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I will add my 2 Pennith worth to this thread. The RIB took away the incentives for clubs to make money for themselves by the re rating of the betting levies they supplied to clubs. All clubs were provided with a descriptive grade, as a course, and they were then provided with a set % revenue on course betting return dependant on the rating of the meeting they staged. Exampled by Auckland, Wgtn and Chch effectively having their premier meeting betting revenue grades assured and received a BENEFICIAL level of betting commission as opposed to the smaller clubs, West Coast or elsewhere, who provided the backbone of free labour input willingly to help their community racing effort. So you would end up having venue rated industry clubs, stage industry days where they are effectively ghost race meetings, just there to implement betting turnover. Stiassny wanted Monday racing to fit a market that’s didn’t even exist, by using the industry grade model. A proven failure, at a great cost to internal resources. The promising ACA student that created this rating model had a frontal lobotomy when he left college. The outcome was always predictable. No incentive for the Committee members of clubs to seek and provide race sponsors and continue the input for anything other than premier days because you are always going to get a set fee to cover your staging expenses. Such a platform is no incentive to get new sponsors and new attendees as their is absolutely no benefit to the club to put in that effort. Clubs need incentives to stage their events. Always have done, always will do, that is the nature of free enterprise. Be it for local community spirit and inputs that generate the appropriate attendances they should be rewarded for their efforts and a better betting percentage of the oncourse betting dollar. If that incentive was provided again, then greater returns on the investment of time and effort would also lead to an upgrade in facilities and attendances and also betting turnover. The Racing Ministers plan to capitalise industry assets that it does not own is sheer communist theft and needs to be pushed back to the utmost level. If the industry needs that level of funding from asset sales, let the new regimes being planned, go and talk to the major financial lending resource suppliers and they will soon learn how to run a business well. Rather than idiots we have had for the last decade or any government plonkers at the DIA that could not run a fundraising raffle for a chicken in the public bar of a pub. Trying to create a Government statute to take away venues that do not belong to them, is complete lunacy and treacherous behaviour and thinking. It is truly appalling to even be thinking that way. IMO

What do you think of the fact that the self funded Tapanui Cup this weekend at $55,000 is worth $20,000 more than anything at the industry funded Te Rapa. Which club is the parasite?

Very hard to keep the real superstars here. First James MacDonald, now Ken. Aussie steals all the good ones.

Be no hiding in the office watching Test matches over in AU . Joking .

and yet thousands do go and don't worry about the facilities. The facilities are a side show and don't mean as much as you're making out, whats really important is the state and type of track thats available. One that provides competitive , consistent and fair racing. What concerns me is just how boring,flat and soul less attending some of these meetings at these larger clubs has become , no atmosphere a race meeting with a fabricated party and with racing as a side dish. It's becoming a homogenised product ,with no character,no variety no point of difference, the common man is being excluded even isolated from racing in this country. I've attended many meetings for years but now have no urge to go or in fact even watch the races in NZ . I wonder out loud if that's being reflected across the board in NZ? If it is that is a real worry and these changes about to take place will only make it worse. I can only imagine if racing on synthetic dirt or whatever its called makes its way in NZ , well yippee ki yay a new level of boring racing will be reached in this country.

There are a multitude of reasons why they are so good. Probably the main ingredient for their strike rate is the fact they don’t tolerate mediocrity. The battling racehorse doesn’t even get to their barn - it’s culled by those doing the breaking in. Included in this list will be high priced yearling purchases. Next Purdon has always been innovative in his approach to training and horsemanship. There has to be a direct correlation to an increased strike rate and his move to Rolleston and a straight training track. Thirdly imagine the possibilities presented when you have half a dozen cup class horses to work together. None of the other good trainers are spoilt like that. Surely AS can get a degree more fitness into their charges. On that note it is interesting Ray Green has the best 3yo in the country and has another that is not that far behind. It must condition horses better. Of course having many horses in one race just leads to the result they will win. And they do but many times they run second and third also and then of course the nutcracker is when they have the sole horse they still win - generally. Their domination, I think, is bad for the industry, but it is idiotic to somehow punish them for their astonishing results. The pair strive for excellence in their profession and everyone should applaud that. Jealousy is a human nature that at times can be bitter. Bigger the person who can put that aside.

