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Watched that Weigh In the other day , what an absolute joke . No mention at all of whip usage that I heard. It's average . How can you review both those races with multiple whip bans and make no mention of it then maintain any credibility as a reviewer . Did they not realise the bans , or notice whip use , if they did call it out as it is . They need to start calling it like it is . To not call it out is to condone it .

Bernard should stick to (or maybe start) his knitting and start sorting the code level stuff and leave the TAB to sort out how to maximise revenue from NZTR events as you say Patiti.

It's all a bloody mess. I don't have the answer, but I think the dangerous ones are those who do think they have the answer. I'm not really impressed with any of the suggested reforms I have seen so far, and I do worry for those who think all will come right once the proposed reforms are implemented. It looks to me like everything is being run by Winston and a few no-names in his racing department. Having Racing run by those intimately involved in the game didn't work. Having it run by those with absolutely no knowledge of or interest in the industry was even a bigger disaster. Where to next? I do think a lack of leadership since the early 90s has led to this situation, and I just don't see a white knight on the horizon at the moment.

I have just read an article so is this true.Racing stakes are $50 million,costs to run the RIB is greater than that,more people employed with big money wages.Is this jobs for the boys & bugger the racing industry.

After all the promise and false hope from the messara report being implemented we are now rapidly approaching a point of the permanent demise of the racing industry certainly in the central districts and south island. How has it come to this? I thought dean McKenzie peter vela and Winston were on our side? who are we fighting against? some nameless unelected bureaucrat's from department of internal affairs? Cannot believe they seriously suggest giving all the power to the racing minister so we can get more john allens and glenda hughes types who know nothing about racing and wagering We give away our intellectual property for free while sports keep there's? Can anyone tell me how much rugby,basketball etc contributed to the creation of the betting platform that we bet on those sports or did racing fund the lot? And what is the ramifications if the tab went down the line of what's happening with Victorian tab? What about the outsourcing of the tab? Are the really going to take on the big corporates? Dean answered a lot of these questions saying its basically the same? really ? and does that mean what passed in 2003 was right? I cannot see any stake increases anytime soon if ever,betting levy is only filling the gap for what was borrowed! Sooo many questions ,feel free to answer them for me!

Now you're just being silly.

Would end up an expensive “spin” exercise unfortunately WD....some of these guys couldn’t lie straight in bed......

Over the years in several various areas of endeavour I have seen 'roadshows' or 'public meetings' to be used effectively to explain and clarify plans/actions of a ruling body/management particularly where big changes are taking place. I think the stakeholders and grass root participants appreciate their leaders taking a bit of time for personal interaction. IMO they serve a useful purpose .......better for morale than sitting behind desk behind closed doors and sending out press releases or impersonal emails. Aussie PM found out recently that 'his people' didn't appreciate him overseeing the fire situation from a remote holiday spot ....they much preferred a 'roadshow' where he could connect with even a few people at the coalface. The cost of him travelling to a few fires armed with a garden hose was of great value to all his people and employees.....greater value than sending a few million from Hawaii ! Its part of Leadership these days.

I’m a slow learner so perhaps a few of the more intelligent Cafers might be able to enlighten me. The term “Roadshow” is now a regular theme when it comes to NZ racing. John Allen was a “Roadshow” man. Apparently, it’s a term used when someone rocks up to a venue, say Awapuni, and has a talk Fest with 15 or 20 tea drinkers, enlightening those gathered on progress with reform in the Racing Industry. Is that correct? My attendance numbers might be wrong and maybe a few more could be added. But what’s the point of them? What has been achieved by them that could not be more widely reported by way of press releases via social media and have far more reach? If POTUS (Donald Trump) can talk policy, achievement, comment etc via social media, for all the world to see, why can’t NZTR? Perhaps Racecafe could open a special Forum for “exclusive” use by NZTR (Call it NZTR PROGRESS REPORTS) and let them post for all to see and read - on a weekly basis. This would not only cut back expense but would have a wider reach within the Industry and enable ALL racing people to have instant info at their fingertips - via their iphones, pads etc. It would also be open and transparent. Just a thought.

Tim there's ur first mistake giving it to Mr green to break his heart if it's not good enough to sent to mark or nat ur not in the game sorry

Imho the second line is NZ in 10 years , bang on money Shane .

Flapping, pony racing, many great jockeys started there. It is possible that the breeding survives and racing dies in this country...

Forget Tuesday - where are the horses and owners going to come from to battle Auckland traffic during the week for lesser stakes - they don't come now for the big dollars? They should be racing there every Sunday during the day.

I promise you I won’t be......

Actually Woodbine, I think caning students worked pretty bloody well in a lot of cases at least in my day (early 60s) until I realised I could say 'NO' when the headmaster told me to bend over. A horse doesn't have that option. The whip certainly has to go at some point or only used on the shoulder with both hands remaining on the reins. However it happens, riding styles must then change. While I think there are several good judges of pace amongst our jockeys, their riding styles are close to atrocious. They use the stick because they are riding too short to kick with just two toes in the stirrups and they can't kick because their knees are waving in the breeze and unless your knees are stable you cannot move your lower leg. Gripping with the knees was the first thing we learnt a million years ago riding bareback. The pendulum will swing back at some point.

Whipping behind the saddle should be banned now. The winning jockeys who copped $1000 fines should also be stood down for say a minimum 2 week period. The severe whipping of horses is a blight on the industry and is tantamount to the canning of students at schools years ago.

