Huey

Perhaps they wanted to keep their club, perhaps they wanted their races back , perhaps they wanted an opportunity and a fair suck of the sav from the industry , I can't answer that. But what I do find amusing is people like yourself and the industry is full of them that just assume a club or racetrack should fold because they believe its the right thing to do for the industry. No empirical analysis, empathy for the club in question nothing just an opinion that everyone should sell up because its big ol' Ellerslie. If that doesn't give you an indication of how bad things are then nothing will.

I'm not sure why you are quoting these very successful Australian initiatives that have in some form been copied over here ? Everyone knows they are successful in Australia , because guess what they can afford them and have got their house in such an order that their industry is economically able to make them viable without disturbing or at a cost to the rest of industry. In NZ we have been far from being in a position to that , but we try to replicate these initiatives as a fabricated shop window for the industry at the expense of the rest of the industry and they way we are doing it cannot go on forever.

I don't believe that for a second. Racing would more than likely readjust its outputs to meet its inputs which is what should be happening in this country in the first place. There a lot of people in NZ who just enjoy the sport and don't need fabricated races , swollen PR , hyped up marketing and overpriced shenanigans to enjoy it .

You talk crap because you are naïve and assume that it is a level playing field across club land in NZ , when it is anything but. You make assumptions that the likes of Avondale have been afforded the same opportunities that the ARC have , when they clearly have not. Have you ever sat back and wondered why Avondale appear selfish?

The fiscal responsibility you speak of , has been gifted to them by the rest of the industry and in some cases to the detriment of the rest of the industry. Not sure why you can't see that.

and being gifted dates, races and what ever else they have wanted by the industry.

I don't get saving money should the TAB fold, are they looking to put a $100m kitty together or something? and establish their own betting agency if this occurs?

I'd be astounded if there wasn't demand for a mdn 1200,1400,1600 at the very least , surely the programming is to blame?

So surely a simple formula for distribution should apply to each race? Can't be that hard surely? Still not convinced the payments for running 6th-14th on a Saturday should be any different to a midweek race though.

That makes sense to me, I think its important to keep the entry fees and jock fees covered no matter how many in the race.

Possibly one of the only good initiatives they have come up with imo. I have said before I think the distribution maybe needs to be looked (particularly on Saturday i.e. why is running 14th worth more on a Saturday than a Thursday) at but the free racing for jockey payments is a very good initiative. Participation is also a very key factor in the sport that is considerably overlooked, particularly by those who like everything their own way! Let me guess those who want it changed are the same ones who wanted free racing gone, geniuses that lot.

Great news and much needed!

I'd be surprised if Ole Kirk didn't make it , something about him and the pedigree.

Wouldn't hesitate to use him for a second, but given his Sire has been moved into the Bread and Butter category , I'm picking he will be a harder sell than the likes of Ole Kirk,King's Legacy (not sure whats going on with him) etc.

Perhaps the distribution needs to be sorted , but I see nothing wrong with the last horse getting some form of compensation in this case what appears to be a starters fee that pays for the jockey, what however does need looking at is why on a Saturday that amount needs to be be twice or even 3 x that amount for what is effectively a starters fee.

Well there is one thing you and I can agree on. But shouldn't the extra races that are put on be self funding , after all they are mostly only $10k races , surely there is something wrong if we can't fund the $10k through betting on the race or as part of the meeting?

I'm picking already swept under the carpet that one.

Thoroughbred racing has a plan to significantly suck the life out of certain venues and pump up other venues (mostly in a fabricated manner) the plan is called the venue plan or something like that. It has very little if any justification behind it, as has been pointed out here on many occasions the rationale behind it is flawed (as you've also rightly pointed out with regard to the trots ) , its probably going to assist in really giving the sport a knock out blow from which it will never recover . some say its so NZTR can get their hands on clubs assets as the enthusiasm at certain venues adversely affected by this plan wanes all in all any real business looking to perform wouldn't have a bar of it, however this is thoroughbred racing in NZ for ya!

Be the death of racing.

Agree , these SWP races are really just gifting the races to the superior horse in the weirdest way possible i.e. getting weight off inferior animals. At least WFA makes sense.

No , I'm well aware of that, but for those of us that do enjoy watching the racing its an excellent track imho.

Nearly twice the price of OP ,cant see SS coming down much.

In other news water is wet. Best track in the country why wouldn't it be popular?

Great spot, these SWP races are increasingly becoming a massive embarrassment to the sport in this country.

Couldnt agree more.