KellyAnne

Haven't we already got Temu PVL in the shape of C George?

Isn't it odd how the rest of us who live and work in the real world consider co-ordinating staff events, celebrations and social club activities part of the role of a manager and/or random staff (specifically social club). The staff newsletter and internal communications I find really amusing - according to their last published Annual Report they had 50 staff, wouldn't an email suffice? And what the hell are the communications people doing if they can't do internal comms? Booking travel, assisting with onboarding and farewells, just a real mish mash! This sounds like a role which has been created to pick up all the annoying parts of the day-to-day work that should be done by the "very special" managers. Unfortunately, they are far too busy trying to come up with inventive ways of stuffing the calendar and mucking up programming, so horses are needing trials to fill the month-long gaps between suitable races. Given the current state of the industry I can't believe Ballesty signed off on this. Tone deaf and monumentally stupid.

Unfortunately they don’t qualify, it’s been established in court

This all appears to have happened prior to the watch of the current RACE and WRC chairs so who created this god awful potential train wreck?

How many times can you say “great” when things obviously aren’t? While video can be a useful tool if you have a message to deliver it can also provide insights you might not have intended. Defending NZTR spending while you’re also flushing, red-faced perhaps with embarrassment, not a good look. Side-stepping the issue of the multiple “managers” who can’t seem to manage their own roles and therefore avoiding the salary bloat was also a huge neon flashing light. I’d say stick to the written word, but the lack of industry understanding among their comms team and the overuse of AI, makes their written “communications” dreadful too.

Might just be me, but does anyone else find the Backers and Staked graphs below each runner annoying? It seems to serve no purpose, they even state it is an “estimation for entertainment purposes only”. Does anyone know whether there is a way to get rid of it? If they consider it entertainment then why not restrict it to Betcha given it seems designed to appeal to those incapable of independent thought? I can forgive them the semi-illiterate comments which appear to be written by a poorly schooled AI agent because at least they aren’t in your face, but these things are extremely distracting - to the extent that I’ve barely had a bet over the past month or so.

Given the fact that an outbreak of strangles (or potentially any other contagious disease) is always a possibility I would’ve expected a more rational, comprehensive approach. This is Chicken Little stuff with the potential of seeing strangles spread across the country. Relying on people to do the right thing has never worked in the past and the Dick Street mob have proven they aren’t exactly across what is going on. If they were serious about racing continuing they would’ve put travel bans in place and at least looked like they cared about protecting the regions currently (we hope!) without strangles. Looks like they’re going for the seat of the pants approach instead.

I fear you are % right. As usual they will be “aspirational” and forget the majority of horses who never go close to breaking even. As much as I have enjoyed racing horses I am drawing a line under my participation once the current four finish up. It’s been fun - well maybe the earlier part was! Recently I’ve been wondering why I’d bother given the attitude of the NZTR Board. Nah, 45 years as an owner is plenty. Apparently the young people are the future, let them pay the bills instead! I’ll enjoy spending my (not inconsiderable) disposable income on me for a change!

It’s not like racing hasn’t faced “uncertain times” before, but in the past it’s been clubs/NZTR Vs the TAB fighting for a fair payout… remember the John Allen days of the RIB’s $60m staff bills? These “uncertain times” seem to comprise clubs deemed surplus to the Northern Zone fighting for survival basically on their own. Divide and rule is working well for them!

Interesting to hear the Trackside talking heads actually come close to ridiculing the NZTR rule which demands retirement of horses once they reach 12. They instead talked about “bending” the rule, specifically mentioning rising 12yo Nedwin. If they’d actually read the rule they would know there is an exemption for the jumping season to allow horses like Nedwin to complete the jumping season. But that doesn’t make this adoption of an Aussie rule any better. My view is that this rule makes a mockery of how we view our trainers. Horsemen and women who deal with these animals daily over years have way more idea as to when a horse has had enough. I am sure there are others who recall the mighty Teak racing at a great age. And yes, I am aware this issue has been raised before. What really aggravates me is that the same idiots who are bemoaning small field sizes have contributed to the problem. It’s “welfare” they say, which implies those they’ve given licences to don’t understand welfare! And what happens to these fit and sound 12yos once they face enforced retirement?? They go hunting, eventing, showing, anything to keep them active….those second careers can carry on for many years. Just think for a minute, how many horses have you seen racing into their teens? The number would be small and retirement usually came when the trainer advised “he/she told me they’d had enough”. Let’s leave the retirement decision to those who have the ability to listen to the horse, not the Dick St Aussie-bred pen pushers. I suggest an email campaign directed to their “welfare” person: Sam.Fursdon@nztr.co.nz

Can confirm that @DESI is on the money. Bernard Hickey, long time NZ Owners’ rep is now the chair of the MC on the retirement of Geoff Vazey. Expectations are high!

Meanwhile it seems, nothing must be reported.

I think probably Sam Moncur

As of June last year Geoff Vazey was the chair of the Members’ Council - according to the NZTR website. Not sure what the situation is following the report from the Advisory Group which was leaked to NRB and others a few weeks back.

They don't make it easy here; the programming was left until the last minute and there is no rhyme nor reason to it. Looks like it was done by some bloke who thinks we keep our horses in a shed over the summer and bring them out at the first sign of winter and they are ready to go.