1) make sure cubicle is not occupied 2) enter cubicle 3) drop silks and smalls if wearing any 4) sit on seat 5) commence process

Just as an aside, back in 1987 the Waikato Cup was worth $120,000 and the Tapanui Cup was worth $8,000. $100,000 and $55,000 respectively this year. At this rate the Tapanui Cup will be worth more than the Waikato Cup by about 2023. Which club is on the rise and which one is going backwards?

You are out of touch still I won’t hold that against you as it’s easy to see your here solely to get a reaction .

Or some of the bigger trainers and even Des Coppins hints about closing smaller clubs on his radio show yet he admits he hasn’t even travelled 3 hours north of his base to sample some of the smaller country clubs . Makes you wonder alright .

The selling of land! - The Wellington Racing Club has sold a heap of land over the past 20 odd years - was that just to stay afloat? No more to sell so what do they do? - Oh yeah sell someone else's land! Who do you think props the Messara report?

he'd want to pull finger...you cant bullshit the aussies...hawksbury has a great legacy set by brian fletcher ,one that needs to be carefully preserved

Good points. I have heard many, many opinions from all sorts who nod sagely and intone that 'tracks need to be closed to take us forward ' ...but, when asked how that works, I get vague assertions of costs. I know several, mainly volunteer-staffed clubs which have provided detailed financials that clearly show how little they cost. The meeting payment of 37.5k that goes to every club across the board to run the meeting, still goes with that club if it shifts venue - so that isn't saved, is it? ....and its only peanuts anyway, as is the value of some of the rural club lands. The bottom line is revenue. How closing tracks will increase punter losses beats me. Messara identified a niche market given our time-slot, and for this reason he pushed for a few modern, high quality facilities to showcase our product at that time. No argument there I don't think, we all can accept that change needs to happen. But this arse-about-face way of going just seems to me to be so counter-productive. Pitty will agree with me here, I know - there is nothing wrong with the Riccarton track in the summer when the going is not rain [ or irrigation ] affected. It is pretty reliable when the weather is stable. Central, metropolitan, ideal to start running races in that particular time-slot for off-course exposure . So why aren't we doing it to see how it might work going forward ? Is it smart to decimate our existing racing structure for a mere notion that this will be the game-changer? ...and RITA, or whatever it is going to call itself, has to get its head around how thumping punters/betting operators with yet more taxes just aint gonna help, long term.

To all our loyal members and guests wishing you and your loved ones a safe and Merry Christmas and a very prosperous New Year for 2020... Thanks for everyones support this past year as we have continued to grow and be recognised as the voice of the industry... we will continue to strive to keep updating the site and the features of it for everyones enjoyment and participation... be safe and be happy...Leigh

Sung by the seekers if you are old enough to remember.and with 70 noms the interdoms over and a Cambridge double up Auckland struggling.noms left open till Wednesday.shame.

you omitted 6) - shake after completion

None from me, I misread thought Berri said he was an Aussie

At a time when the animal activists are manufacturing a procession through the ranks of the racing industry, our weak leaders don't even mention a whimper when it comes to the use of whips in NZ. The administration of whip use is nothing short of pathetic. Go and check out Sam Wetherley's performance on Kya Khoob Lagti Ho. And then compare that ride to the runner up ridden by Troy Harris. And then look at the performance through the eyes of a person who doesn't think horses should be hit for pleasure.....15 mops with the whip without a break....Anyone who listened to John Messarra in Cambridge recently would realise this is not good for the industry or us. Stewards....if you are out there listening....do you jobs....be consistent with your execution of this rule....you are doing us a disservice. Higher up....Racing RIU....the second word in your role description is "Integrity". Do your jobs.

Over rated bloke. It's about time we got one over the Aussies. Te Rapa was a mess.

Was he the guy that oversaw that trial of a hybrid AW sand track and Turf track by getting tons and tons of sand dumped on course a little while back or was it another course trialing that surface .

Good Luck Hawkesbury.

