Dissident

Drug and alcohol testing is getting more and more common, most companies have a zero tolerence though so half the legal driving limit might be considered lenient these days. Shane McAlistar has a very valid point. It would make sense to test prior wouldn't it, but random and or after incidents also seems to be standard for jobs such as truck driving(not saying that's right, probably a cost thing). As an industry they might also come up short of drivers if all were tested prior to getting in a cab of a 10 tonne or so truck.

Yes, I thought for most in Nz now it was essentially a reality of paying for ownership because you have a passion for racing. If you don't have a passion for it then I can't see why you would want to pay for it. Not so long ago minimum stakes were only $5000. A small handful get lucky with a repeat Group 1 winning horse, and even then if syndicated chances are the horse has to go to Oz to chase the real prize money. If it doesn't get sold to Oz or Hong Kong first. With the Foxbridge example is it any wonder most choose to take those offers from overseas? Leaving some leading trainers to consider themselves "pre-trainers". Seems to have been quite an influx through eventstars and on gavelhouse. That could actually make it a good time for some to get involved or increase numbers for less outlay, but I think the true drop off will come, just not until later. If current stakes are only sustainable because of a bailout, then the longer term reality is there is no certainty on stakes for the 2021/22 season.

What a horse. Hard to have dry eyes when you see what him and Graham did together.

Sounds fantastic! I have read a bit about that, and seen the photos of the packed course. One of my older friends talks about the tough thoroughbreds of that era too. Would have been great to experience and see

Yes, I have sadly been at Trentham on a sorry winter weekday, where I struggled to find 5 ppl to count on course(excluding members which maybe scraped in at 20 odd). It really made it hit home just how close to dying the industry is. I had many great days on course at Awapuni as a kid in the 80s and 90s, highlight always being the boxing day races with bouncy castles etc-there was always good family entertainment on course and a decent crowd. Sometimes they would run competitions for kids as well. Later on my aunt and uncle had a homebred racehorse who had a few wins there which always added excitement. Also have fond memories of watching Castletown with Dad, winning from the back on free to air tv. While Mum was at work he would be happily placing bets over the phone with the local tab. Watching Winx win her 4th Cox plate after a day at Trentham was a memorable moment, with good company. For me, more recently having moved to the Waikato I have loved being able to go to meetings like Legends Day, Waikato Cup Day, and a real highlight was Karaka Millions, boy what an atmosphere! There is life left there yet. The bet/win would have to be the filly I have a share in winning her first start. Certainly got me yelling more than anticipated. Great topic, I enjoy reading the stories.

Yes, I did read an article on the endless concrete recently. All of the above certainly provides a very logical explanation. Also I go there for work on occasion and the local perception around the end of June was certainly that plenty of rain had fallen recently and yet the reserviors were no fuller. The engineer I work with there had also been talking to a watercare engineer, who said when they get water from the Waikato river it has to be treated 10-12 times, and it is still dirtier than what comes out of the sewage treatment plant

I personally don't like this overarching theme that still seems to be getting pushed in nz. Lockdown has just made it more obvious too. Many of us prefer to live out of the big cities but then have to commute to and from work, due to a lack of jobs in smaller towns. Also a necessity due to cost of housing eg who can afford to buy a house in Auckland? During lockdown many people worked from home, just as productively, if not more. But lo and behold there is a govt directive that everyone must go back to their inner city offices to support central businesses. Not because it's better for us, or better for LOCAL economies, or better for the environment, but because it supports inner city businesses. Now we can all see clearly the 2 hrs or so daily we waste on commuting backwards and forwards, and what does it gain? In most cases zip. So I agree, Foxton would be a great little hub if investment was directed there. Affordable housing, good for the local economy, jobs for locals or would encourage more to move there. Surely we want to be taking pressure off struggling infrastructure in cities, not adding to it...looking again at Auckland and their water woes as an example.

Yes, govt depts are getting told to be prepared for a swift shift through the levels, being told to work from home again which doesn't bode well unfortunately. Essentially the same messaging as last time. Seriously hope we are not going to L3 or 4 but indications are not good.

Yes, if the Americas Cup crews can sail because they are considered "commercial"...

