iwmcn

My experiences with this are so positive that I feel the need to post here and invite you to trial it. This posting is unsolicited. A case of giving credit where it is due. Des as you know is a professional. His best and value tips are extremely well researched. In my 50 plus years of punting and looking for the best system I have found it for now. Since joining this year his strike rate has been extremely consistent and profitable . Give him a trial. dcoppins@xtra.co.nz. 021448052

Argue all you like. Us oldies who have been active breeders, owners, committee members (club and national) and punters got involved because the sport was accessible in our cities/ region. It encouraged us to socialise and introduce clients and friends to the sport by attending. Hutt Park despite its negatives was a catalyst for the public, owners, trainers and drivers. It encouraged participation which does not exist today. North meet south for both horses, drivers and trainers. Turnovers were regularly on average the fourth and fifth highest over many years. At the time of closure of Hutt Park HRNZ was gutless and offered no support.. I personally challenged (as President) and partly financed the Councils reasons for closure in the High Court but to no avail. We were rail roaded by the Council. End of story. The demise of Harness racing in the Central Districts can only be blamed on ineffective administration by HRNZ s past and current administrators. Manawatu s efforts to retain the sport within our region deserve our support to keep the sport within the CD region. I

I just want to endorse John Legends comments about Dick and thank him for his service to the Industry. I have known Dick from our Secondary school days, right through my racing days both harness and gallops and especially at Hutt Park. I am sure those past and present members of Wellington Harness will share these sentiments as well. Dick. Great job. Well done. Enjoy your retirement. Thank you Ivan Mc Nicholl. President. Wellington Trotting Club ( in recess)

Given the successes I listed I wanted to show a bit of humility by downplaying my punting ability.. Since you raised it the results from punting has enabled me to breed and race horses for over 37 years and pay off my mortgage. Your comment re industry experience does not warrant a response.

Only 40 plus years.. Your a baby. Mine is 60 plus. Perhaps my added years gives me greater wisdom and a more balanced and not so reactive look on matters.? In those 60 years of industry involvementI I have .... Won the Grand National Hurdles,, bred and owned a 3yo Trotters Breeders Crown in Australia, set a NZ record at the time for the highest priced trotting yearling sold at auction, bred and part own a NZ 3yo trotter of the year in 2021 who won 10 in a row.including all the Derbys I reluctantly add the 20 plus years as a Harness Club Administrator including a 4 year stint as Club President at Wellington before the Council closed us down, I took the L Hutt Council to the High Court (at my cost) to challenge the closure but sadly failed. My only racing failure is my punting which I will not comment on. Like all readers here i want the Industry to succeed .and clearly have a significant vested interest. Mate in this case I think you have ended up with not only egg on your face but the shell too. Move on. i have left space for your Industry contributions and achievements.

Points taken. However you all seek change. Given this is the biggest change in the TABs history and no doubt yours surely you can leave the past and your disappointments behind. We all need to move on in life and reserve our negative opinions until this new company has had a chance to perform. Any issues you have had with the TAB / industry in the past would be petty cash compared to the Endean offer. Do not sweat the small stuff..

BB Thank your positive and constructive comments about my skills. I at least know and accept my limitations , unlike you. Read my original post first before mouthing on. Its still on another site.

I posted the article on another sites site and to reach a wider audience I copied and pasted it to this site. Sadly my limited IT skills meant I copied their graphics as well. Shall I start again as the content is of interest to race cafers.?

Posted 4 minutes ago

When reviewing a winning horses credentials would he please not say..." A whole group of owners " and move on. Please read them out. Owners seek little from the media for what they invest in ownership and do appreciate this simple acknowledgement. In Marks case he skips over their names but continues to waffle on at length repeating what the commentator had already said. Race 8 at Addington today is an example.

thank you. I was only a generation out.?

Give the Dunn family the respect they richly deserved in harness racing and drop the negative inuendoes Robert started as the publican here in Wellington at the Taita Hotel. His original client base were working class people and state house battlers. Robert did not inherit a legacy and are very successfully creating their own within NZ and Internationally. Sadly in harness mud sticks and some find it easier to look back than ahead.

Is Andrew Morris the right person to be the Handicaper.? His PR skills appear to be questionable when challenged.? Is it a case of being in the job to long.?

