TARANTULA

I wonder what level of accountability there is for any of these people? What happens if they make horrendous cock-ups?
For instance, jamming all those group races onto slot day was always going to be an horrendous cock-up. Anyone could have told them we didn't have the horses to do what they tried to do.
And they have acknowledged they cocked up by moving "one" of the races away this season. But have any fingers been pointed at the person whose idea it was? Has Ballsy announced that someone has been "let go" because they were too stupid even for NZTR?

How many “General Managers” do we need:
Matt Ballesty - CEO
Mitch Lamb - General Manager of Racing
Zac Reynolds - General Manager of Brand Experience, Communications & Industry promotions
Dan Smith - General Manager of Strategy & Transformation
Sam Fursdon - General Manager of Welfare and Industry Capability
Darin Balcombe - General Manager of Special Projects
Charlotte Mills - Racing Consultant
These guys are just taking the piss now…….

Your deluded .😝

Fcuk! So there isn't a single person in NZ with any racing knowledge or skills? Can anyone remember the days when our administrators used to go over to run Moonee Valley and numerous other Aussie racing clubs?
Why is NZTR searching the world to employ people with bookmaker backgrounds? Surely that is Entain's role?
Which one of those three will be sending a quick note off to Invercargill to advise them how they could possibly have tweaked their programme a little this Friday?
I wonder how much it has cost to employ these three? Anyone want to run a sweepstake on how long the three of them and Ballsy last?

I feel more confident already .

I attended the Northern Apprentice Awards tonight, a well run function.
Great to see Ace in attendance, winning an award and having a good chat with George Simon.
He hopes to be back in the saddle early in the New Year, which is great news.
Aaron Cruden was the guest speaker, his interview was great, all about life’s challenges and his career as an All Black  from humble beginnings and his Health issues as a 19yo.
Lance O’Sullivans interview was also very on point, and his words about the late Taiki Yanagida brought a tear to my eye!
Nice function, well done to all the winners and the Sponsorship from Tony Rider, Milan Park and the Lindsay’s for their Venue at Cambridge Stud.

Thanks Chris I never knew it was even on. Good to hear about Ace and yes the loss of Taiki was so sad and affected many as he was a great decent person, with so much life still ahead. He is flying high now....gone but he will never be forgotten by all he knew him.That is recognition in itself.

That was absolutely unbelievable, just beyond belief

Wow!! Old mate, did you see that!! Oscar bolted in by eight lengths on a dead track, and another patient drive from master horseman, Mark Purdon. Both, he and Oscar are getting better with age, Iraklis mate. 
Go Oscar, you beauty. 

What would southern racing   be without him? Two more winners today with his son. His longevity and contribution in so many areas continues to amaze me. I know he's in the Hall of Fame, but just an anchor for Southern racing for so long.

Wishing her every success after what she's been through.

Perhaps the others are still waiting for their head pieces to arrive ......
Sad thing is the Teletubbies are easier to understand and at least mildly entertaining 🤓

 

Mares Served;
20/21        2005  -10%
21/22        2037  + 1.6%
22/23       1968   -3.4%
23/24       1769  -11.8%
24/25       1552  -10.7%     Mares served last 5 years down 34%, that's a guaranteed significant drop in numbers in the coming years!

To be fair Pete , it's bloody hard keeping up with what's happening with our tracks .
What's being fixed , what's been fixed but still needs fixing , what's being closed , what's been closed but resurrected because some tracks that were fixed needed some more fixing and we needed extra tracks to cover , then some tracks that are closed to be fixed but just when no one is sure , if ever .
Now I'm not even sure if I have covered every scenario possible because it's basically a shitfest  that no one has a handle on just about any of it .

Family first: Emotions fly as Moody is ushered into Hall of Fame
Peter Moody at the Star Brisbane with family Wife Sarah and daughters Breann, Celine and Cara . Pic Annette Dew   By Daniel Pace Peter Moody said he would trade in "every Black Caviar they could ever breed" to ensure his daughter Cara was safe as a police officer as the champion trainer's voice cracked with emotion for his induction into the Hall of Fame on Sunday in Brisbane.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart were killed in the line of duty at Porepunkah in Victoria last Tuesday.
While honoured to become the latest member of racing's Hall of Fame, Moody broke down in tears as he told the enraptured audience at Star Casino that it paled into comparison to the safety and wellbeing of his family.
"I'm unbelievably proud of my children and I think it's the same for everyone, you live through their lives," Moody said.

Peter Moody has been inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame Picture: Annette Dew
"Cara is a Victorian policewoman. It was the happiest day in my life on Tuesday when she sent me a text and said ‘Dad, I'm OK, I've lost two colleagues'.
"To receive that as a father, knowing what your daughter has got to go out and do every day, cheers love.
"I'd trade in every Black Caviar they could ever breed to make sure she walks home safe every night as a policewoman."
The audience at the gala ceremony gave Moody, who became a household name as the trainer of champion mare Black Caviar, a standing ovation at the end of his heartwarming speech.
"Family, that's the biggest one isn't it?" Moody said as his voice cracked with emotion.
"We just heard Tappy (fellow inductee and former legendary race-caller John Tapp) talk about his children growing up without a father on the weekends.
"I think we're all the same and I've had a chat with Chris Waller.
"This is when I get emotional, talking about family. I'm a big, sooky bastard.
"My mum, she's here today. She worked for (my wife) Sarah and I for the first couple of years when we couldn't afford to pay her wages.
"My three older sisters out the back, they always had my back so thanks girls."
Moody's daughter Breann couldn't attend the gala function because of her AFLW commitments for Carlton but her twin sister and aspiring trainer Celine was there.
Champion trainer Waller had earlier talked about trying to talk his kids out of getting into the business because of the early hours and incredibly hard work but the horse has already bolted for Moody.

