Huey

Hope he’s “ shopping well” tho. 
 
Interviewing seems like something they are not good at and it’s their job. Unusual. 

Aiden Rodley interviewing Ben Foote regarding his filly Sakura Girl in the Oaks , " where do you expect her to finish ". Diabolical doesn't even start to describe this .

When I was about 15 I was a voracious reader of all things racing.  So I asked my father what all these early entries, in the olden days,  for races such as the N.Z. Derby (then raced at Riccarton) and other races such as the Great Northern Champagne Stakes were all about.  They were listed in the annual Turf Registers from about 1920 to 1933.
Dad explained that it was a way of boosting the stake money for those races, but it came to an end in about 1934 as the severe depression of the early thirties had sent too many owners broke.
I am sort of in favour of the early entries for races with a $500,000 stake, as it creates and sustains interest in those races.  However, the first withdrawal, second withdrawal and final withdrawal sums payable for a starter in the Oaks are preposterously outrageous.  But I also think the final Late Nomination fee of $11,520 is reasonable.  So, some will say that I am a bit mixed up.
Could somebody confirm for me that to run in the Oaks one must pay ($287.50 + $624 + $960 + $5760)= $7,631.50.  If that is so, and if there are horses on the ballot, the owners will have paid $137,367 towards  the stakes, but of that sum, Grant Robertson's mitts would have grabbed $17,918 in GST.  Some of you will see the logic in all of that.  I can't.

Note that Racing Victoria and Racing New South Wales have done away with all early nominations except for the Melbourne Cup and Championship Day. Nominations for Saturday races close on the previous Monday. By contrast NZ owners are required to stump up thousands of dollars for early nominations/ withdrawls. Our Group races are becoming glorified sweepstake races. This years Telegraph on January 14 had the following payment schedule: Nominations 22/11/22 $287.50, First withdrawl $520.00, First late nomination $2,112.00, Second withdrawl $660.00, Final Late Nominations $5,940.00, Final Withdrawals $3,760.00. The schedule for this Saturday’s Oaks was as follows: Nominations 6/12/22 $287.50, First withdrawls $624.00, First late Nominations $3,072, Second withdrawls $960.00, Final Late Nominations $11,520, Final Withdrawls $5,760. When you factor in the attrition rate in such events it is clear that NZ owners are being crucified by such fees. What do others think?

I am yet to see any EXCITING COORDINATED and COURAGEOUS plans coming out of NZTR that could take our industry out of the dire depths that it is languishing in . It seems to me that everyone is waiting on the TAB to suddenly turn around the scary figures that they have been releasing on a monthly basis and unlock the unlimited POTENTIAL from our industry . 
We need to be making plans based on the TAB doing nothing more than they already are , no point waiting till the ship is under water till they release the life boats .
NZTR can't sustain covering the TAB shortfalls , NZTR said they would have initiatives in place for next season should that TAB distribution be at the same levels as the last 6 months of this season , let's hope they do .

one of the most   kind hearted guys   you could meet  rip  champ  

Perhaps another opportunity to drive the punter to online betting and save the 'retail commissions' ?
'Squeezing the Agents' has been a long term push and in their perfect world, everybody would bet on 'their platform' so no requirement for outlets that require staff and the associated costs.
Imagine, no leakage offshore and no retail costs. If we can pull that off there might be some big fat bonuses in store.

According to AGM, Will be a full Joint Venture, RACE will own the land and earn annual income $5m+ to fund racing stakes and will have world class facilities (this is what has been sold) there have been aritcles on Stuff including the governerment backing the development and improving the infrastructure. Ellerslie, Trentham and Riccarton will be the big players in racing i think

I imagine if any club is capable of cocking something up it would be the WRC.
Look at the Auckland trots and Awapuni. Just wait until Wgtn shows them how its really done.

I have been informed by a fellow member of The Wellington Racing Club that they have sold the land that includes the grandstand and surrounding areas to Developer, Malcolm Gillies. Is anyone able to confirm this? According to my source this was supposed to be confidential but has been leaked.
They have previously some years ago, sold the land inside the racetrack to Hutt International Boys School as well as other land to Sommerset and Malcolm Gillies.  If correct all that is owned under Race is the racetrack and stables.

I saw the piece on 'walking through the jockeys room' and what struck me was how basic and dated the facility was. Probably reflective of the whole industry, sadly.
 

