bestbets

I remember those days so well and how great it is that we no longer have to go into a pub, club and go home smelling like an ash tray. I was a smoker many moons ago and smoked on the bus on the plane, oh how things have turned around. I find 99% of smokers are very aware of non smokers and go away to a quite area to have a fag.
My post was a quick response to how those people in authority or in positions to make these decisions believe they know how people should live there lives. As leighton Smith will tell you, little by little before we know it we won't be allowed out our front door.

An interesting idea from over the ditch....how do you reckon this would go.....?
FUNK IT UP
This Armchair Punter has always been an advocate for more innovations in racing, as it is a sport which mostly doesn't sell itself.
Rusted-on punters will bet anytime, anywhere, but most of the rest of the population only get seriously interested at Melbourne Cup time or when horses like Black Caviar or Winx come along.
What better time than the horses birthday this week to spark more some conversations about what horse racing should look like in the future. 
Surely it must centre around the consumer and their experience.
One of the more funky ideas I have heard comes from a marketing man who suggests an innovative way of getting racegoers back to empty tracks.
"How cool would it be one day if you could be at the track and purchase those virtual reality goggles? You could select which horse you want for each race and you see what the jockey sees during the race," our man says.
Sounds far-fetched? They are already looking into that sort of stuff in Aussie cricket's Big Bash. And VR technology is a big part of many American sports.
Anything which can broaden racing's fan base and make it more appealing to the next generation is surely worth debating and exploring.

Nice idea to encourage turnover but I get the impression often on course that  punters who do turn over a bit are a pain in the ar@e - otherwise why would they have so few windows open, man them with old biddies who can't work the machines, and who all take their lunch and morning tea breaks at the same time leaving one window open, and also not have enough cash to pay out even a modest collect .......
 
It's no wonder everyone who does go on course just drinks - it's easier to get a beer

I think this is a great idea, but why stop at telling punters they can't go outside and have a smoke at the races?  I think racing clubs should start limiting punters to a maximum bet of $5 or so to show they also support gambling responsibly and within limits.

Well BB, smoking isn't illegal you correctly point out. But it is banned in many public places, school grounds, sports stadiums, on trains, buses etc. I can remember back when smoking was allowed anywhere! Including aeroplanes, movie theatres, buses, offices, etc. Now nearly all, if not all, Office Buildings are smoke free. So yes, not illegal. But neither is urinating. But urinating in a public place "is" illegal. Just ask Dover Samuels !  

As smoking isn't Illegal are they able to enforce this. The world has gone fucking mad now racing has as well. 

As smoking isn't Illegal are they able to enforce this. The world has gone fucking mad now racing has as well. 

As smoking isn't Illegal are they able to enforce this. The world has gone fucking mad now racing has as well. 

As smoking isn't Illegal are they able to enforce this. The world has gone fucking mad now racing has as well. 

Although the following may be contentious, it needs to be discussed...
All weather track racing is very boring as the way the surface acts dictates the pattern of racing.
Many grass track horses don't perform on all weather tracks.
What actual artificial surface will be used because although the surfaces are adequate under specific conditions, New Zealand tends to have a completely different climate attitude so the success or not of the surface will be dependant on the right interpretation of the climate in that area
It is the impression that the all weather tracks will be utilised during the winter season because it is the perception that because of the poor winter weather and tracks, the all weather will replace this issue. The winter could be perceived to be from May to August..What is apparent though is that there are as many race meeting called off outside of this time period, so the issue really is IF we invested the same funds on logical restoration and management of the current race tracks, would that eliminate many of the cancellations. It would seem that in the UK, France or Australia to name three, that they proportionately have less cancellations than we do.
The question of the requirements for the tri-code to agree is interesting. It would seem that the disaffected party is galloping as both dogs and trots generally speaking run on all weather tracks anyway.
The notion that all weather tracks are of benefit is to say that all weather racing (post better management of the current race tracks) creates a market niche for NZ racing that would improve the current betting revenue commensurate to the cost (IRR and that relevant barometer). I have yet to have been presented with any evidence to suggest this is investible.
I may be boring to the extent that I repeat myself in respect of replacing the winter flat galloping with a proper jumping program and facilities. I repeat myself because I have seen the spectacle and participation/ betting figures in NZ. I believe that it will also enhance the longevity and value to the thoroughbred industry (both horse stock and human participant). I don't believe that the current tinkering with a flawed jumps program is a true reflection of the potential because no-one that I have met in this country understands the way you can structure the program (starting with a bumper program for three year olds all the way through to the championships).
If we are going to do this, lets make it properly for the future. 4 super venues should be created.
Each should have at 3000 acres at their disposal. Each should have two race tracks with multiple training tracks. Each of the racing tracks should be able to cater for at least 30 runners. One of the two tracks should be a championship track.
 At least one of them should have a home straight should be at least 1600m in length.
Each venue should be built next to a small town so as to obtain resource consent for at least 1000 dwellings  in order to create a real estate play to cover the cost of the entire project, and to provide accommodation for the industry participants (horses too) and support service providers. Part of this should be a retail development. The real estate play can be part sale/ purchase and part long term lease in order to provide affordable housing.
Each venue should also accommodate facilities for alternative equestrian sports.
If you want all weather tracks, this could be part of the centralised play.
Just go to the UK and to China to see what the blue print looks like. Anyone that has been to Newmarket will understand what I am saying.
We need to look 40 years ahead to get this right. It is not only all weather that will make NZ racing a viable proposition. Rationalise the current structure to accommodate the seed capital to execute the model.
 