Peter Moody at the Star Brisbane with wife Sarah and daughters Celine, Breann and Cara Picture: Annette Dew
"I'm not like Chris, I haven't tried to talk the family deadset out of it but I did put plenty of negatives in front of Celine when she said ‘Dad, I'm coming to work for you'," Moody said on stage.
"And Sarah, what can I say? It's been 35 years darling. We've still got the pot but we don't have to piss in it these days.
"I don't think she'll mind me saying this but she was dyslexic and had to teach herself to read or write because no bastard realised the disease that she had.
"Now she runs a business that the likes of Lindsay Park and Darley Australia have gone to her offices to work out how she runs such a successful business when we were at the height of our powers about 10 years ago."
Moody's journey from the red dirt of Wyandra in outback Queensland to internationally respected Group 1-winning champion trainer has become a fairytale story.
He famously combined with jockey Luke Nolen as champion mare Black Caviar embarked on her unbeaten 25-race winning streak to etch her name into the history books.

Brittany is a real gem, presents brilliantly and no mute button used when she is on 

After enduring part of that circus on Thursday night Trackside, I have to give credit to Greg O'Connor and Brittany, and their production team for today's Riccarton coverage. Very professional in terms of presentation, interviews. They made the show about the horses, riders and trainers, and not about them.
Well done them.😄 Trackside Thursday night please take notice . Urgently 

Meeting at Awapuni to be run on Sunday on the poly has been postponed due to insufficient entries .
The wall is yelling for a reprieve from the constant head banging from NZTR . 

I just want to wish David Ellis a speedy recovery...to me only two things really matter in life...Health and Family...get well soon....
From Te Akau...

While the racing has been wonderful, it has been a more challenging time for me personally. In July, Karyn and I headed away for our winter holiday. The day before our return I began feeling unwell, and though I felt better by the time we flew home, within two days I was very sick and admitted to hospital.   The result was major surgery to remove a kidney. I spent almost two weeks in hospital before being discharged in recent days, and I am now slowly recovering. To be back in my own bed was the best feeling, and each day I am regaining a little more strength.   I want to thank everyone who has sent messages and well wishes – they have meant a lot to me and Karyn. I also want to acknowledge the excellent care I received at Auckland Hospital. At one point I had a drip in each arm, lines in my stomach and in my back, but the specialists and nursing professionals looked after me with great knowledge and compassion. And of course, I cannot thank Karyn enough for being by my side and taking such wonderful care of me during this time.

Give that man who wrote that a large ice-cream .
My bet is it won't touch the side of one brain cell of the persons that it is directed at .
They wonder why people are getting out , they are screwing the pooch to death .
Nothing has been done to change my mind , I'm out when my two are finished .
Aussie here I come .
 

Im looking forward to it. 

Firstly, good on you Lamour, hope you fired back a decent sorta reply? 😆
Secondly, point is Double mate, you just said a mouthful 'and a chance for people attendin the meetins where the drivers are drivin' I ask, how the hell are people (outside of Harness) goin to 'attend' the meetins if they don't know about them in the first place? yes Harness maybe minority at the mo; but it has been allowed to become that, why? if Harness is to get through this, and once again be an entertainment force, and I've heard it said we need new blood involved (both young an old) then Harness needs to be SEEN; an I don't mean go watch the races....point: the Warriors aren't the greatest team in the NRL (no disrespect intended) but look at the attendance at their games, look at the fans, watch them, they have buy in to their favorite team, the package is sold to them (and I don't mean buy in as in purchase/sell) even when the team aint doin so great; and it's that buy in, that we are missin.
The WDC may not be an earth shatterin event, but it could be if it's marketed right....Harness needs to be in yuh face win or lose, our stars of the sport front an centre, both equine and human; people need to be given that chance to 'BUY' into it again....they did once and it can happen again, if those in the OFFICE quit 'assessin' an just flat out do! 💪
 
Cheers Iraklis

Agree with everything you say Iraklis but generally the sports media in this country aren’t interested in Harness Racing outside of Cup Day & when there is a scandal.   I did email Brad Steele after he became CEO & told him he needs to get hold of a PR person that has contacts with the media and can get major events covered.  There are such people around who make a good living doing this.  I even gave him a contact that could possibly help.  He replied back but just said he is reassessing their mrdia strategy.  Nothing has changed. 

Hi Bruce.Third line after $200 bet in green……DONE.
And you have been. !!!!!!

At last 😆 Sugar Ray Lincoln finally put a whole race together, and won one woohoo!!! 👏👏👏 I've never so pleased to see a horse get there 1st, albeit by the shortest of margins he finally got there, dammnnn! I haven't worked that hard cheerin a horse home for bloody longtime 🤣 I can tell yuh, I booted his butt all the way up the straight, man I'm positively buggard today (nothin to do with the celebratory liquids downed after, nooooo!) took him an age in the straight to make his mind up but he got there....onya Fergie you da man 😆
Guys, new kid on the block Prince Lincoln gave MarkP and Andretti a curry up in the 2yr ol Pace.... RayG got a nice youngster there....
 
Cheers Iraklis