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Came across this on their website . Often in the news for the wrong reasons have certainly turned the corner with the following decision. LOVE FOR OWNERS AND TRAINERS AT STRATFORD RACING CLUB Stratford Racing Club President Graeme Aldridge and Vice President Vaughan Keegan announced Wednesday morning that all track fees ,stable rental and jumpouts for locally trained horses will be free from April through until the beginning of the new season. It's primarily due to what has happened around COVID19 and the realisation that the industry is really struggling, so we really want to get behind the trainers and owners who support our club and assist them in getting their horses back to the races said Aldridge. We as a club can really feel the struggle out there and we just want to be a part of trying to assist those in the industry in getting back on their feet. We know there are only 60-80 horses trained at Stratford but they are all important participants in this industry, in getting it up and running again and we hope perhaps a lot of other clubs might follow suit in assisting their owners and trainers during this difficult time said Keegan. We've heard a few horror stories out there recently but we as a club just think its a time for compassion and recognition in showing that we really value the contribution that owners and trainers make to our club. Who knows it might be something we look at again in the future should it be required . We are all just battlers here but we are battling for the same thing and that's the future of this great industry said an animated Keegan.

Attacked low wages, nothing upstairs who caused our problems. Just a joke. Bring on Statutory Management

The question with track closures is whether the long term cost savings are greater than the long term loss of profits from reducing exposure in regional communities.

See Eddie passed away, great trainer of lots good horses, especially wonderful winter galloper Irish Rover. First time I met him when I bought warehouse Grain, his first words as he shook my hand was 'dont ever ask me for the fooken money'. When my wifes beautiful Irish Hunter died he made a special trip to the shop and insisted she come over to the farm and pick any horse she wanted. One of the last great Irish drain diggers who would work 24 hours a day.

TV free to air, radio, newspaper fields, customer service will never happen again. Our leaders failed Marketing 101. They do not understand marketing or customers wants/needs Very sad

What is this obsession with facilities? A club that only going to be given Industry day race meetings would be mad to invest heavily in facilities, a complete and utter waste of capital!

This is obviously one of many areas in which I have no expertise at all, but it is fairly obvious to almost everyone that the Racing Industry has been incompetently managed for a long time. Under different management the Industry may have been better able to withstand the current turmoil. Are the Board members who made all of the incompetent decisions that have virtually destroyed an iconic NZ sport/industry legally responsible in anyway for their incompetence? Are there any parallels with the Mainzeal directors? Could Racing Industry participants: trainers, jockeys, breeders etc, take a class action again the Board members who have destroyed the Industry?

The one thing I have never seen at any meeting in this industry is a business plan or a set of industry goals. I wonder what we would expect to see in a five or ten year plan? If you fail to plan then you plan to fail? Surely if the governing bodies including racing clubs and breeding groups actually laid down a set of agreed upon clear objectives then we might all get on the same page and come together to better the industry. Then I guess we could argue about the best way to get there.

Stables. show me another region in NZ o/t Central Districts who have lost their anchor club (Hutt Park) 20 years ago and survived without Industry hand outs. These guys have kept the sport alive in their region , rekindledi interest and are rewarded by their peers with a kick in the guts. ie closure. To consider no racing between Christchurch and Cambridge is non sensical AND WOULD DO UNREAPAIRABLE DAMAGE TO THE SPORT OF HARNESS RACING. My advice is to maintain the STATUS QUO for now haven given notice to ALL stakeholders that closure is on the cards IF agreed terms and conditions are not met IN THE FUTURE, Form a CD consortium ,,allocate a set number of dates to cover the region and let them work it where and when with the 12 month deadline. Let the stakeholders determine their own future. Dont just shut the door on them. After all what is another 12 months. Not much to ask. Given this region is the most effected by the dates I submit that in equity they should be given an extended period to review their future. If we want a future we must encourage growth. not by killing an established sport in a large educational city, or solid kids cart base . Give them 12 months and review the position. The new motorway from Wellington to open next year will slash the transit time providing NEW MARKET opportunities. eg .Creating a one hour drive from the affluent Kapiti Coast for the affluent and (or bored ) retirees on the Kapiti Coast. Bus trips on Tuesday afternoons. could be a regular feature. ? Endless unexplored. potental.t At least let the Consortium explore these opportunities before you can it. PS Stables. Find fault with this approach. Ivan W. McNicholl

Their expectation is no one needs information in any form as we all have addictions and just bet by numbers , or if we are sophisticated addicts we take easybets .

