Jefferson

I now understand, Kumara doesn't draw the crowds because of its racing, its not the secret to growing racing in this country, its all about the booze. Stop the BYO and Kumara is a fail. So you are asking us to treat Kumara differently than other clubs under the alcohol rules, so it survives. WOW, its not about the nuggets, its all about the cans and the bottles..

Madness personified. Matt Camerson, with the rides he has coming up, wouldn't think for a second on pulling a horse. I know the owner Lawrence Redshaw definitely wouldn't and the trainers, why would they. So maybe a slightly bad judgement concerning the ride, but with a strike rate of just over 5, clearly shows they are few and far between. Now move on, no charges. If you have to tell him he could have made slighly better decisions during the ride do so, but move on.

Well said and we are still racing aren't we. And in a couple of weeks buyers, trainers, bloodstock agents, China Horse Club and others will be madly scrapping over 1,300 odd horses, some going overseas, some staying here and yes the ones here will race for $7k, hoping they have bought one of those that will get to the top. Sure Ray, Terry, Alistair, Guy and Gerard may not be there, but the horses will still be sold......and for more than 12 months ago.

Don't forget the big owners that have joined, like the China Horse Club. Some off your list are getting older (like all of us) and they may get to a point where they are tired of travelling around watching their horses.

I agree with your premise, if you can't increase revenue then reduce costs. We are then at a cross roads, you say put that money into maidens, I say into black type races. You will have your supporters, I will have mine. Firstly they have to create this money.

No. 1 - I can't believe the NZ Police treat different clubs with different rules. They need to either lessen up on the main clubs or treat Kumara with the same rules imposed regarding bringing alcohol on course. No. 3 - To be encouraged!! LOL No. 4 - Most probably didn't see a race on course. However, the first step is to get them on course and enjoying the experience, so that is positive. Understanding young people, they are (mostly) only interested in events, large events exciting everyone goes. No. 5 - Disgraceful, that is the first aspect that needs to be fixed. There are only 9 or 10 winners on a race day, but a whole lot of valuable owners.

Yes both race day steward and on committee, so know how much fun and rewarding it can be.

You need to target younger people (in their 30's) and get a couple of mates to start off as race day stewards, growing into stepping up to the Committee over time. If you get enough Board and Stewards on deck race day the duties are shared around so not too much work for a lot of fun.

You are so right, not long now for the NRL to kick off!! LOL

If not the broodmare paddock, she may prefer the rain that is predicted Friday in Auckland. If the track remains Good or Dead, I think there is another mare that could win.

This is a site for opinions, so for me there is no chance of him running in this year's Auckland Cup. Someone or a group obviously been punting him to do so (and to win), but the TAB should put out an option, will he run yes or no, my money clearly no. One of the posts suggest someone on this site knows some of the connections, but as an outsider for me no chance of running in the Cup in March. The shareholders in Tavistock will want 1,600m to 2,000m, maybe 2,400m as a stallion, then next year look to Auckland and Melbourne Cups if he has gone to the next level. Happy to be proven wrong in March, maybe the (new) owners have different plans, but not for me this year.

Get the annual books of these clubs and see if their bottom lines allow them to put more into stakes, answer no. On another matter, so many talk about the participants, say trainers, who deserve more than $7k stakes. Unfortunately we all see examples of good stakes put up on a Saturday with small fields, then you look at the mid week before and after and see bigger fields for small stakes. Trainers (some) don't help themselves and more importantly don't help their owners. They assume small stakes therefore lower quality fields easier to win, but often no.

I am starting to realise it appears a number of people on this site either live in the South Island or really support South Island racing. Explains why there appears to be so much hatred towards Ellerslie and no I don't live any where near Auckland, don't live in the South Island either. I do regard Ellerslie as more necessary to NZ racing when you consider population numbers compared to all South Island clubs (ignore Riccarton from this comment).

