ridiculous

There does appear to be a bit of a push to cull the numbers...of participants.

All the activists need to do is invest in a few dogs and they'll help these bigwig kennels push us over the line to extinction.

Keep piling straw on the camel and watch what happens

 

All the activists need to do is invest in a few dogs and they'll help these bigwig kennels push us over the line to extinction.

Keep piling straw on the camel and watch what happens

 

I reckon a lot have had enuff, issues never get sorted, investigations swept under the mat, and there is nothing in the game for the average owner or trainer.

We might have to make a choice between jobs for the few or a hobby for the many I fear. 
Poorly managed for a very long time with not enough foot on the brakes even now. Regardless what we may all think is the answer there's more to this than just our opinions, and if we don't sort this out we'll all pay for it. The old adage, too little, too late springs to mind.

I see the argument of NZ vs Au as hypocritical for a number of reasons. You mentioned one CD breeder specifically and I would like to make comment on that because it is a prime example of the hypocrisy of this argument. If you look at the number of litters bred/sires used in recent seasons you will notice the absence of NZ sires fathering progeny from that kennel. This breeder does not support local sires, I presume because he doesn't believe they are good enough. The money outlayed for straws all goes back to Aussie as does the money for any straw purchased from Australia. I see no difference in importing semen to importing dogs. So if you want to go down the let's ban imports route, why don't we ban semen imports as well, let us support the local sires and keep breeding totally in house? This is a kennel that is held up here in the CD as a shining example of NZ breeding yet they also race imports. Given the numbers bred, why would imports even be considered? I also find it ironic that the last kennel star was not the product of that kennel but instead the deliberate pairing of a small time breeder. If you are going to allow large-scale breeding then you need to ensure that the numbers produced can be re-homed at retirement. Don't try and pass blame on to someone who chooses to not to breed.

And how is this going to attract more people into the industry? Great for the established trainers but wont draw much new interest I wouldn't think.

I don't post very often, but I guess this is too important to ignore.
I've bred and raced horses most of my adult life. In my seventies I still keep an active interest, although I no longer have land to raise my own horses. My latest 3yo might even pay her way. None of the 20+ horses I've bred and raced have so far.
First, closing racetracks. Yes, we have too many, but closing some of the 'iconic' country tracks doesn't seem sensible, if they can survive with community support.
We loved racing a horse at Kurow, for their once a year meeting, where the whole town played a part in a making it a great success. Horse won there the year before, came last this time, but we still loved the day. Woodville has always epitomised the country track where visitors are welcome, and it's always fun to participate. Can these tracks be sold and the proceeds go to support racing? Well, maybe, but if they're going to line the coffers of NZTR who will fritter it away, the answer must be a resounding NO! I do not trust our racing administrators.
Some city tracks could definitely be sold for much-needed housing development, but I wonder how much money would be generated for the benefit of racing?
Racing administration. Poor, and in need of thorough revision. Turkeys will never vote for Christmas, but we have more than our share of these birds as administrators, who no longer have a place in modern racing. I wouldn't advocate eating them at Christmas, but putting them out of their misery would be a good idea.
I'd hate to see training centralised around a few 'big' training centres. Closing tracks all over the place might close down a lot of marginal trainers upon whom racing will always depend. Have the NZRB achieved anything?  By now John Allen must at least have a superficial knowledge, but at what cost? No more of these overpaid renegades from the Post Office, please.
TAB. Would it be a disaster if it were sold to a foreign operator, as long as they were bound to run it for the benefit of we people who enjoy racing? Trackside should revert to free to air.  Our TV presenters should at least be able to emulate their Australian counterparts. Right now they're pretty cringeworthy.
Breeder's contribution. As a breeder who has sold the odd one abroad, I wouldn't object to a (say) 10% levy on all horses sold abroad, whether they're from the yearling, RTR, broodmare or private sales. If that money were to go to stakes, that would help increase stake moneys. Time the breeders played their part.
All weather tracks? Hmmm.. well I detest Awapuni, but then not as much as Trentham. I think Trentham is well past its use-by date. Sell it for real estate development, use the money for a decent (maybe all-weather track within fast commute from Wellington)  We need better tracks where horses can race fairly. Better tracks, better track management and a realisation that racing is part of the entertainment business is a must. If we can't encourage younger people to participate and enjoy racing as owners & punters, then the outlook is pretty bleak.
Racing has been poorly managed from the top down. A new broom needs to sweep out the dreadful administration and make it a pleasant experience to watch horses racing.
Winston, love him or hate him has delivered us an ultimatum of sorts. Rather than whinge and pick it to pieces, we need to get in behind and broadly support the initiative, ensuring that the bad bits are neutralised, and the broad thrust is supported.

