Gofta

I will put my hand up as a lifelong National voter and someone who dislikes Winston for his usually self serving hypocrisy. He has done more for racing in a year than Nationals Guy and Bennett did over a decade. I think based on recent events he should be given the benefit of the doubt until he proves otherwise.

PVL: The biggest challenge facing racing is to attract the next generation. There is now significantly more competition. We need to find ways to take on this competition and have the next generation engaged in racing. It’s not simple but we have to make every effort otherwise we may become an industry of the past. Racing has to continue to evolve to remain relevant.  Finally someone speaking with clarity about the future of this sport, The next generation, and how much more competition there is for their dollar. To many on this site who want things to go back to the good ol days, that is what will extinguish this industry. we need fewer but better facilities, higher stakes, re-branding of the industry from a sport to an entertainment spectacle. If your not on board, step back and let those with this shared vision take us forward

Can we agree we we need to attract young people to the sport. How else do we increase punting revenue and owners numbers. This has been the key to the Australians relative success. The other thing Australia ha,d was a supportive government which for once we also have. This growth sure isn't going to come from the old curmudgeons who would rather see the industry die than merge with another club. To attract the next generation we need a product that is on a different level to what the old curmudgeons are used to. I'm so sick of the whining and negativity these relics of the industry spout as they try to drag the industry back to the glory days of the 50's which is just an unobtainable dream. If your not part of the future, then do the rest of us a favour and join a bowls club so you can destroy that industry rather than this one.

What is it you are in fact fighting for? Is it the memories of a bygone era, when racing was the only form of entertainment and/or gambling in this country. It is clear from the discussion on this thread that many clubs and participants are happy to take the industry to the edge of collapse and possibly beyond to save these memories from the 60's and 70's. These clubs want their last actions on this earth to be the total annihilation of the the racing industry in NZ, so they can keep a track open that is a shadow of its former glory and in may cases in total disrepair. What happens in 10-20 years when the 30 or so members of each of these clubs making this last stand are dead and buried and the industry is also gone. Will people remember them as visionaries, forward thinkers who loved our great game. .....or will they be remembered as sad remnants of a bygone era that put the final nail in the coffin at the last opportunity they had to save the industry. It is sad to see the self interest that is driving the thinking of many who cant bear to let go of the last remnants of control or power they have. You should be ashamed

To keep Avondale you would need to blow up the stands and pour 50 million into building new facilities. I would rather sell it and take the $200million. Its called business. Its thinking like yours that got us into this predicament

You seemto look at the 3-5 large breeders/studs and think all breeders are on the pigs back. look a little deeper and understand what you are recommending would be the final straw for many of them.

I understand It is difficult when you are working in the grassroots of the industry 7 days a week, to come up for air and see the big picture. In the simplest of terms, the industry needs to engage with the 18 - 40yr olds with money as they are the group that will be racehorse owners in the future.....without owners, the industry is dead. Attracting this group through syndication has been paramount to the vibrant growth in racing Australia. The industry needs to compete with the multitude of sporting codes and other forms of entertainment/gambling. To do this racing needs to provide facilities and a package that gets this group to the races rather than the other sporting and entertainment events trying to get their dollar. Most of the comments I have heard from the "grassroots" of the industry in this thread seem to think the answer is people bringing a chillybin to their local track twice a year. I'm afraid these once a year punters are not the answer. The answer is the 18 - 40 yr olds who expect a great experience at a course with 2018 facilities. These are the potential racehorse owners we need to attract.

Ha ha ha , so your not happy with the racing industry going down the tubes, now you want to destroy the breeding industry. Jacinda would be proud of your tax and spend ideas.

You cant be serious, facilities are a tip it would need tens of millions poured in to bring it out of the 1970's. At best it is a trials and training track which is crazy when you look at its value and terrible traffic problems.

I realise there are winning punters and I have been lucky enough to meet two in my life, both living in Australia. The discipline required is something I have yet to see in New Zealand. In my experience these very few professionals keep a low profile. I am surprised as one of these global elite, you make a big song and dance on this website.

You guys who talk about punting and how much money you make crack me up. If any of you kept proper records of betting history you would all be down the tubes. The mind has a wonderful way of tricking you into thinking your a winner by forgetting the bad times and remembering the endorphin producing wins. Read a few books on the psychology of gambling some time and you will realise the trackside team are probably above average in their prediction abilities, the difference is their results are recorded for everyone to see.

Sounds like Turny just had a bad day on the punt. Te Rapa lounges about the best in the country now and most other tracks would have been underwater, not soft/slow.

There are many tracks which should go before Te Rapa. Namely Avondale, Te Aroha, Thames, Te Awamutu,

The clubs which are no longer financially viable give up these dates as they close down. I am sure 5-10 have been earmarked already. Sounds like a huge benefit of the synthetic track, the ability to close down these tracks.

That's exactly what I am saying. It is up to the Members and Board of Avondale to take the course forward to where it is a commercially viable proposition. If this is not possible, then to make the hard decision to close down the course and use the funds elsewhere. If they are not able to do this then perhaps a new board and executive is needed. If younger people want to get involved that's up to them. I would suggest the first step to getting young people involved though, is getting them to a race day at a venue that does not create the impression of going back in time to the 50's. I think you will find the track is becoming less and less popular with trainers and owners as the traffic issues become more of an issue. I wont go to Avondale again after my last experience with traffic and facilities so that means my trainer will also not be racing my horses there.