 

As smoking isn't Illegal are they able to enforce this. The world has gone fucking mad now racing has as well. 

Whether the pokies are right or wrong......
I go to the local (new) stadium to watch daughter play basketball and along the bottom of the scoreboard rolls 'thanks to the following sponsors.....'  One of whom is the New Zealand Racing Board.
Now it is nice to see good publicity from an obviously successful grant application but it would have been even nicer to have had (say) the President of the Greymouth Jockey Club or a local TAB operator with their picture in the paper presenting the cheque($10000 I believe).
Nobody has ever commented on it and I guess 99% of people don't care but every time it rolls past I am delighted to see it and think of them getting money from that source.  But gee I wish there had been some decent publicity in it for the racing game.  All the mainstream media portrays in racing is either the bad stuff or the comedy like Trentham yesterday.
The TAB or the Trust should be saying to donee organisations 'we require a publicity photo and any possible promotion of the grant'.   Or signage saying 'the TAB - proud to support West Coast Basketball'.   Lotto constantly flog the crap on TV about how much good they do - where is the racing game doing the same?
 
 

Yes waiting to see if your horse got in is painful enough especially when there are over 30 nominations for one race, but then finding they have split a different race and your horse once again misses out is criminal. When other courses are having poor nominations wouldn't you think they would run a popular meeting with maximum numbers of races to clear the backlog. Makes it difficult for owners to keep the faith month after month and difficult for trainers to convince the owners to stick with it. 

Why not put in a Strath Ayr track and race there every 2nd weekend on a good surface. 
Works for Moonee Valley!

it is beyond a F***en joke not even Melbourne Cup day and they cant cope. sack the lot of them
 
Used to be called leakage now its a bloody flood!!! everyone should close TAB account and go offshore

I would have thought that someone would have started a thread today congratulating Michael Coleman on achieving the notable milestone of riding 2000 NZ winners but surprisingly no.
Congratulations Mickey, welcome to a notable club. Only six other riders have achieved the feat. David Walsh, Lance O'Sullivan, David Peake, Bill Skelton, Noel Harris and Chris Johnson.
   

Sad to hear, I buy the only Best Bet that goes to my local garage in fact if I am late they always put it a side for me. I will never get use to not having something so simple to read and I like to write down a few notes and dividends.
The Informant I found very hard to read as writing was small and everything was all jammed up not layed out in a nice easy to read format, but will revisit to see if I can adapt. 
I can print out the fields at home on A4 pages but I end up with lots of pages and not something I want to cart around when I go out. The computer I love as we are spoilt for information but I don't like using the computer for my study. I find I look at one area of a field on screen and then go further down the screen to see the rest of the field and bugger me if I haven't forgotten what is further up the page I lose what the hell is further up the page and I just give up.
I wonder why The TAB never advertises outside of Trackside. All they seem to do is advertise to their own customers, bit weird if you ask me. Lotto advertises to everyone, I go online and read a online paper or go to other sites and get lotto popping up with adverts about winning so many million, drive down the motorway and they have a electronic billboard telling you how much 1st division is this week... WHAT DOES THE TAB DO....close down free to view, close down tracks, close or reduce the paper content and then get rid of the Best Bets. I get a feeling some powers that be really don't give a shit about racing an thats the reason it is where it is.
  

Well they do need to do something to attract newbies . With no freeview, and a huge reduction in print media etc etc,  racing is becoming more and more a secret society only known to current participants.   