Well done on shooting our reputation to shit once more
 

We've all had a few days to reflect on this and it just looks more and more remarkable to me. Blind leading the blind.

They call John Key "the smiling assassin"? Hello, it's Winston.

If anyone else had called in an Aussie who gives recommendations to flog off half our venues in the greatest land grab since the treaty of Waitangi while suggesting giving the keys to the till to the Aussie TABCorp - this report would go down like a ton of bricks.

Would we take the ride if it was someone from the green party standing up with this exact same message?

For example, Gareth Hughes says we are going to cut the number of venues in half, and give up the huge amount of intellectual capital that's gone into the Kiwi IT and infrastructure side of things, the jobs there, and let the show be run from Aussie.  
Same message, different messenger.

It could be a masterstroke from Labour greens. Get Mr Trusted to sell them the worst deal ever and they'll buy it. 

For the short term Winston just needs next election's votes.
Will he even run in the next election?

Perhaps WP doesn't even know he's the fall guy. There could be some other political trade off?? NZfirst done very well so far.

It peeves me no end the NZRB corporate bureaucracy and there is stupid money lost there but as much as you will no doubt disagree, I think John Allen did put losses on the forecast before they happened, with a plan to lift the financial nose pretty much about right now. Instead of being patient a bit longer and sticking to the plan, and then deciding once we really know if it's worked as planned, we are jumping the gun just before payday and a nasty little bait-and-switch is going on, and we're all going to get stiffed instead, and racing will end up with no choice next time around. 

Too much wagered on a dark horse with this report he needs to hear from the provinces where our tracks and clubs actually are that he's talking about closing down, because that's where the heart of racing is, not Melboune or Petone

No point writing a letter here send it to Winston and National now not later

We've all had a few days to reflect on this and it just looks more and more remarkable to me. Blind leading the blind.

They call John Key "the smiling assassin"? Hello, it's Winston.

If anyone else had called in an Aussie who gives recommendations to flog off half our venues in the greatest land grab since the treaty of Waitangi while suggesting giving the keys to the till to the Aussie TABCorp - this report would go down like a ton of bricks.

Would we take the ride if it was someone from the green party standing up with this exact same message?

For example, Gareth Hughes says we are going to cut the number of venues in half, and give up the huge amount of intellectual capital that's gone into the Kiwi IT and infrastructure side of things, the jobs there, and let the show be run from Aussie.  
Same message, different messenger.

It could be a masterstroke from Labour greens. Get Mr Trusted to sell them the worst deal ever and they'll buy it. 

For the short term Winston just needs next election's votes.
Will he even run in the next election?

Perhaps WP doesn't even know he's the fall guy. There could be some other political trade off?? NZfirst done very well so far.

It peeves me no end the NZRB corporate bureaucracy and there is stupid money lost there but as much as you will no doubt disagree, I think John Allen did put losses on the forecast before they happened, with a plan to lift the financial nose pretty much about right now. Instead of being patient a bit longer and sticking to the plan, and then deciding once we really know if it's worked as planned, we are jumping the gun just before payday and a nasty little bait-and-switch is going on, and we're all going to get stiffed instead, and racing will end up with no choice next time around. 

Too much wagered on a dark horse with this report he needs to hear from the provinces where our tracks and clubs actually are that he's talking about closing down, because that's where the heart of racing is, not Melboune or Petone

No point writing a letter here send it to Winston and National now not later

We've all had a few days to reflect on this and it just looks more and more remarkable to me. Blind leading the blind.

