Emotive

The anti racing protest held tonight at Hatrick raceway was by all accounts a roaring success. The report just in estimates protester numbers between 4-5. The reporter qualified that statement by adding, the 5th possible protester may have just been dropping off a flask of soy milo. That remains unconfirmed.

That's what happens in a monopoly, not many can compete, and when the monopoly falters there is not much left. NZGR chooses to ignore the well being and promotion of the sport and just plod along

But is it a positive for the sport? With racing in general on the decline in NZ what benefit did that effort provide? The hardcores will punt on anything variety not required, but there isn't enough of them to sustain racing. Just imagine the same happening in thoroughbreds? What makes racing appealing to the everyday punter is variety. The danger here is drop out. As trainer numbers decline the risk of racing cessation increases. One thing learned in my life time is this, when you're gone, few remember your name.

But is it a positive for the sport? With racing in general on the decline in NZ what benefit did that effort provide? The hardcores will punt on anything variety not required, but there isn't enough of them to sustain racing. Just imagine the same happening in thoroughbreds? What makes racing appealing to the everyday punter is variety. The danger here is drop out. As trainer numbers decline the risk of racing cessation increases. One thing learned in my life time is this, when you're gone, few remember your name.

But is it a positive for the sport? With racing in general on the decline in NZ what benefit did that effort provide? The hardcores will punt on anything variety not required, but there isn't enough of them to sustain racing. Just imagine the same happening in thoroughbreds? What makes racing appealing to the everyday punter is variety. The danger here is drop out. As trainer numbers decline the risk of racing cessation increases. One thing learned in my life time is this, when you're gone, few remember your name.

But is it a positive for the sport? With racing in general on the decline in NZ what benefit did that effort provide? The hardcores will punt on anything variety not required, but there isn't enough of them to sustain racing. Just imagine the same happening in thoroughbreds? What makes racing appealing to the everyday punter is variety. The danger here is drop out. As trainer numbers decline the risk of racing cessation increases. One thing learned in my life time is this, when you're gone, few remember your name.

What nonsense. There is no movement or consideration for that to happen in either party.

I agree with your appraisal, but I don't believe the present situation is driven by GR. They have been dictated to by the TAB who have lost control, GR has no idea how to turn the situation around. GR has been used and abused for some time, used to keep the turnover ticking over yet shown absolutely no respect in the process. GR race six times a week, sadly necessary due to the high numbers of dogs allowed to be bred. The model is flawed, the monopolies I agree, rape and pillage. The situation can be fixed but alas there is no will. Globally racing is on the decline, NZ is no exception. Customers have walked for a multitude of reasons, the most notable the TAB's arrogance and lack of competitiveness.
For most, GR does not provide the opportunity to earn a living wage, how long can they hold on for? Will stakes be reduced next season? If participants walk away, racing is doomed, reduced numbers make it very easy to shut it down.


 

I agree with your appraisal, but I don't believe the present situation is driven by GR. They have been dictated to by the TAB who have lost control, GR has no idea how to turn the situation around. GR has been used and abused for some time, used to keep the turnover ticking over yet shown absolutely no respect in the process. GR race six times a week, sadly necessary due to the high numbers of dogs allowed to be bred. The model is flawed, the monopolies I agree, rape and pillage. The situation can be fixed but alas there is no will. Globally racing is on the decline, NZ is no exception. Customers have walked for a multitude of reasons, the most notable the TAB's arrogance and lack of competitiveness.
For most, GR does not provide the opportunity to earn a living wage, how long can they hold on for? Will stakes be reduced next season? If participants walk away, racing is doomed, reduced numbers make it very easy to shut it down.


 

I agree with your appraisal, but I don't believe the present situation is driven by GR. They have been dictated to by the TAB who have lost control, GR has no idea how to turn the situation around. GR has been used and abused for some time, used to keep the turnover ticking over yet shown absolutely no respect in the process. GR race six times a week, sadly necessary due to the high numbers of dogs allowed to be bred. The model is flawed, the monopolies I agree, rape and pillage. The situation can be fixed but alas there is no will. Globally racing is on the decline, NZ is no exception. Customers have walked for a multitude of reasons, the most notable the TAB's arrogance and lack of competitiveness.
For most, GR does not provide the opportunity to earn a living wage, how long can they hold on for? Will stakes be reduced next season? If participants walk away, racing is doomed, reduced numbers make it very easy to shut it down.


 

Pammie & i are in great shock with the news of our great friend Mikes passing. mike was our "Rock" during Davids sudden passing and gave us great inspiration & motivation in our loss . we will sadly miss our regular discussions.sincere condolences to Linda, Brian & family. Rest in peace mike ,thank you for being a great friend.
Pammie & Denis Schofield
 
 

My sincerest condolences Brian, to you and mum. 

Mike and I had many conversations in recent times. He was indeed a good bastard, a passionate man who was loyal to those who mattered to him. He always called a spade a spade and I totally appreciated his candour. It does not make it any easier knowing this was coming, I will miss him and our chats very much. To you GOM, be at peace, my friend. Thank you for sharing your time.

Hei maumaharatanga ki te tino hoa.
Em.