Showcasing has three 2 year old fillies in the Karaka Million 2 year race out of 13 starters. Play that Song deserves to be race favourite but Taroni is my predicted winner. I understand that she is flying in training gallops This stallion has never hit the high times at the yearling sales. Perhaps after Saturday’s race buyers will look at the Showcasing yearlings with greater interest. He certainly deserves better recognition

Regulatory Impact Statement on the bill. https://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/Files/RIA-Racing-industry-Reforms/$file/RIA-Racing-Industry-Reforms-Bill-No-2-December-2019.pdf

Breeders Trump up their product. Tons of 2 year old racing in Aussie.maybe we don't have stallions that produce early speed. Maybe announce no 2 year old racing till March save owners a lot of money.

Sure as hell aint wee Mattie

Excellent post Nelli. I have said before, there should be some way of accessing where a horse is competitive and letting them stay in that grade. Sure if they start winning all the time then they would have to go up in class, but that would be a way of keeping more horses racing here.

If it is correct Doric it will be no big surprise yet absolutely disgraceful

https://www.racenet.com.au/news/star-harness-duo-to-leave-for-usa---with-a-warning-for-australian-officials-20200121

I would like to see HRNZ survey owners that sold/ retired horses last year as to the reasons they did so. I'm sure they can access the names of the contact owners and organise it so responses are anonymous. Such a survey may put proof in front of decision makers as to where to target their efforts to retain racing stock. Sure some horses go unsound, owners want to breed from a mare while still relatively young or the money is just too good to refuse. But how many of us who pay real money to trainers have sold/retired our horse because it is rated uncompetitively and we can't afford to keep on racing it? The curse of repeatedly running 4th or 5th with no rating change is soul destroying. With sadness we sold our good horse after a whole year with just a single 3rd placing. He still has plenty of racing in him as since sold has had Group placings and Group 3 win in Aussie in the last couple of months. We would have liked to race him till his teens ourselves but he just wasn't paying his way.

Bernard talking to Peter Earley on radio today going on about partnerships. joint ventures and outsourcing the TAB still and how they are going to fight hard out to get what they want. As usual takes no account of other codes and sports and makes a lot of unsubstantiated conclusions. The whole process is rushed with no real cost analysis or projections. Best we keep the faith and trust in the Minister and appointees to get it right.

Thanks for clarification. John Allen was a good example of what a govenment board would appoint us.

The government did not appoint John Allen. The RB did and that had 3 code appointed members on it. That's probably a good example of why code appointments to the board should not be persisted with. Read the RIS for a fuller rationale as to the other option being preferred. Makes a lot more sense to me.

I can see immense issues coming up soon. I am not feeling positive, at all

Well at least Tas there is no Pick 6 this week at Alex Park. Last race would be a field leg I suppose. Incidentally I believe this race is purposefully the last race on the cards because of all the shadows cast on the track by the sunlight on the light poles which, unlike Cambridge, cannot be lowered. I suppose the next problem is going to be the sunlight reflecting off the glass windows on the new buildings but I suppose no one has thought of that yet until it actually happens. That would be a new reason for stewards to abandon a meeting I suppose. I see the Lone Star reckon they will be open in time for the Easter Show - they well may be but will they be able to trade as the chances of the rest of the sites being completed by then and the car parks etc. being ready I would think would be pie in the sky. I reckon there will be some very worrying times coming up over the next few months.

Why does NZTR dilly dally around on the whip issue? Surely they could set the world on fire by banning whips? Show leadership etc. it won’t make any difference to NZ racing will it - other than chalk up at least one good move that will have the World of Racing sit up and follow little ole NZ’s lead. The Trainer’s lobby can’t be so strong that they might offer any meaningful objection.

I can never get my head around the whip doesn't hurt them argument If it doesn't hurt them then why hit them? People are much more aware of the whipping these days, they notice a horse being flogged. In my early day's the like's of Bill Skelton were praised for their ability with the whip in a close finish. Watching international racing it becomes obvious the best jockey's seem to use the whip the least. Whips will be banned sooner or later that is certain NZ may as well get some kudo's for being proactive rather than being forced into it.

The current usage of whips need to be banned. Animal welfare is here to stay. NZTR needs to start thinking of the future. Ban the use of whips for 2yo racing as a start. That means they don't become whip educated. Then ban current whip use in all 3yo races the following year and whenever a three year old is in any race from then on, no current whip usage allowed on any of the other contestants. After 5 years you have no current whip use. Whips should be renamed and only carried as a prompt or for steerage management issues.

Completely agree that they should be allowed to carry them as you say. Certainly, that they may not rotate them and I'd say not use them for urging purposes with their whip hand off the reins. They should be allowed to change them from one hand to the other. Why NZTR still haven't fixed this is beyond me.

totally agree ...the rule is there for a reason...enforce it properly and severely. agree p4p, then we would see who the true horsemen are..the premierships might look a bit different.

What an exciting race and great win. I would not put it in the same league as Dyna Vickers AK cup effort though as Vickers was in a G1 final and his effort was extraordinary. I think Dave's win was more a credit to his intelligence than guts. The field sort of packed up at a crucial time in that race and Dave made the most of that. Very good effort by a very good dog though. See what happens in the final. If he is able to put up a similar performance in the final I will rethink it but it will have be bloody good to head off Vickers effort in that cup final.

Across the forehead presume you mean . A blinding light from the Penthouses.

When the government done our last appointments they gave us Glenda Hughes and John Allen (a man that never walked in a TAB before he got his job and has never had any involvement in the industry before his appointment).