I am supportive of the retention of the HOF but as President of the Wellington Harness Club ( in recess) I am disappointed that the the President and Vice Pres of the HOF will not respond to communications. Over 6 months ago and recentlyI I enquired if memorabilia I sent them when Hutt Park closed could be located with a view to them being returned to Wellington for display. The new set up at Hutt Park has provision for a track museum. The response from them to date is nil. Mr Myles has ignored my emails and his VPs intervention has produced nothing to date A visual inspection of the HOF showed no evidence of it and a staff members comment was " it might be out the back". Come on Mr Myles front up, check the store and give me a positive reply wether you close down or not. Thank you. Ivan W Mc Nicholl ( President WHRC till the next AGM if ever)

Reminds me of the joke. "What is the nearest thing to SILVER.? The lone rangers balls.?

June of course but thanks for pointing out my typo. Nine means nine people on a steering committee. Denominations means racing codes. gallops. trots and dogs. Next time I will stick to plain simple English and be less eloquent.

Here here. Where have you been . Why do we need to be dependent on RITA and be at their beck and call. Lets go it alone. Create our own media channels be it radio, tv, video what ever. User pay or not. We have the expertise on all fronts (personal and access to funding) which simply needs to be coordinated, We need to stop bitching individually and bring together our collective strength. The same applies in politics where our co ordinated strength, if used right would give us our own MP. For now lets try and reinstate our media coverage and subject to the outcome move on from there. Before progressing we need to see that this is what you really want.? Email me before 4 May if you support the concept and the responses will determine future action. To begin I envisage a Steering Committee of nine people of mixed denomination to kick start this campaign and co opt along the way. I would like this to simple and effective as the common goal is known. Ivan W Mc Nicholl

John. Thank you. Good point re buses and COVID. Shall we say the new motorway will make it a pleasurable mid week drive for them. I could help place their bets oncourse on a roster to overcome their being no tellers.? Anything is possible just given the chance.

Stables. show me another region in NZ o/t Central Districts who have lost their anchor club (Hutt Park) 20 years ago and survived without Industry hand outs. These guys have kept the sport alive in their region , rekindledi interest and are rewarded by their peers with a kick in the guts. ie closure. To consider no racing between Christchurch and Cambridge is non sensical AND WOULD DO UNREAPAIRABLE DAMAGE TO THE SPORT OF HARNESS RACING. My advice is to maintain the STATUS QUO for now haven given notice to ALL stakeholders that closure is on the cards IF agreed terms and conditions are not met IN THE FUTURE, Form a CD consortium ,,allocate a set number of dates to cover the region and let them work it where and when with the 12 month deadline. Let the stakeholders determine their own future. Dont just shut the door on them. After all what is another 12 months. Not much to ask. Given this region is the most effected by the dates I submit that in equity they should be given an extended period to review their future. If we want a future we must encourage growth. not by killing an established sport in a large educational city, or solid kids cart base . Give them 12 months and review the position. The new motorway from Wellington to open next year will slash the transit time providing NEW MARKET opportunities. eg .Creating a one hour drive from the affluent Kapiti Coast for the affluent and (or bored ) retirees on the Kapiti Coast. Bus trips on Tuesday afternoons. could be a regular feature. ? Endless unexplored. potental.t At least let the Consortium explore these opportunities before you can it. PS Stables. Find fault with this approach. Ivan W. McNicholl

These times have shown that the racing broadcast services can function with SKY at a fraction of a price the TAB costs us. The money is there its just how its spent. We simply need to be more realistic in our expectations in these COVID times and into the future. The Australian racing presentations are second to none. If this can be replicated here and NZ racing not discriminated against (coverage why) what more do we need if the funds saved , save NZ racing.? ie millions. Their pre race selections are brief, not waffly and extremely well researched. Dont overcomplicate our sport....KEEP IT SIMPLE.

Now that sounds like an accountants type of bet.? Little out ...a lot in.?