Linda Brian and Family
So sorry for the passing of Mike.
A man with such a constant work ethic for fairness at all levels of this sport.
In my early days of training I went to Hutt Park and met Mike and Linda.
I was so impressed with the fitness and magnificent condition of their bitch "Spades".
I declared to myself that day, that I would always endeavour to present my dogs in a similar condition.
I have never forgotten that day.
I will always remember Mike as a stalwart for those with lesser opportunity than others.
Ray Adcock

My sincerest condolences Brian, to you and mum. 

Mike and I had many conversations in recent times. He was indeed a good bastard, a passionate man who was loyal to those who mattered to him. He always called a spade a spade and I totally appreciated his candour. It does not make it any easier knowing this was coming, I will miss him and our chats very much. To you GOM, be at peace, my friend. Thank you for sharing your time.

Hei maumaharatanga ki te tino hoa.
Em.

My sincerest condolences Brian, to you and mum. 

Mike and I had many conversations in recent times. He was indeed a good bastard, a passionate man who was loyal to those who mattered to him. He always called a spade a spade and I totally appreciated his candour. It does not make it any easier knowing this was coming, I will miss him and our chats very much. To you GOM, be at peace, my friend. Thank you for sharing your time.

Hei maumaharatanga ki te tino hoa.
Em.

Today we laid to rest one of the great Dogmen of our times ending a forty year involvement in the sport.
My Dad was a Good Bastard.
Brian
 
 

Musical chairs but with consequences. Barsi from GR to HR. Holden from GR to HR. Hughes from RB to GR. Dore from TAB to GR. George, RIU, ARC, TR, more chairs than the queen's banquet hall. Those are just a few off the top of my head. Racing seems to like recycling the same air.

I hope you caught up with the FormGuides for both Cambridge and Addington today. They are severely abbreviated but every dog is covered and once you get the hang of it, you can follow it quite well. There is a huge amount of info there. Btw, I presume you people check out the Punters Lounge each day to find out what is available. If not, you should.
I hope you have been taking note of the Comments Lines for all meetings except Addington. As well, there have been very good interviews. One with Marcie Flipp very good. Also Mark and Philippa going through the fields providing more informatio as they did today.
I did Comments Lines some time ago now for a couple of months and they are/were very time consuming - several hours' work - but at least there was a payday at the end of the day. I am not at all sure this is the case at the moment. Just people trying to assist in providing the information for punters to have an informed bet and not just bet blindly.
It is called generating revenue. That is the life blood of the sport/industry we call Racing.

True what you say Jape and that lifeblood you speak of comes from the every day punter and the big wigs seem to have forgotten that along the way somewhere with their inferior offerings in terms of information a punter might use to increase the turnover part of that revenue equation. Punters don't like being taken for granted and treated like they are just mugs (hence the old saying "mug punter" I guess). If they  don't offer a good service alongside the product then they can't expect support from us no matter how much we love the sport itself.  You're dead right about the comments being time-consuming too.  I am sad to see racing dying a death by a thousands cuts due to mismanagement by the bean counters and so-called CEOs.

I think this article provides all you need to know about the muppets in charge of racing here: https://www.lincolnfarms.co.nz/stories/racing-board-ignored-deloittes-warning-about-significant-risks-with-new-betting-platform/
 

Very good article that one, Ken Rutherford article also is a cracker.
What a bunch of tools that were running the show and still seem to be.
https://www.lincolnfarms.co.nz/stories/captain-ken-we-have-to-protect-our-industry-now-and-hit-the-overseas-bookies-for-a-six/

It seems the greyhounds here have caught up with (or should that be descended to?) overseas fields as far as lack of comment and in some cases even form goes. Tokyo's big race the other day had the horse's number, a jockey and trainer but nothing else. No previous runs - Nada. Hopeless. How can you expect people to bet blind like this and profess to be a betting agency? Pure and simple - they don't care about the bettors, who are in fact the lifeblood of the racing industry and have been treated like mugs for decades. We're being served up rubbish and expected to eat it and say "Thanks" and this contempt for the punter has been even more starkly revealed since the $50 million John Allen wasted on the real racing "dog" (the new website). I love having a bet on the dogs and the horses and supporting the industry but I'm not wasting my hard-earned betting blind when they can't even be bothered to do the basics.

I just don't like the way he talks about his preferences in a race, not informative and his commentating style is slow and unresponsive

And the gravy train of mass participation rolled on again today. 47.91% of the runners at Palmy were from the Cole kennels and I think they won 11, had 5 seconds and 6 thirds. So I think that's 61.11% of the entire prize money on offer. The stats are impressive in and of themselves but one has to ask (along with J McInerney's big numbers down south) does it encourage people to get into the sport or encourage punters to keep betting on them? I don't think so.

I would love to hear Roso answering a young person interested in getting into the sport. It would sort of go like this, it is easy peasy stuff junior get some dogs then some big monied friends and just buy up all the local then as many imported bitches from proven families. After that it's just a matter of numbers, keep breeding and only keep the best of each litter, I'll tell you  about the others later. just keep going and keep spending and eventually you can force all the mugs out and hello you have no opposition. Only one thing though junior, CHCH and CD are already covered so best you go for the Northern area