KellyAnne

Interesting to read about Gulfstream Park’s days being numbered less than 10 days after NZTR trumpeted its partnership with the track’s parent group. They sure know how to pick winners!

Kings Birthday noms have already closed, so would need to be NY 2026. Best place for info is: [email protected] good idea though, must be others deserving of recognition!

Wonderful to see NGH recognised!! But you’d think NZTR would’ve tried a little harder to at least get things right in the email they sent out about the NY Honours. Check out the following: Born into a racing family, his father Jock Harris was also a jockey. Among his most memorable victories were the 1988 New Zealand Derby aboard Tidal Light and the 1999 Auckland Cup with Lahar, as well as wins on New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame inductees Castletown and Poetic Prince. Where the hell did they come up with Harry riding Tidal Light in the Derby? (Grant Cooksley did the honours there when regular jockey Michael Coleman was injured). And the 1999 Auckland Cup winner was Irish Chance. I thought NZTR had a library of reference books or do they just use ChatGPT now?! At least they managed to mention Castletown & Poetic Prince!

I stumbled across the NZTR Annual Report today which made me wonder when the AGM is/was happening. I can’t recall seeing anything advising the date, but as an organisation they’ve seemed a little loose around governance lately It would be good to see the minutes from recent years to see what input clubs have had compared with the days where the AGM was run with military precision. Recently it seems the chair (previous, not current) would rather avoid interaction with any clubs other than the north, and had a preference for online AGMs which were over in minutes.

If the best that can be said is that he “managed” the industry through the back end of Covid and relocated NZTR to Cambridge then he hasn’t really achieved much in his two and a bit year tenure. Sticking around until the end of the year is understandable but why would you need him to stick around as a consultant? He has a great grasp of sports-talk word salad but seldom says anything of value. If you were the new CEO the last thing you’d want is the old one leaning over your shoulder!

Exactly! No bloody accountability at all. If 90% of the people posting here could see that the grass was too long then why couldn’t the track manager? I actually commented to my mate when watching the interview with the track manager that given the length of the grass and the “light rain” (which according to Balcomb came out of left field ) they may have issues. Depressingly this just gives the northern focussed NZTR another reason to shift CD Group races.

It would be good to see actual stats re injuries, fatalities rather than anecdotal stuff. Presumably there is a more complete report which includes evidence and data?

Mainstream media has no interest in racing. The only reason there are “stories” in the Herald are because NZME is pocketing six-figures to do so.

Interesting thread but (at the risk of being pilloried for pedantry) could we at least spell Jayne’s name correctly? Some seemed to slip into “Jane” surely she’s been around long enough to get it right? Like others I am hoping we will benefit from her experience in some way. The combo of Jayne & Brad is a great “get” for the CD!

$19 for 250ml, $10 for 150ml & reasonable bottle prices - comparable to prices elsewhere. Food is great too, a welcome addition!

Did NZTR not realise there was going to be an election? This peculiar email seems to signal that they had done nothing prior to the election to determine what might happen should the Govt change (or even remain the same). Incredibly erratic behaviour to advise dates one week and then postpone them the next and blame the election. Still I’m sure NZTR hierarchy will find it heaps easier to liaise with the Govt of the day from the new NZTR base in the Waikato

While the activists would like to believe they are the reason, they aren’t. Suggest all Racecafers start to follow KickUpForRacing -

Just wondering when the last time anyone on Racecafe encountered a NZTR Board or senior management person at the races? Or even your local Members’ Council rep?

I know it can sometimes be difficult to tell watching on TV but the “crowd” at Hastings looks rather miserable when you compare it to previous years. This much lauded, but confusing, Grand Tour promo was meant to drag along all the young ones. The one shot I saw of a “Grand Tour bar” looked deserted. Another case of the marketing gurus messing with an event which used to be a sell out and stuffing it? Perhaps they should’ve had a look at some of the footage this morning of past events. The old adage about great horses bringing people to the races is so true, they were lined up 3-4 deep to watch Sunline and the place was chokka, same thing when Xcellent won…you’d think today’s field would’ve attracted plenty. Perhaps if those who “promote” racing focused on doing that instead of obsessing about an Auckland league team the numbers through the gates at Hastings might have been better ?!

Also, has happened previously in the South Island with Sam Wynne having two horses she trained in the same race. She rode one (which may have had family connections in the ownership) and had another jockey, I think Chris Johnson (?) on the other.