthy food guide, instruction on purposeful exercise regime and a "Now" photograph of themselves. This picture should focus on the " double chin" and "lard-arse" area. The next visit to the races rewards the "lardos" with a $100 betting voucher if the said BMI has dropped below 30. This prerequisite would championed by the committee and adhered by all. Now that would certainly make headlines!

Interesting stance - understand the sentiment behind it but have they broken this news to the already wasting jockeys that will be not allowed to smoke as well.

You all say that now but its true. Racing will not prosper unless the tough calls are made. Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results That is NZ racing in a nutshell