Yes, a number of issues with SSTs, particularly with no operator terminals to provide full service alongside them. I bet on my phone on course however frequently have trouble getting a bet on when there are more than 50ppl on course. Much more than that and the site won't function at all, which again leads to some ppl betting with offshore agencies that do not seem to have the same issues with their sites. I just give up and watch the race, still lost revenue(most of the time anyway haha).

There is nothing wrong with facilities its always been a myth that there is. Its just that people see the old grandstand and make judgments from that. Interesting how the Avondale Bowls saga changed the way land sales are dealt with. Not implying in any way Avondale Jockey Club tainted with the same brush. Suspended real estate agent Aaron Drever has been banned for life from joining any bowling club in New Zealand. "We cannot allow clubs to be mismanaged in the way that Avondale Bowling Club has been in recent years," he said. "It is important that committee members of any club understand that they have significant responsibilities to run the club to the highest possible standards in all aspects of club governance and management." Vyver said the issues around the Avondale club had caused the regional bowls governing body to make changes to its constitution. "We now require clubs to communicate with us prior to making any significant decisions, like land sales or redevelopments," he said. "Previously, we've had no control over it." "

Excellent, chiknsmack, to see you are finding the Formguides so very useful, which they are. But do not dismiss so summarily the Comments Lines which are not produced by "some random stranger". Those comments are there to help people looking for information about a greyhound race field. The more experienced punter, like yourself, may not need such information as "Wide runner not suited to box 1" because you already know that. For so many others, though, that is an informed comment on which the reader can then make her/his own judgement.

That is their business, they are obviously economically astute. Why do you expect them to spend the money on the industry when it treats them with such disregard?

Yeh but when our guys pick one you can leave it out of your combinations so that is value too!

Always going to be a problem when certain individuals have a secondary interest. But the track surface is undeniably one of the best in the country and the surrounds could easily be rebuilt, to be a superb racetrack. Plus its always has been a wonderful local amenity. I have no ties to the place, but consider it a local asset and I can't see how Racing NZ or whatever they call themselves, could possibly believe that they will get A SINGLE CENT from the club or community. I would go as far to say, fudge the TAB/RITA whatever and continue to have on course only meetings (Trials ?) or similar events. Keep the markets, refurbish the main stand and run untold different events. I have always said, that people will come to watch horses running, TAB or no TAB. So just stick the middle finger to those arseholes currently running horse racing in NZ in to the ground, and deliver more goods/events to the local economy.

And as for winter tracks and racing, everyone knows AVONDALE is the best track in the country. I mean that septic tank at ellerslie and the shit drain at Puke are better racing surfaces ?, get the fk. All Avondale ever needed was a fair suck of the sav ...

And they way that they are saying that Winston bailed out the Racing Industry says it all! He bailed out a government run organisation called the TAB, nothing more, nothing less.

And importantly, maintaining a racing presence in the Poverty Bay area which is what Messara recommended.

I'm not following you here, it sounds like that was all funded by the club itself to bring racing to its local community, where is the cost to the industry? If the club want to fund these meetings like it appears they have , what is the issue? Youre also not taking into account the cost of running meetings at other venues that is clearly the case. Good for them if they want to race at HB, it won't be the same though, doesn't matter what you call it its still a HB meeting . I'm in two minds about a club like Gisborne as they don't have any horse population there, but from what you've quoted it appears they were more than paying their way.

The new RITA.... How do we get punters to spend less on NZ Racing. Let's not give them form comments to assist !!!! Just looked at Addington tomorrow and no longer comments to assist punters, IS THIS THE NEW NORMAL. If so... WELL DONE TAB for losing more customers.

Breeder Lachie Ashton has plagiarised Brian de Lore. The New Conservatives claim he has a wealth of knowledge about racing. I have never heard of him until now. Do any Cafe Members know him or know about his racing experience?