Like I said in another post which got no response.....OUTSOURCE to TABCORP (betting) and SKY (communications). Both public companies accountable to shareholders which NZ badly needs. What do we have to loose. As John Messara said ....start again with a blank piece of paper and rewrite the rules and policies to suit now and the future. Brian De Lore in the Optimist has now clarified that long debated question as to who owns the TAB .......the CLUBS. This makes one hell of a difference as to how that blank piece of paper is compiled. Read the following facts from Brian Delores recent article in the Optimist which I have done a cut and paste from. Ivan W.Mc Nicholl 021679639 Breeder. Owner and Punter. Wellington The September 1950s publication that says the TAB was the concept of The New Zealand Racing Conference and the New Zealand Harness Conference and was underwritten by the race clubs of New Zealand. The document sets out the formation of the TAB – it’s dated 20th September 1950. It clearly states that the New Zealand Racing Conference and the New Zealand Trotting Conference came together to start the TAB and that the start-up costs were underwritten by the racing clubs of New Zealand. Racing has said this anecdotally for years, but to see it in writing is a big deal – it’s proof the codes and the clubs own the TAB and that the tail has been wagging the dog for years, and that now needs to change. The document is 70-years-old, but unless a subsequent paper exists which cedes the ownership to the Government (and none exists), racing is the rightful owner. The beautiful thing is it makes the proposed legislation of the Racing Reform Bill redundant. The Bill at its first reading can be summarised as a paper that took away all of racing’s rights and decision making, stole the IP, provided the Minister with the eternal right of interference and control, and opened the door for sports to come in and be a partner in the business at no cost to them. It did nothing to improve racing. Ownership of the TAB means that racing can, with pride and a significant degree of scorn towards the pretenders, hold up its middle finger to all that nonsense and say, ‘we’ll have back what’s ours, thank you very much.’ The Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee had a meeting yesterday with the PCO (Parliamentary Counsel Office) to initiate the Bills rewriting, which is expected to incorporate something like 120 changes and became a document far more acceptable to the needs of racing. The second reading of the Racing Reform Bill could now be by mid to late April – that’s if Covid-19 hasn’t closed down parliament by that time? Brian de Loresays: March 21, 2020 at 11:10 am I understand the TAB is a body corporate, but it should be reclassified as a private company which would allow the codes to negotiate their IP as they see fit Reply The good news: the codes own the TAB! The bad news: the TAB is broke! by Brian de Lore Published 20th March 2020 Today’s stuff.co.nz article blaming the coronavirus for RITA having to go to the Government, cap in hand, for a cash hand-out to save the TAB is yet another blatant example of attempting to pull the wool over the eyes of racing’s long-suffering stakeholders. RITA is today saying it needs a Government bail-out to alleviate a projected $14 million loss through sporting event cancellations and a $3.8 million error they made from offering bonus bets, but the truth of the matter is that the TAB was broke before coronavirus cancelled most sports. It brings to mind that famous quote from American politician Rahm Emanuel: “You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.” Coronavirus has thrown RITA a life-line excuse – or they think it has. It will also become a matter of fact the yet to be released half-year result (ending January 2020) will show RITA was about $4 million behind budget and regardless of the Covid-19 explosion worldwide was heading for another disastrous end of year result. In the SOI (Statement Of Intent) RITA said: “Net profit before distributions for the 2019/20 financial year is budgeted at $165.8 million, an increase of $29.1 million (+21.3%) on the net profit before distributions for 2018/19 of $136.7 million. It is underpinned by a combination of revenue growth including full-year benefits from the new Fixed Odds Betting platform, recovery in elite betting activity, growth in gaming and other key revenue initiatives, and a reduction in operating expenses.” The $165.8 million is a pipedream and is now likely to be closer to $130 million That appeared on the RITA website on 12/11/19. The $165.8 million is a pipedream and is now likely to be closer to $130 million; a budget-miss result of something like $35 million – it’s inevitable the TAB will soon announce stakes money decreases because it’s hard to see the Government fronting with any cash. The reason it gets worse between now and year’s end is because the RITA budget took into account increased profits from two new sport betting options introduced from February, which included something called ‘hockey stick.’ But it hasn’t happened and now with sport cancelled the budget falls into the ‘miss by a mile’ category. The other thing about this story is that it reeks of stage-management by RITA. How else could this story have gone to Stuff had it not been sent in a press release to the media website or a Stuff staff reporter had not received an invitation to attend? Stephen Henry: Coronavirus is threatening to bring down the TAB, which has asked for a cash injection from the Government so it can keep operating. In the story, it said: “Coronavirus is threatening to bring down the TAB, which has asked for a cash injection from the Government so it can keep operating. “It’s serious enough that we have briefed Government today on what it means for us and how they can help, and that includes injecting cash into the business so we can continue to operate. “Henry told stunned workers that everything was being done to minimise its operating costs, including: * Using fewer cameras at race meetings, doing away with Trackside presenters on course, sending fewer production staff, and not operating betting totes. * Cutting a wide range of expenses like travel and overtime – “we should have cut the sausage rolls today.” Chief Operating Officer Stephen Henry quoted above has been part of the leadership team for a considerable period and coincidentally was with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with John Allen before arriving at NZRB – not long after John Allen made the shift. Everyone in racing should be offended by the Henry joke about saving the sausage rolls Everyone in racing should be offended by the Henry joke about saving the sausage rolls when he has been part of the NZRB gravy-train that over two-and-a-half years ago was earmarked for ‘urgent review of the operating costs.’ Needless to say, that review never happened, and Henry remains one of six in the RITA leadership team on a $300,000/year or above salary, and the costs of RITA according to the last annual report was $211 million. Also, Henry mentioned saving travel expenses – that shouldn’t be too difficult given the same annual report says they have been spending $54,000 a week on travel and accommodation. A decent CEO could have gone into NZRB/RITA at any stage in recent history and slashed the costs, but no one in power has displayed either the know-how or the appetite to do it, or both. John Allen was politically appointed, and his tenure cost the industry $200 million when you consider the cost of building the FOB was $50 million and the on-going commitments to pay Paddy Power and Open Bet for five and 10-year terms. Henry’s cost-cutting is too little, too late, and his plea to the Government for a hand-out is certain to get some eyes rolling at the Beehive Henry’s cost-cutting is too little, too late, and his plea to the Government for a hand-out is certain to get some eyes rolling at the Beehive. If three years ago, we’d had a CEO saving just 10 percent per annum of costs – a very achievable target – today we would be $64 million better off. Just 10 percent per annum for three years and racing would not owe the ANZ Bank $35 plus million and wouldn’t be asking the Government to bail-out an institution that is now flat broke. But the thing that racing can say to the Government is that “you have been making all the appointments and this gravy-train is full of ex-Foreign Affairs and Post Office employees – so it’s mostly your fault.’ Since NZRB finished and RITA arrived, the fortunes of racing have continued to decline. Racing was let-down by the failure of RITA to put a big broom through the management and start with Messara’s blank sheet of paper. Nothing changed of any consequence which brought to mind Einstein’s definition of insanity – ‘doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.’ That definition is now a cliché in racing. Dean McKenzie replaced John Allen in January, but on appearances, he looks to have become part of their team rather than making any waves with the introduction of an alternative style of leadership to turn the tide. RITA’s submission to the Select Committee was a massive disappointment to the industry, and McKenzie’s decision to leave the building immediately afterwards and not listen to the three-code submission was rightly viewed with some derision. Information received today tells a different story to the $3.8 million error on bonus bets that Hendry is claiming. And that is, it wasn’t an error but involves some creative accounting that requires an independent investigation. The word of description was ‘smokescreen.’ The original intention this morning wasn’t to write any of the material you have read above. The focus was intended to be a document entitled ‘NZ Racing and Trotting Conferences Off-Course Betting Scheme,’ which came into my possession about three weeks ago. It’s possibly the most important paper for New Zealand racing’s future if indeed it can survive the immediate issues of coronavirus, insolvency, and the prospect of racing closing for a period. The September 1950s publication that says the TAB was the concept of The New Zealand Racing Conference and the New Zealand Harness Conference and was underwritten by the race clubs of New Zealand. The good news: the codes own the TAB! The bad news: the TAB is broke! Coronavirus has thrown RITA a life-line excuse – or they think it has. It will also become a matter of fact the yet to be released half-year result (ending January 2020) will show RITA was about $4 million behind budget and regardless of the Covid-19 explosion worldwide was heading for another disastrous end of year result. In the SOI (Statement Of Intent) RITA said: “Net profit before distributions for the 2019/20 financial year is budgeted at $165.8 million, an increase of $29.1 million (+21.3%) on the net profit before distributions for 2018/19 of $136.7 million. It is underpinned by a combination of revenue growth including full-year benefits from the new Fixed Odds Betting platform, recovery in elite betting activity, growth in gaming and other key revenue initiatives, and a reduction in operating expenses.” The $165.8 million is a pipedream and is now likely to be closer to $130 million That appeared on the RITA website on 12/11/19. The $165.8 million is a pipedream and is now likely to be closer to $130 million; a budget-miss result of something like $35 million – it’s inevitable the TAB will soon announce stakes money decreases because it’s hard to see the Government fronting with any cash. The reason it gets worse between now and year’s end is because the RITA budget took into account increased profits from two new sport betting options introduced from February, which included something called ‘hockey stick.’ But it hasn’t happened and now with sport cancelled the budget falls into the ‘miss by a mile’ category. The other thing about this story is that it reeks of stage-management by RITA. How else could this story have gone to Stuff had it not been sent in a press release to the media website or a Stuff staff reporter had not received an invitation to attend? Stephen Henry: Coronavirus is threatening to bring down the TAB, which has asked for a cash injection from the Government so it can keep operating. In the story, it said: “Coronavirus is threatening to bring down the TAB, which has asked for a cash injection from the Government so it can keep operating. “It’s serious enough that we have briefed Government today on what it means for us and how they can help, and that includes injecting cash into the business so we can continue to operate. “Henry told stunned workers that everything was being done to minimise its operating costs, including: * Using fewer cameras at race meetings, doing away with Trackside presenters on course, sending fewer production staff, and not operating betting totes. * Cutting a wide range of expenses like travel and overtime – “we should have cut the sausage rolls today.” Chief Operating Officer Stephen Henry quoted above has been part of the leadership team for a considerable period and coincidentally was with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with John Allen before arriving at NZRB – not long after John Allen made the shift. Everyone in racing should be offended by the Henry joke about saving the sausage rolls Everyone in racing should be offended by the Henry joke about saving the sausage rolls when he has been part of the NZRB gravy-train that over two-and-a-half years ago was earmarked for ‘urgent review of the operating costs.’ Needless to say, that review never happened, and Henry remains one of six in the RITA leadership team on a $300,000/year or above salary, and the costs of RITA according to the last annual report was $211 million. Also, Henry mentioned saving travel expenses – that shouldn’t be too difficult given the same annual report says they have been spending $54,000 a week on travel and accommodation. A decent CEO could have gone into NZRB/RITA at any stage in recent history and slashed the costs, but no one in power has displayed either the know-how or the appetite to do it, or both. John Allen was politically appointed, and his tenure cost the industry $200 million when you consider the cost of building the FOB was $50 million and the on-going commitments to pay Paddy Power and Open Bet for five and 10-year terms. Henry’s cost-cutting is too little, too late, and his plea to the Government for a hand-out is certain to get some eyes rolling at the Beehive Henry’s cost-cutting is too little, too late, and his plea to the Government for a hand-out is certain to get some eyes rolling at the Beehive. If three years ago, we’d had a CEO saving just 10 percent per annum of costs – a very achievable target – today we would be $64 million better off. Just 10 percent per annum for three years and racing would not owe the ANZ Bank $35 plus million and wouldn’t be asking the Government to bail-out an institution that is now flat broke. But the thing that racing can say to the Government is that “you have been making all the appointments and this gravy-train is full of ex-Foreign Affairs and Post Office employees – so it’s mostly your fault.’ Since NZRB finished and RITA arrived, the fortunes of racing have continued to decline. Racing was let-down by the failure of RITA to put a big broom through the management and start with Messara’s blank sheet of paper. Nothing changed of any consequence which brought to mind Einstein’s definition of insanity – ‘doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.’ That definition is now a cliché in racing. Dean McKenzie replaced John Allen in January, but on appearances, he looks to have become part of their team rather than making any waves with the introduction of an alternative style of leadership to turn the tide. RITA’s submission to the Select Committee was a massive disappointment to the industry, and McKenzie’s decision to leave the building immediately afterwards and not listen to the three-code submission was rightly viewed with some derision. Information received today tells a different story to the $3.8 million error on bonus bets that Hendry is claiming. And that is, it wasn’t an error but involves some creative accounting that requires an independent investigation. The word of description was ‘smokescreen.’ The original intention this morning wasn’t to write any of the material you have read above. The focus was intended to be a document entitled ‘NZ Racing and Trotting Conferences Off-Course Betting Scheme,’ which came into my possession about three weeks ago. It’s possibly the most important paper for New Zealand racing’s future if indeed it can survive the immediate issues of coronavirus, insolvency, and the prospect of racing closing for a period. The document sets out the formation of the TAB – it’s dated 20th September 1950. It clearly states that the New Zealand Racing Conference and the New Zealand Trotting Conference came together to start the TAB and that the start-up costs were underwritten by the racing clubs of New Zealand. Racing has said this anecdotally for years, but to see it in writing is a big deal – it’s proof the codes and the clubs own the TAB and that the tail has been wagging the dog for years, and that now needs to change. The document is 70-years-old, but unless a subsequent paper exists which cedes the ownership to the Government (and none exists), racing is the rightful owner. The beautiful thing is it makes the proposed legislation of the Racing Reform Bill redundant. The Bill at its first reading can be summarised as a paper that took away all of racing’s rights and decision making, stole the IP, provided the Minister with the eternal right of interference and control, and opened the door for sports to come in and be a partner in the business at no cost to them. It did nothing to improve racing. Ownership of the TAB means that racing can, with pride and a significant degree of scorn towards the pretenders, hold up its middle finger to all that nonsense and say, ‘we’ll have back what’s ours, thank you very much.’ The Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee had a meeting yesterday with the PCO (Parliamentary Counsel Office) to initiate the Bills rewriting, which is expected to incorporate something like 120 changes and became a document far more acceptable to the needs of racing. The second reading of the Racing Reform Bill could now be by mid to late April – that’s if Covid-19 hasn’t closed down parliament by that time? To read the entire Stuff article entitled Coronavirus: TAB in crisis over sports cancellations, click here: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120423822/coronavirus-tab-in-crisis-over-sports-cancellations?cid=facebook.post&fbclid=IwAR06SbVv7X_g6OVHDJyJC5X-FRzjhdzsia-J26iG5uOjWgcXfiR42_s2xNg his, RITA has no money coming in after Wednesday but has an operation that costs over $10 million a week to run – that’s RITA without considering the codes. They owe the bank a minimum of $35 million, possibly $40 million. They will have to go into statutory management, no other choice that I can see. With no racing, it’s a chance to get rid of everyone and reduce to a skeleton staff – that’s what should happen. I have just withdrawn my $152.65 from my TAB account because I don’t want to lose it to the ANZ. Reply 2) get and regardless of the Covid-19 explosion worldwide was heading for another disastrous end of year result. In the SOI (Statement Of Intent) RITA said: “Net profit before distributions for the 2019/20 financial year is budgeted at $165.8 million, an increase of $29.1 million (+21.3%) on the net profit before distributions for 2018/19 of $136.7 million. It is underpinned by a combination of revenue growth including full-year benefits from the new Fixed Odds Betting platform, recovery in elite betting activity, growth in gaming and other key revenue initiatives, and a reduction in operating expenses.” The $165.8 million is a pipedream and is now likely to be closer to $130 million That appeared on the RITA website on 12/11/19. The $165.8 million is a pipedream and is now likely to be closer to $130 million; a budget-miss result of something like $35 million – it’s inevitable the TAB will soon announce stakes money decreases because it’s hard to see the Government fronting with any cash. The reason it gets worse between now and year’s end is because the RITA budget took into account increased profits from two new sport betting options introduced from February, which included something called ‘hockey stick.’ But it hasn’t happened and now with sport cancelled the budget falls into the ‘miss by a mile’ category. The other thing about this story is that it reeks of stage-management by RITA. How else could this story have gone to Stuff had it not been sent in a press release to the media website or a Stuff staff reporter had not received an invitation to attend? Stephen Henry: Coronavirus is threatening to bring down the TAB, which has asked for a cash injection from the Government so it can keep operating. In the story, it said: “Coronavirus is threatening to bring down the TAB, which has asked for a cash injection from the Government so it can keep operating. “It’s serious enough that we have briefed Government today on what it means for us and how they can help, and that includes injecting cash into the business so we can continue to operate. “Henry told stunned workers that everything was being done to minimise its operating costs, including: * Using fewer cameras at race meetings, doing away with Trackside presenters on course, sending fewer production staff, and not operating betting totes. * Cutting a wide range of expenses like travel and overtime – “we should have cut the sausage rolls today.” Chief Operating Officer Stephen Henry quoted above has been part of the leadership team for a considerable period and coincidentally was with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with John Allen before arriving at NZRB – not long after John Allen made the shift. Everyone in racing should be offended by the Henry joke about saving the sausage rolls Everyone in racing should be offended by the Henry joke about saving the sausage rolls when he has been part of the NZRB gravy-train that over two-and-a-half years ago was earmarked for ‘urgent review of the operating costs.’ Needless to say, that review never happened, and Henry remains one of six in the RITA leadership team on a $300,000/year or above salary, and the costs of RITA according to the last annual report was $211 million. Also, Henry mentioned saving travel expenses – that shouldn’t be too difficult given the same annual report says they have been spending $54,000 a week on travel and accommodation. A decent CEO could have gone into NZRB/RITA at any stage in recent history and slashed the costs, but no one in power has displayed either the know-how or the appetite to do it, or both. John Allen was politically appointed, and his tenure cost the industry $200 million when you consider the cost of building the FOB was $50 million and the on-going commitments to pay Paddy Power and Open Bet for five and 10-year terms. Henry’s cost-cutting is too little, too late, and his plea to the Government for a hand-out is certain to get some eyes rolling at the Beehive Henry’s cost-cutting is too little, too late, and his plea to the Government for a hand-out is certain to get some eyes rolling at the Beehive. If three years ago, we’d had a CEO saving just 10 percent per annum of costs – a very achievable target – today we would be $64 million better off. Just 10 percent per annum for three years and racing would not owe the ANZ Bank $35 plus million and wouldn’t be asking the Government to bail-out an institution that is now flat broke. But the thing that racing can say to the Government is that “you have been making all the appointments and this gravy-train is full of ex-Foreign Affairs and Post Office employees – so it’s mostly your fault.’ Since NZRB finished and RITA arrived, the fortunes of racing have continued to decline. Racing was let-down by the failure of RITA to put a big broom through the management and start with Messara’s blank sheet of paper. Nothing changed of any consequence which brought to mind Einstein’s definition of insanity – ‘doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.’ That definition is now a cliché in racing. Dean McKenzie replaced John Allen in January, but on appearances, he looks to have become part of their team rather than making any waves with the introduction of an alternative style of leadership to turn the tide. RITA’s submission to the Select Committee was a massive disappointment to the industry, and McKenzie’s decision to leave the building immediately afterwards and not listen to the three-code submission was rightly viewed with some derision. Information received today tells a different story to the $3.8 million error on bonus bets that Hendry is claiming. And that is, it wasn’t an error but involves some creative accounting that requires an independent investigation. The word of description was ‘smokescreen.’ The original intention this morning wasn’t to write any of the material you have read above. The focus was intended to be a document entitled ‘NZ Racing and Trotting Conferences Off-Course Betting Scheme,’ which came into my possession about three weeks ago. It’s possibly the most important paper for New Zealand racing’s future if indeed it can survive the immediate issues of coronavirus, insolvency, and the prospect of racing closing for a period. The document sets out the formation of the TAB – it’s dated 20th September 1950. It clearly states that the New Zealand Racing Conference and the New Zealand Trotting Conference came together to start the TAB and that the start-up costs were underwritten by the racing clubs of New Zealand. Racing has said this anecdotally for years, but to see it in writing is a big deal – it’s proof the codes and the clubs own the TAB and that the tail has been wagging the dog for years, and that now needs to change. The document is 70-years-old, but unless a subsequent paper exists which cedes the ownership to the Government (and none exists), racing is the rightful owner. The beautiful thing is it makes the proposed legislation of the Racing Reform Bill redundant. The Bill at its first reading can be summarised as a paper that took away all of racing’s rights and decision making, stole the IP, provided the Minister with the eternal right of interference and control, and opened the door for sports to come in and be a partner in the business at no cost to them. It did nothing to improve racing. Ownership of the TAB means that racing can, with pride and a significant degree of scorn towards the pretenders, hold up its middle finger to all that nonsense and say, ‘we’ll have back what’s ours, thank you very much.’ The Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee had a meeting yesterday with the PCO (Parliamentary Counsel Office) to initiate the Bills rewriting, which is expected to incorporate something like 120 changes and became a document far more acceptable to the needs of racing. The second reading of the Racing Reform Bill could now be by mid to late April – that’s if Covid-19 hasn’t closed down parliament by that time? To read the entire Stuff article entitled Coronavirus: TAB in crisis over sports cancellations, click here: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120423822/coronavirus-tab-in-crisis-over-sports-cancellations?cid=facebook.post&fbclid=IwAR06SbVv7X_g6OVHDJyJC5X-FRzjhdzsia-J26iG5uOjWgcXfiR42_s2xNg Sharing is caring! 10 thoughts on “The good news and the bad news” Henrietta Bedfordsays: March 20, 2020 at 7:15 pm What criminal fraudulent behaviour. However the people who are really to blame are the people who gave thém thé jobs . In most cases you only had to see them or listen to them speak to know that they were either not equipped for the job, or understood nothing about the job, or cared not at all about the job. What a tragedy for NZ and for an Industry that employs many thousands of people, an Industry that creates big exports and is often a World leader. Reply Adrian Stanleysays: March 22, 2020 at 4:10 pm I would love to go through all the staff in the tab and Nztr, look into their their rolls. Look at salary’s and general exspences for the work they do. I think it could be cut by 50 million straight away. This should of been done years ago Reply Brian de Loresays: March 23, 2020 at 8:53 pm Good observation, Adrian. Consider this, RITA has no money coming in after Wednesday but has an operation that costs over $10 million a week to run – that’s RITA without considering the codes. They owe the bank a minimum of $35 million, possibly $40 million. They will have to go into statutory management, no other choice that I can see. With no racing, it’s a chance to get rid of everyone and reduce to a skeleton staff – that’s what should happen. I have just withdrawn my $152.65 from my TAB account because I don’t want to lose it to the ANZ. Reply Kevin Rooneysays: March 20, 2020 at 7:15 pm Yet another example of the pathetic crap bags of beaucracy who actually think they are important to the industry ie Stephen Henry crysaallised in their little glass towers oblivious to the hard working people at grass roots.trainers ,track riders stablehands who get up at 3am to make the sport happen Having been a HANDS ON dairy farmer for 40 yrs I know and totally understand the rigours of staying in an industry where most of the time the CEOs and their co horts who have never got their hands dirty or got out of bed before 6am have any realisation what drives the industry Keep at the bastards Nihil Bastardum Carborundam Reply Chris Luonisays: March 21, 2020 at 11:04 am New Zealand as we knew it on 1 February will never be the same again for some time. The 1950 document you have unveiled should also be available in the Parliamentary archives so let’s place the onus on the government to prove its non existence. Well done with this exposure and it is a major disappointment that many of our racing leaders and their organisations did not have any idea that this legal document existed. It should be have been considered like the statutory doxs of a company which are filed on record with the Companies Office. A question? What type of entity is the TAB? Eg a company, an incorporated society etc. Reply Brian de Loresays: March 21, 2020 at 11:10 am I understand the TAB is a body corporate, but it should be reclassified as a private company which would allow the codes to negotiate their IP as they see fit Reply Chris Luonisays: March 21, 2020 at 7:02 pm As the galloping and harness codes were the capital subscribers to the formation of the TAB in 1950 are they the only owners of the TAB.? Reply The Omaha kidsays: March 21, 2020 at 7:54 pm Well done Sherlock … Reply Wayne Deegansays: March 22, 2020 at 10:25 pm Can’t believe this great sport of racing has been hijacked by these fat cats who have sucked it dry.Fully support what Kevin Rooney said they would never have got their hands dirty.Well done Brian on your work which has shown up a lot of pigs in a trough.How McKenzie got top job is beyond me following his past performances. Reply Brian de Loresays: March 23, 2020 at 8:56 pm Pigs in the trough is a good description. Couldn’t agree more. The Minister now needs to act quickly in the best interests of racing – this will test him, but I’m not holding my breath! Reply Leave a Reply Your email address will not be published. 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Every day and every action brings us closer to justifying outsourcing communication to SKY and wagering to TABCORP. Unlike NZ they are public companies ACCOUNTABLE to shareholders. Now is the time to act as it has now been proven beyond doubt that the CLUBS have owned the TAB since 1950 Refer to this weeks OPTIMIST for factual confirmation of this. More evidence to give the Industry a greater say in matters and less for the bureaucrats.