If you can't afford Sky TV, no doubt your punting is only a couple of dollars here and there. At that level who cares what the trainers, jockeys, TV presenters say. You win or lose, it is basically $2 times whatever. There are some who don't have Sky as their protest for it not being free, so if you are going to cut your nose off to spite your face, then miss all the "whatever it does today it will improve" comments, I love hearing that, the horse doesn't get my money but does get my attention for next time. Why would anyone not like hearing that line?

David has clients throughout Australasia and Asia. He entered Singapore and won the premiership.My guess is he wants to grow his business. If you are suggesting is he about to leave NZ, my guess is no way, he loves being a very large fish in a tiny pond. He is awesome for NZ, let him have his fun overseas, a win win all round. Long live David, good luck man.

I totally 100% agree. The hype horses are why we are in racing, not the $7k or $20k maidens, quite simply it is the black type winners, the best Group 1 races and the hype horses we are all hoping will win their way through various black type races until they race in and win Group 1's. Along the way they will have hickups and various "doubters" all come out bagging the horse, me I can't wait until they race again and invariably bounce back. I get so excited when these horses race, in fact more excited watching the hype horses race and win than I get when one of my own horses wins a maiden or rating 75 race.

I have raced a number of horses, still race, and breed. It was a long time ago since I didn't have a horse. Those I breed I sell for a loss, waiting for the family to fire. Those I have raced, I win maiden races, nice on the day, but fades quite quickly. I don't own horses to win maiden races, they are a stepping stone to the exciting top end races. I don't care if the maidens are run for $7k, $10k or $15k, really they are the stepping stone to better races, if they can't step then fire them. The definition of insanity is continuing to do what you have always done and expecting a different result. I find it unbelievable so many on this site want to continue doing what has always been done and they expect a different result. If you support Plan A, go commit yourself now.

Let's have 2 plans for the future survival of racing in NZ, Plan A involves keeping all clubs, pouring money into the small clubs, the small clubs only because we don't have much, propping up poxy maiden races and other similar initiatives. Plan B involves rationalisation, pouring money into the large strategically placed clubs and supporting black type races. One doesn't need a crystal ball to know which horse to back, because we have been trying to do both plans for too long and it is time to make a choice. Personally I will put my money on Plan B, because I like to back winners.

The industry, doesn't matter if Australia or NZ, hate positives and wish they could go away. Unfortunately the top end pull in top lawyers and make the process so drawn out it damages the look. Of course they may have sent the case to NZ knowing they will die of old age before anything happens. If I tested positive for anything at work I would be gone, in racing they continue to work making a good living (good because the lawyers aren't cheap, so therefore worth employing them).

Why is it so many on this site want to bag all the good horses that come along, firstly Kawi, then Xtravagant, then Hasselhoof. I must be different to others here, I love seeing these horses racing, would absolutely love to have a share in any one of them and so look forward to their next outing. Sure they have hickups along the way, but the cream rises to the top and they are exciting. I would rather watch any one of them race once a month compared to a dozen $7k maiden winners each week.

All I know is in NZ they rate horses as high as they can as quickly as they can so they can no longer be competitive. Most horses can never balance the books and as soon as you do find one, they up the rating to a point it joins the other lot and you wonder why you ever invest in horses. Don't over rate horses, let the good ones win and win and win again, the slow ones will always be slow.

Really, throwing money into clubs that have a Cup worth $25k and have 6 runners. Money can only be invested in the main clubs in this country. Ellerslie (wow I can hear your rage now), Waikato, Awapuni, HB and Trentham are where you invest. Not Thames or Tauherenikau, or all weather tracks for that matter.

Sorry you are dreaming, all weather tracks are costly to maintain and the big punters avoid them. They are expensive to set up and where will the increased stakes come from?

I don't want to close clubs, but I have been convinced rationalisation of clubs needs to happen for the long term survival of the industry. So NZ Racing and/or NZTR can't spend money assisting clubs to survive, if some of those clubs should perhaps go. Mr Alexander, many years ago, put out a report telling us all which clubs should go, however he didn't last long nor did his report.

Am I missing a point, safety of horses and jockeys is paramount.