Stables

If funding is reduced by 25%, as indicated by Holden, it is imperative that this reduction should be made at the top level. For example, the New Zealand Cup could be run for $150,000 rather than $600,000 and still have the same field. Stakes at the lower level are already way too low. If you win a race you would be lucky if the stake won would cover 2 months training fees. If racing is going to continue there must be incentives at the lower end to at least give owners a chance of covering costs

Tasman Man, the breeding side of the industry is already stuffed. If racing takes your path the whole industry will be gone

If funding is reduced by 25%, as indicated by Holden, it is imperative that this reduction should be made at the top level. For example, the New Zealand Cup could be run for $150,000 rather than $600,000 and still have the same field. Stakes at the lower level are already way too low. If you win a race you would be lucky if the stake won would cover 2 months training fees. If racing is going to continue there must be incentives at the lower end to at least give owners a chance of covering costs

If funding is reduced by 25%, as indicated by Holden, it is imperative that this reduction should be made at the top level. For example, the New Zealand Cup could be run for $150,000 rather than $600,000 and still have the same field. Stakes at the lower level are already way too low. If you win a race you would be lucky if the stake won would cover 2 months training fees. If racing is going to continue there must be incentives at the lower end to at least give owners a chance of covering costs

I can't agree with you at all in respect of NZMTC. They have made redundancies. Now they need to have 1 additional person after being allocated 77 race days (which I guess will go down to 75 or less) in order to cope. I don't think that's unrealistic. What would happen at the moment if Brian Rabbit was sick on a Monday morning?
In respect of HRNZ they cannot be compared to the excesses at RITA for example. I had to work with them for a number of years and everyone I dealt with seemed to be gainfully employed. However what will happen now is that Holden will slash and burn without having a clue in the world what he is doing, or what anyone else does, then he will bugger off and leave a mess behind as he did at the Greyhounds. He was also not well regarded in the Class IV gambling industry. His modus operandi seems to be to ingratiate himself with Chairmen, get a well paid post, spend 2 or 3 days a week in the office, make everyone miserable, fire a few people., pad out his CV, then leave when he can pick up more governance positions that don't even require the 2 or 3 days a week
Mikie

I had no idea your father was in hospital Mike and I genuinely hope that he fully recovers. He has served Harness Racing well in the past. HRNZ has 4 PR people and 5 IT people, do you not consider that excessive, what do they all do? THE website is superb and so it should be with its staff resource , but what on earth do 4 PR people do?

I'm not saying Greg's incompetent, the reverse in fact. But neither HRNZ or NZMTC have reviewed their staff numbers and the necessity or output of each position. How can they therefore increase staffing in this current financial climate

No I didn't mean higher graded necessarily.
I meant as an example...say a 16 horse field of Maiden's. Don't expect a raceday start unless you have good raceday form or qualifying trial form.

If you don't.... back to the trials until you do.

IMO....Shouldn't the best rated and form credentialed horses get preference over all other starters regardless? 🤔
Bring back qualifying trials!
That would fix this scenario...if you ain't capable of winning or placing in a trial you have no right to a start raceday ahead of others who have?

The first objective must be to stop the $17,000,000 annual payments to Paddy Powerless!! 🤬

Listen to nomates & Leggy everyone....we have been racing beyond our means for years to the detriment of our grassroots/coalface participants.
I believe we need better stakes at the bottom to encourage growth in Ownership, Investment, Sponsorship and Participation.
Higher Stakes will again come in time for stakes races with mass involvement.
FIRSTLY HOWEVER WE MUST PROTECT OUR PUNTERS!  and not by shutting down our shop windows TAB's, Racebooks, Race Media, Marketing, General News, Form & Information!
REMOVE ALL OBSTACLES FOR THE PUNTER!
Racing can continue at this level here...IMO any horse that is capable of winning a stakes race in NZ... is good enough to race competitively in Australia for better stakes and that is the short term reality!....Be-it the Aussie Bush, Darwin, Tasmania or the Metro City's
Like now.... horses with any ability can and will race in places like Australia, Singapore & Hong Kong but maybe with more NZ Owners who re-invest here with their Overseas Dollars??

 

Now Gruff, what a strange question for a man of your intellectual capabilities

Grow up you infantile moron

One problem Berri, you need to subscibe to read the article

Grow up you infantile moron

I'm sure your information is soundly based Scooby, but I hope like hell you're wrong

You need to wonder if the Sunday programe was aired at this point of time to bring it to the general publics attention to let the concerns smoulder and when and if the Cole case goes public it will be like throwing petrol on the smouldering fire and then wait for the reactions.wouldnt be surpised if the anties saw this as a oppturnity.

unfortunately it's just the world we live in at the moment.....
greyhound racing horse racing dairy farming all stock farming i guess,fishing equestrian whitebaiting nothing is safe from these activities.....
the thing that pisses me off is they get offered platforms to spread there crap/lies and propaganda....
normally it's Tv3 thats happy to give them air time but when TV1 starts getting in on the act makes it a bit harder to swallow as its our own tax dollars stabbing us all in the back.......
greyhound racing has made massive improvements in animal welfare over the past 10 years there will always be bad eggs but in general most people try their best and love their animals.....
i spend some time of the year at the local freezing works in season 8000 lambs a day and 400 cattle never seen 1 activist at the gate in 13 years......
does not fit their agenda as most of the activists are probably sitting down for a lamb chop about now......
 
 

What a wise investment then isnt it,and they still get to race.

Sad News broke today that highly respected Northern Trainer Steve Clark had passed away suddenly.
Steve had a lifetime association in The Greyhound Code,harking back to Kumeu Days during the 1970's.
After mixing his  business career & greyhounds as hobby,The New Millennium saw Steve get serious & devote all his time to building up a strong Racing Team.
From his Dairy Flat Kennel,alongside partner Kathy,he tasted Group One success for the first time in time honoured Waterloo Cup 2008 with Magic Spike,They also combined to win NZ Shootout in same year
Steve enjoyed mass publicity due to deeds of star stayer Swift Fantasy,a dual Group One winner in Silver Collar 2010,and NZ Stayers Cup 2011.
A rare Group One Quinella followed in 2012 NZ Derby,with a litter he bred and reared seeing Grizz and Peking Tom starring.
Another home bred Blitzing Mayhem gave Steve his first NZ Cup victory in 2014,a celebration lasted long into the night next day at Sefton Arms.(thanks Steve)
Recent years saw a change in property and downsizing his team,but another quality hound gave Steve his second NZ Cup on mantelpiece with Pinny Mack in 2019.
Ironically,Pinny Mack was favourite today at Manukau In The Peter Earley Classic,his final race in a stellar broadcasting career.However,like Steve,his runners never made it to the start'.
Thanks Steve for the many trips to the races,and thrills galore helping with your runners on the track.
Condolences to your Daughters, Grandkids ,and Kathy.
 
 
 

the IT department exists as a promotional activity for HRNZ

Mikey, you will have to speak to HRNZ about their competency for the job, I didn't hire them. I wonder how much their total salaries add up to?

John Toohey, Bryce Stenberg, Melanie McLean, Li Hao Sheng, David Rolton, Darrin Williams, Dave Di Somma, Michelle Harris, Courtney Clarke. How's that?

Hardly

Stacey white, Jess Smith for starters