Who could forget Irish Rover! Eddie did a great job with him. Loved the wet tracks. Wonder how he would have gone on a synthetic track RIP Eddie Carson.

Am i betting at Addington - no

I have absolutely no idea..but I was aked that question recently too. Would like to hear an opinion from someone who does have that knowledge.

How about this ... Please stop saying you "researched it." You didn't research anything and its highly probable that you dont even know how to do so. Did you compile a literature review and write abstracts on each article? Or better yet, did you collect a random sample of sources and perform independent probability statistics on the reported results? No? Did you at least take each article, one by one and look into the source ( that would be the author, publisher and funder), then critique the writing for logical fallacies, cognitive distortions and plain inaccuracies. Did you ask yourself why this source might publish these particular results? Did you follow the trail of references and apply the same source of scrutiny to them? No? Then you didn't fucking research anything. You read or watched a video, most likely with little to no objectivity. You came across something in your algorithm manipulated feed, something that jived with your implicit biases and served your confirmation bias, and subconsciously applied your emotional filters and called it proof.

Why coronavirus has infected conspiracy theorists so badly OPINION: The Covid-19 pandemic has infected well over four million people around the world and killed at least 300,000. New Zealand may appear to be decisively heading in the right direction, but this isn’t the case globally and, as the pandemic worsens, the death toll rises, and the economic depression settles in, pandemic-related conspiracy theories will become more prevalent. In the aftermath of events that shock the system, as Covid-19 has, it is natural to seek answers. It is the brain's coping mechanism for making sense of things. It is how we as a species have developed over millennia to explain anything beyond our understanding. And it is there, when the dust is yet to settle, and emotions run high, that misinformation thrives. This is the backdrop to upcoming elections in both the United States and New Zealand, and it means we must be much more vigilant about the information that is shared, regardless of how slick the packaging. Policy decisions can always mean the difference between life and death, but this is especially true in a global pandemic. Many people have lost their incomes, daily routines, and sense of security, leaving us vulnerable for exploitation by people who to peddle dishonest or inaccurate information in the name of truth. AP Coronavirus has infected conspiracy theorists, but we cannot afford to let misinformation thrive, writes Abbas Nazari. Whenever there are shocking tragedies, conspiracy theorists jump to the fore. This has been the case in other high-profile events that have captured the news cycle. Take for example, the helicopter crash that resulted in the death of nine people, including basketball star Kobe Bryant. Before the flames had been doused, online trolls had manufactured theories on the cause of the crash. READ MORE: * Coronavirus: Facebook to warn users who 'liked' Covid-19 hoaxes * Tech companies step up fight against bad coronavirus info * Coronavirus 'could become seasonal' - US health chief The most common theory was that Bryant was assassinated by someone with ties to Hillary and Bill Clinton. The evidence? A screenshot of a tweet sent from Bryant's Twitter account saying: "I have information that will lead to the arrest of Hillary Clinton." It was a fake, of course, a screenshot created on websites used to make do-it-yourself memes. Getty-Images Kobe Bryant's death led to bizarre conspiracy theories, including one involving Bill and Hillary Clinton Another narrative that made the rounds was that Bryant was taken out by big pharma⎯based on an ongoing legal battle regarding the trademark of his nickname "The Black Mamba," which pitted him against a pharmaceutical company marketing diet pills under the same name. There are countless other theories, each more fantastic than the last. The Kobe conspiracy encircled a small portion of very dedicated fans or those who follow celebrities. Chances are, you have never heard these distorted versions of events. However, the conspiracies regarding the current pandemic have reached a far larger portion of society. Not everyone has the time to sift through an article and click on the links or annotations to see which sources are being cited, and forensically examine the contents of everything they see online. But there is a lot we can do to counter misinformation in our communities and our politics, and there are productive ways to reach someone in your circle who keeps asking whether you have seen the video about how the virus is spread by 5G, or how it was made in a Chinese lab, or that it is bio-weapon