The predicament they got into was because they tried to make racings future sustainable with non-racing activities and the rescue package is similarly based.....rental from property assets , possibly sell some land and continue their profitable food & beverage along with the gaming/TAB arm. I'm no expert on the ins and out of the industry's funding but it's not totally related to betting commissions. There is a National Industry Funding model so the club receives base funding for its stakes ......$7,993,038 in 2019 [ $8,033,416 in 2018 ] plus subsidies for major races from HRNZ and Sires Stakes board. The club actually paid out more Stakes than the Industry funding.....$436k more in 2019 [ $258 more in 2018]. Other revenue comes from Sponsorship and other racing 'stuff'...some acceptance fees etc. Expenditure includes Stakes , trophies ,drinks ,related Salaries and racing expenses. It is this National Funding agreement which upsets some small clubs who believe they are hard done by !! Galloping is the same........most snivel about Ellerslie.....again they actually add about $1 million per year to their Industry payout for stakes .They of course have a lot of Investments and assets so can comfortably afford it. ATC currently really does need to watch their pennies. Many Aussies who I spoke to at Interdoms were really impressed with NZ Harness Racing..they from Melbourne ,and commented the ATC facility so close to CBD ,was very impressive despite running the wrong way around. IMO our big challenge in North is horse numbers and cost of participating. All Harness enthusiasts need to support the ATC ,become members and get active.Too many cynics and critics !!!

You remind me of the old maxim.........It's better to remain silent and appear a fool , than speak and remove all doubt !

Vic Forbes Atmospheric modellers have dominated the climate debate for too long. It is time to ask well-informed geologists about Earth’s ever-changing climate history which is written indelibly in the rocks. Instead of wasting billions on bigger computers for yet more atmospheric models, let’s do some factual research on volcanoes beneath the oceans. Then ask some astro-physicists about the possible influence of solar cycles, sunspots, cosmic rays, cloud formation, earth magnetism, rogue asteroids and movements of the solar system through the galaxy. To believe mankind can counter the effect of these powerful natural climate controllers by trading carbon credits and capturing a few sea breezes and sunbeams using green energy toys is indeed a sad sign of the modern climate madness..... One things for sure, this NSW fire will guarantee safer fire seasons for years to come

Programming an amateur race instead of a Monte would help

To keep my foot out ofc

Don't worry - the cup carnival round the corner. Favs waiting in the wings

You are quite correct Hogg. $20 to get in to watch rubbish is a very poor look. Unfortunately if the club was to spend $50,000 of their own money and boost stakes by $5,000 a race I doubt it would have any impact on fields at all. Within quite a wide range trainers aren't really influenced by stakes levels at all. And it does seem very unfair that one club randomly gets $22,500 to run a rating 65 whereas a less favoured club would have to contribute $12,500 of its own money to get to that level, and more for 72s and 82s, and no one would really appreciate the effort they have put in. So it is hardly surprising that mediocrity rules.

I watched a race the other day , the whip use was completely within guidelines . It just struck me how bizarre rules are . I rewound to look again . The permitted amount of cracks were administered prior to 100 then the big belting from 100 . Now to my eye watching on TV the horse did not speed up , the winning distance did not increase in final 100 . Having a rule allowing unlimited beltings from the 100 pole is a blight on racing . What is it every other stride , surely give the horse five or six strides to step up . Even an Army PTI wouldn't on a squad run scream at recruit, second later scream, second later scream. A decent one would spread the encouragement after giving time for recruit to dig deep.

Wrong...not more people..more 'tote' money

I haven't really wanted to get involved in this debate as it seems to be going nowhere. But really, I have no idea what your involvement in the industry is as you don't seem to have a deep understanding of how things work. The problem with NZ racing is not the small clubs, like Hokitika. The problem for very many years has been the poorly performing major clubs. How long do you think the benefits of selling off all the assets of the smaller clubs will last? My guess would be about two years before the metropolitan clubs piss it all up against the wall. The whole thing about selling off the Hokitikas and Wintons is purely a distraction; it is just a case of certain people trying to look like they are doing something decisive, when really they don't have the faintest idea what to do.. I haven't seen a single report that has acknowledged that the biggest problem is the poorly performing major clubs. You wonder where some of these experts come from. Can you imagine the laughter in Aussie if someone suggested they close Goulburn and Cessnock to make Randwick and Rosehill boom. I like to think the ATC would have the decency to say "look, don't bother on our behalf". Interestingly, not a single major club in NZ has come out in favour of the small clubs.

I believe that Ultimate Sniper is an absolute top horse, but Lazarus was a champion he was in another zone or a different planet from the other horses that he raced against and there was some very top horses among them and he destroyed them. I remember talking to Mark at Rangiora one day he said words couldn't express what it was like training and driving him, and if Mark felt that way you know that Lazarus was a complete champion. He was the best of the best.