Brian, well done on keeping the TABs feet to the fire.
Some in this thread have referred to an ingredient in the demise of the TAB being Mr Allen and his NZ Post cronies but I believe almost a decade ago it was a cluster of ex BNZ execs who’s performance could be questioned. How long did they stay. How many million were paid in salaries and what did they deliver? Mr Bayliss left under rather hurried circumstances. PArt of his legacy was the appointment of two former BNZ colleagues.
it just goes on and on …. 
https://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjf882Znav9AhUF6zgGHdSwAAUQFnoECDUQAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.tab.co.nz%2Fcontrol%2Fdata%2Fnzrb-media-releases%2FExecutive_change_to_lead_racing_industry_growth.pdf&usg=AOvVaw3V3b7Ne3zBbUOthHTDzdn7
 
Associated with this, I recently attended one of the early NZTR roadshow meetings where Bruce Sharrock spoke of his vision for improving thoroughbred racings future. I thought he did a good job to front up. During his presentation it was apparent (in my view) that the relationship between the TAB and NZTR is in poor shape at present with a lack of trust between the two organisations. Then today, as an acc holder, I get an email from Mike Tod crowing about how much dosh the TAB is returning to NZ Sport. I really feel like Racing has lost its identity within the TAB - they don’t care and, dare I say, see our industry as no more than a shrinking part of their revenue stream. They would rather suitor sports punters. Whereas once the TAB was racing, now racing is steadily losing its mana within that organisation (IMO)
 
Some significant funding challenges ahead!

therein lies the answer to the question - How do you get people back on Racecourses?
Get rid of Trackside -  will save heaps of $$ too.
Then up the oncourse facilities and food/drink. make the day pleasureable.
 

My opinion, the addition of imported jockeys has elevated the overall quality with their superior style, tactics, presentation and professionalism.

The TAB has done well in marketing, but this increase has come with a cost. It remains to be seen if they can retain this new audience. 

Regarding the loveracing.nz website, i find that there are too many clicks required to access replays, making it less effective compared to international websites. The website is visually appealing, but with today's fast-paced world, time is of the essence. Slow video rendering and excessive clicks can be frustrating for users.

I also question why the roadshows are not broadcast online with live chat options. This could increase engagement and interaction.

Its being run for the benefit of themselves ...nothing more at present.

If they are going to condense either book it should be Book 1 , the last few years they have pulled a lot of K2 horses into K1 because we were light on true K1 horses . With K3 going because those horses now have Gavelhouse , we have far more middle of the road horses for sale at Karaka than true K1 horses .
Make k1 a true best of the best and leave book 2 for the lesser lights . I believe having those lesser pedigree horses in K1 is diminishing it .

I [ personally] think the roadshows are an expensive waste of time.
I have found Bruce Sharrock to be very responsive to individual approaches and does his best, I feel, to communicate.   However, in this age of digital communication - and considering we are supposed to be dreadfully short of money - why on earth waste the stuff by flying a group of people all over the country?
Especially, as pointed out above, the timing of such doesn't lend itself to participation by all.

Fair enough, but Sharrock has raced some nice horses, has a top line trainer for a brother and his dad wasn't half bad either but doesn't seem to have helped him so far, things seem as far away as ever and drifting, so forgive me if I don't have a great deal of faith in another well related maybe prospect. 
Maybe if he had come out with some strong words about the vision he has for the industry. 
Breath not being held. 

So other than breeding no real depth of racing interest or knowledge , we've had a few wannabes , be nice to get someone with hands-on experience. 
If he was the real deal he would have followed his old man to some degree, instead went his own way which appears to have had very little to do with racing. 

Sounds just like a certain B Sharrock , and how is that working out, plenty of racehorses with great pedigrees that couldn't gallop either. 
Never put too much faith in blood. 

I found the interview with the jockey after the 2yo race pretty cringe worthy
And what about asking Ken Kelso before the 3yo what he was expecting from Legato today...Oh I expect her to run poorly its only a million $$$$ race...what a stupid thing to ask him....he does it many times.

I found the interview with the jockey after the 2yo race pretty cringe worthy. "What's it like winning NZ's greatest 2yo race, have you won anything this big in SA?" It's not even a bloody Group race, and only certain horses are allowed to enter.
At least the 3yo race tended to stamp the form out of the 2,000 Guineas so it should help the rating of that race. I assume horses ratings go up for winning a restricted entry race even if they don't get group status.

I don't have a problem with politicians not knowing everything about racing, as long as they don't pretend to.  You tend to see the higher ranked MP's targeted by the influencers in the industry, mainly breeders, and are wined and dined accordingly.  This meeting has become the breeders' showcase, one part of the industry turning a profit.
I'll be in the minority here but this type of restricted entry and almost regional stables racing isn't for me.  With little interest I'll look at the replays later.
 

Absolutely disgusting.  There are a few clubs where the Committee forget who keeps racing going.

i own my horse took my 6 mates today got told i could only have 3 tickets went to watch it in your tent there would have been at least 100 te akau people getting a free beer with a 1% share i pay 
$100 a day in training fees and got treated like shit  racing a horse here is so bad if i wanted to be in a syndicate i would not bother