for population control. AP Judy Mikovits in 2011, the year she was sacked from her lab. The viral video Plandemic puts her discredited claims squarely in the spotlight. Many people absorbing and sharing misinformation are doing so out of curiosity, rather than conviction about the claims being made, and the first group is much easier to reach than the “true believers”. Empathy is key, as it is more effective to gently talk through why you may think the information they’ve been exposed to is incorrect, rather than a personal attack for being gullible or stupid. It is worth taking the time to affirm that it is natural for people to have questions during times of crisis, and to see if you can steer your friend who is sharing coronavirus theories they found in “the explore section of Instagram” towards some more reputable and reliable sources, all of whom have made coverage of the coronavirus available free of charge. The 26-minute Plandemic video is an alarming example of the high-stakes challenge of countering misinformation as coronavirus continues to be a disruptor. The viral video put a discredited scientist, Judy Mikovits, who was fired from her lab in 2011, squarely in the spotlight. Her wild claims, including that masks “activate” the virus, and that Anthony Fauci, director of the American National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, personally tried to derail her work, have been broadly condemned and discredited. However, that didn’t stop the clip from racking up more than eight million views before it was taken down by major social media outlets. Analysis of the viewership data shows that the video appeared most often in groups devoted to the QAnon conspiracy, anti-vaccine movement, and conspiracy theories in general. Mikovits has become a star in the far-Right movement, gaining an army of Twitter followers, and being presented as the academic face of the Reopen American movement. Plandemic’s documentary-style footage, warm, trustworthy narrator, and careful editing gives the impression of a being something akin to a thorough 60 Minutesinvestigation. Indeed, many of the videos circulating around conspiracy theorist forums follow the same format: assert that they are presenting the truth, provide little evidence apart from blatant lies, or quote-mining, where a line is stripped of its context to the point where it can be repurposed to make a completely new point, and then they cover their tracks with references to free speech or assertions that, if the video is taken down, it is just further proof that elites do not want the truth to get out. And it is an approach that is gaining traction. A survey of 2,000 Americans (by Harvard Kennedy School, March 17-19) revealed that one-third believe the virus was manmade and spread on purpose. The internet has blurred the lines between “the truth” and what is factually, tangibly, measurably real. As some social scientists have pointed, we now live in a post-truth era, full of “alternative facts”. AP Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is accused by Mikovits of trying to derail her work. Most of her claims have been widely discredited. After the horrific Christchurch mosque attacks, New Zealand's Government swiftly and appropriately legislated against certain types of firearms. Canada has followed suit in the aftermath of the Nova Scotia shootings. But trawl through the online forums and it is ablaze with chatter that the massacres were government-sanctioned “false flag” operations, a decoy to disarm the public, and pave a path of least resistance for a tyrant government. Not only is this disregarding the victims of these tragedies, but if left unchecked, followers of these theories will continue to dig in their heels. It is one of the many reasons that common-sense gun laws in the US never pass. It is easy in New Zealand for the scale and style of such misinformation to feel far away and not that relevant, so why should we care? One important idea is that policies adopted today in the US could become New Zealand’s foreign policy challenges tomorrow. We are already seeing the Trump administration pressure countries to lay blame on China. But most importantly, it is the principle that the truth is maintained without the shadow of a doubt. In order to beat the pandemic, it is important that appropriate medical guidelines are communicated and followed. We are already seeing a major increase in the anti-vaccine community. What if a vaccine becomes available, but a major portion of the population decides not to vaccinate, because of the theories they have been exposed to online? This will blunt the effectiveness of a vaccine rollout and mean that people remain vulnerable. We have to fight misinformation, no matter how slick the packaging. It may mean having that awkward conversation with your friend about 5G. * Abbas Nazari studied at the University of Canterbury, and is undertaking a masters in security studies at Georgetown University, Washington DC.