They call John Key "the smiling assassin"? Hello, it's Winston.

If anyone else had called in an Aussie who gives recommendations to flog off half our venues in the greatest land grab since the treaty of Waitangi while suggesting giving the keys to the till to the Aussie TABCorp - this report would go down like a ton of bricks.

Would we take the ride if it was someone from the green party standing up with this exact same message?

For example, Gareth Hughes says we are going to cut the number of venues in half, and give up the huge amount of intellectual capital that's gone into the Kiwi IT and infrastructure side of things, the jobs there, and let the show be run from Aussie.  
Same message, different messenger.

It could be a masterstroke from Labour greens. Get Mr Trusted to sell them the worst deal ever and they'll buy it. 

For the short term Winston just needs next election's votes.
Will he even run in the next election?

Perhaps WP doesn't even know he's the fall guy. There could be some other political trade off?? NZfirst done very well so far.

It peeves me no end the NZRB corporate bureaucracy and there is stupid money lost there but as much as you will no doubt disagree, I think John Allen did put losses on the forecast before they happened, with a plan to lift the financial nose pretty much about right now. Instead of being patient a bit longer and sticking to the plan, and then deciding once we really know if it's worked as planned, we are jumping the gun just before payday and a nasty little bait-and-switch is going on, and we're all going to get stiffed instead, and racing will end up with no choice next time around. 

Too much wagered on a dark horse with this report he needs to hear from the provinces where our tracks and clubs actually are that he's talking about closing down, because that's where the heart of racing is, not Melboune or Petone

No point writing a letter here send it to Winston and National now not later

We've all had a few days to reflect on this and it just looks more and more remarkable to me. Blind leading the blind.

They call John Key "the smiling assassin"? Hello, it's Winston.

If anyone else had called in an Aussie who gives recommendations to flog off half our venues in the greatest land grab since the treaty of Waitangi while suggesting giving the keys to the till to the Aussie TABCorp - this report would go down like a ton of bricks.

Would we take the ride if it was someone from the green party standing up with this exact same message?

For example, Gareth Hughes says we are going to cut the number of venues in half, and give up the huge amount of intellectual capital that's gone into the Kiwi IT and infrastructure side of things, the jobs there, and let the show be run from Aussie.  
Same message, different messenger.

It could be a masterstroke from Labour greens. Get Mr Trusted to sell them the worst deal ever and they'll buy it. 

For the short term Winston just needs next election's votes.
Will he even run in the next election?

Perhaps WP doesn't even know he's the fall guy. There could be some other political trade off?? NZfirst done very well so far.

It peeves me no end the NZRB corporate bureaucracy and there is stupid money lost there but as much as you will no doubt disagree, I think John Allen did put losses on the forecast before they happened, with a plan to lift the financial nose pretty much about right now. Instead of being patient a bit longer and sticking to the plan, and then deciding once we really know if it's worked as planned, we are jumping the gun just before payday and a nasty little bait-and-switch is going on, and we're all going to get stiffed instead, and racing will end up with no choice next time around. 

Too much wagered on a dark horse with this report he needs to hear from the provinces where our tracks and clubs actually are that he's talking about closing down, because that's where the heart of racing is, not Melboune or Petone

No point writing a letter here send it to Winston and National now not later

Had to laugh, "Are greyhounds pet dogs or working dogs"
Seriously, is that the best question we've got??

The way I read it the dog was simply not eligible. That the JCA interpreted the rules only raises more questions I'm afraid.

The circus goes on...and the clowns are in abundance

The way I read it the dog was simply not eligible. That the JCA interpreted the rules only raises more questions I'm afraid.

The circus goes on...and the clowns are in abundance

The way I read it the dog was simply not eligible. That the JCA interpreted the rules only raises more questions I'm afraid.

The circus goes on...and the clowns are in abundance

The way I read it the dog was simply not eligible. That the JCA interpreted the rules only raises more questions I'm afraid.

The circus goes on...and the clowns are in abundance