Yeah got to be the race closed too late and someone managed to get a decent bet on a foregone conclusion. 11 seconds is a decent lag-races get closed by Aus unless the links in the 1980s background system they never upgraded drop out. Could be that or the whole system just running too slow. And they still can't see where they went wrong.

I wonder if it was removed after scratchings due to the size of the fields? Just I see r1 ended up being a 3 horse race and r2 a 4 horse race?

Yes tab.com.au but make sure on vic (not nsw)

Yes it would be interesting, but no way of finding that out that I know of, unless you work for the tab.

Usually but not always. Obviously less interest from them in our racing so it doesn't usually make a big difference to our pools. I know Melbourne Cup day they don't commingle on a few of our meetings as they have so many of their own. Yes, on the figures, our tote takes a good few seconds longer to collate all the last second bets after closing too. Sometimes can take almost as long as a whole greyhound race. As well as that the vast majority of bets are placed within the last few minutes prior to the race closing. If a large bet goes on late then it can cause quite a change in the odds. Not all bet types are commingled either(though certainly win &plc are)-sorry I can't remember the exclusions anymore.

commingled so combined with tabcorp(aus)

Or maybe the Auckland Harbour bridge? I remember this being talked about a couple of years ago, you just reminded me. Thought it should have been dated April 1. https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/racing/101870242/sydney-harbour-bridge-horse-race-gaining-momentum

Like your thinking, outside of the square. Yes that qty and confidence in nz racing would be biggest challenge. Good idea planning to have some trained in Oz. Are you planning to market to Oz as well? I think a good mix including the breeding side too. Could get a few pin hooks and take them to R2R sales? Minimum term 12 months?

Unsure of $ but I believe it does cost a bit for the 2 channels yes. However some of the overseas product eg US racing is very low cost due to reciprocol agreements and footage coming from a standard live streaming website with a minimal subsciption cost. Thats why the powers that be like it so much I guess. Low cost high profit. There is an additional administration cost however as much of it is manually run. That also leaves more room for error, particularly with operators pushed to run more and more at the same time. Can't see a justified place for it amongst Saturday domestic and Aussie racing. Despite evidence the turnover all but halts when domestic and Aussie racing starts they insist on trying to squeeze more and more in. There is certainly a top driven directive to get more and more of the overseas product in, qty over quality is the result unfortunately. That does to a certain extent feed back to the cost of the 2 channels-with the "ideal" being stated as a race every 4 mins. Problem is that leaves no room for time delays or issues, and I can tell you clubs are increasingly unimpressed by the lack of lead in time they get-it directly impacts their turnover.

Yes, due to COVID-19 projects which generate jobs for teams of people, particularly in the regions have got more govt support. I think 1 was certainly needed at Cambridge with the # of horses in training there. Trainers do have real issues trying to get horses up and ready for spring with the state of the tracks in the region at this time of year. Don't know enough to pass any judgement for the other 2 that are proposed.

Apparently the Cambridge one won't, the additional price was prohibitive. So it will the same lighting used for trackwork now, with no night racing. They could be added later but are not in the current plan. They were certainly looked at.

Hmm...did they ever advise what happened with the restructure of higher paid positions? I know they cut their customer service by 2/3 to less than a dozen ppl, but haven't heard of any of these mysterious jobs paying well over double at over $100,000 being cut yet.

Yes, and the government is fast running out of millions left to dish out. With the coalition collapsing and without Winston, it could be tough luck, no bail out available.

The only relevant part might be the fact that it was his first ride back. Shouldn't lessen the punishment but could certainly contribute to making a very poor split second decision. I can't understand why there should be any consideration of the spring carnival or covid. Doesn't sit too well, him moaning about his potential lack of opportunities to earn $ in Spring when his own actions have stopped another jockey from earning any at all for a minimum of 6 months. 6 weeks is ridiculous, particularly when its stated it should be 3 months. And he still thinks he made the right call going for the "gap"?? So wait til next time he makes the same move again? Didn't someone over there get suspended for 2 months just yesterday for not riding a horse out? But a dead horse, seriously injured jockey and narrow escape from further carnage is a more acceptable outcome???! Crazy.

Indeed. Or if the same scenario had happened to Hugh himself on Winx.

Sure is.