LETS TURN THE CLOCK BACK TO THE OLD RADIO PACIFIC , SET IT UP BROADCAST SPORT AND RACING COMMENTARIES BY HAVING SOMEONE ON COURSE/ STADIUM. TIPSTERS ACTING INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE TAB AND HELPING PUNTERS BEAT THE BASTARDS. THE CONCEPT WORKED SO WELL THE TAB BOUGHT THEM LAST TIME AND THE PLAYGROUND HASN'T CHANGED

The issue I had with the SST's was the impractical design. Basically there are about 5 functions with EFTPOS planned but never put in. With the functions all in one unit meant if someone was depositing or just checking their ticket a line would form for those wanting a bet and as you say if one function failed the whole unit was disabled. Seems the TAB guy who designed the units wanted one professional looking machine but to hell with the user. The cost of the units has been significant several years ago already $40M had been spent. About 50 suppliers and contractors did very well out them. Don't know of one who had the courtesy to come in and sponsor a race. Then again I doubt the club marketing guys would have the presence of mind to chase up on them

I see sky have sacked everyone and then they all have to reapply for less jobs,when are rita gunna do same?

Probably find the galloping guys will come up with a few 6 or 8 horse fields,, the usual.

Friend of mine had a very good winter horse and was accepted at Wgtn for the open sprint.. Only a small field was due to line up so they left the entries open and Irish Rover who had just returned from Aus accepted. Pipped my mates horse on the line. Just as well my friend was also proud of his Irish Heritage or WW3 could have broken out with my friend more than a little pissed off about the club leaving nominations open.

Henry and Woodham at least. Ex-NZ Post mates of John Allen and utterly unaccountable for the wasteful "investment" of the past five years. They have collectively destroyed the balance sheet on a prayer of windfall gains. Dreamers and charlatans.

Well said Archer Been to Avondale a few times even the night races once yes the grandstand is a problem but they do not need a huge grandstand anymore.. A perfect place for Shane Jones to sling a few million to build something modest and he will be able to say I have saved the racing industry millions because I think there will be a lot of water to run under the bridge with litigations etc etc before we see Avondale people happy

well for a start, I never heard of housie on a Monday.

Divided we stand, united we fall

I'm not pro National The feel good horse stories this Govts media dishes up are banning whips, cruelty to horses and RIU cases. Racing struggles even to make the sports news once in a blue moon. Give us a break.. .. their attitude to racing stinks.

Why didnt Avondale grow Rice

When did the govt last promote racing publicly? They have bailed them out to stop losing an industry and maintaining a tax revenue. Imagine promoting racing to a level they promote fake climate change. $2 billion a year wasted on Paris

They are sacking/letting go wonderful people to save $10 million per year and those left behind won’t be able to cope! Trust me. Yet they are paying $330,000 per week (17 fucking million per year) to Paddy Power! Big business and fuckwhits, over good people once again. I really give up. Liz

And they are paying Paddy Power $330,000 a week for this platform. Ludicrous!!!

Learn people Follow up from Plandemic https://www.bitchute.com/video/NW0CaD8v3lTn/

A lot of things cost the Industry money but they are very small compared to what the one biggest cost to the Racing Industry is.

Cindys global profile enhanced yet again after yesterdays Am show earthquake quite like Richardsons quip ‘how did she feel it i thought she levitates’

Big dogs do not bite other big dogs. However just whom were the top 3 supposed to report to? Were they and will they be called to account? As a sidebar, kiwi punters have been betting in aussie, by now most have more clues about that form. Will they return to kiwi races with the same gusto?

Marketing 101 - both radio and free to air TV should both be back on. It really is that simple.

The first two ploys will be the Means Test and Capital Gains Tax

You have got to be kidding Neil? I can handle the race books and newspapers going but this decision makes zero logical sense. Its the domain of the last min punter to read this on their phone or the website & plonk a few on. Of all the dumb decisions this has to be the lead contender for dumbest.

$23M comes from (Cost of track $10M and RITA admin charge $13M)

A whistle blower would get slaughtered. They would get no support from anywhere. Winston would turn his back. He is only involved in Legislation not the day to day running of Racing. Recognised Industry Organisations(RIO's) would start shaking at the knees. A whistle blower would be on their own. Until organisations like NZTR are made to be accountable and have to work with in the rules of racing this isn't going to happen and nothing will change. I mentioned on another thread about Bernard Hickey of the Owners Assoc talking about the 1.7 million owed in Nomination and Acceptance fees. $750,000 of that owed by Trainers to NZTR. Has this been allowed to happen to control the Trainers Association? While Tony Pike and Nigel Tiley are really nice people, when push comes to shove there has not been any shove.