Sad to hear, I buy the only Best Bet that goes to my local garage in fact if I am late they always put it a side for me. I will never get use to not having something so simple to read and I like to write down a few notes and dividends.
The Informant I found very hard to read as writing was small and everything was all jammed up not layed out in a nice easy to read format, but will revisit to see if I can adapt. 
I can print out the fields at home on A4 pages but I end up with lots of pages and not something I want to cart around when I go out. The computer I love as we are spoilt for information but I don't like using the computer for my study. I find I look at one area of a field on screen and then go further down the screen to see the rest of the field and bugger me if I haven't forgotten what is further up the page I lose what the hell is further up the page and I just give up.
I wonder why The TAB never advertises outside of Trackside. All they seem to do is advertise to their own customers, bit weird if you ask me. Lotto advertises to everyone, I go online and read a online paper or go to other sites and get lotto popping up with adverts about winning so many million, drive down the motorway and they have a electronic billboard telling you how much 1st division is this week... WHAT DOES THE TAB DO....close down free to view, close down tracks, close or reduce the paper content and then get rid of the Best Bets. I get a feeling some powers that be really don't give a shit about racing an thats the reason it is where it is.
  

Sad to hear, I buy the only Best Bet that goes to my local garage in fact if I am late they always put it a side for me. I will never get use to not having something so simple to read and I like to write down a few notes and dividends.
The Informant I found very hard to read as writing was small and everything was all jammed up not layed out in a nice easy to read format, but will revisit to see if I can adapt. 
I can print out the fields at home on A4 pages but I end up with lots of pages and not something I want to cart around when I go out. The computer I love as we are spoilt for information but I don't like using the computer for my study. I find I look at one area of a field on screen and then go further down the screen to see the rest of the field and bugger me if I haven't forgotten what is further up the page I lose what the hell is further up the page and I just give up.
I wonder why The TAB never advertises outside of Trackside. All they seem to do is advertise to their own customers, bit weird if you ask me. Lotto advertises to everyone, I go online and read a online paper or go to other sites and get lotto popping up with adverts about winning so many million, drive down the motorway and they have a electronic billboard telling you how much 1st division is this week... WHAT DOES THE TAB DO....close down free to view, close down tracks, close or reduce the paper content and then get rid of the Best Bets. I get a feeling some powers that be really don't give a shit about racing an thats the reason it is where it is.
  

Sad to hear, I buy the only Best Bet that goes to my local garage in fact if I am late they always put it a side for me. I will never get use to not having something so simple to read and I like to write down a few notes and dividends.
The Informant I found very hard to read as writing was small and everything was all jammed up not layed out in a nice easy to read format, but will revisit to see if I can adapt. 
I can print out the fields at home on A4 pages but I end up with lots of pages and not something I want to cart around when I go out. The computer I love as we are spoilt for information but I don't like using the computer for my study. I find I look at one area of a field on screen and then go further down the screen to see the rest of the field and bugger me if I haven't forgotten what is further up the page I lose what the hell is further up the page and I just give up.
I wonder why The TAB never advertises outside of Trackside. All they seem to do is advertise to their own customers, bit weird if you ask me. Lotto advertises to everyone, I go online and read a online paper or go to other sites and get lotto popping up with adverts about winning so many million, drive down the motorway and they have a electronic billboard telling you how much 1st division is this week... WHAT DOES THE TAB DO....close down free to view, close down tracks, close or reduce the paper content and then get rid of the Best Bets. I get a feeling some powers that be really don't give a shit about racing an thats the reason it is where it is.
  

Sad to hear, I buy the only Best Bet that goes to my local garage in fact if I am late they always put it a side for me. I will never get use to not having something so simple to read and I like to write down a few notes and dividends.
The Informant I found very hard to read as writing was small and everything was all jammed up not layed out in a nice easy to read format, but will revisit to see if I can adapt. 
I can print out the fields at home on A4 pages but I end up with lots of pages and not something I want to cart around when I go out. The computer I love as we are spoilt for information but I don't like using the computer for my study. I find I look at one area of a field on screen and then go further down the screen to see the rest of the field and bugger me if I haven't forgotten what is further up the page I lose what the hell is further up the page and I just give up.
I wonder why The TAB never advertises outside of Trackside. All they seem to do is advertise to their own customers, bit weird if you ask me. Lotto advertises to everyone, I go online and read a online paper or go to other sites and get lotto popping up with adverts about winning so many million, drive down the motorway and they have a electronic billboard telling you how much 1st division is this week... WHAT DOES THE TAB DO....close down free to view, close down tracks, close or reduce the paper content and then get rid of the Best Bets. I get a feeling some powers that be really don't give a shit about racing an thats the reason it is where it is.
  

DAVID WALSH TO JOIN NZTR STAFF


 

 
Former champion jockey David Walsh is to take up a full time role with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.


 
Walsh, who has ridden more winners in New Zealand than any other jockey, will next month begin working as the NZTR training and welfare officer for the South Island.


 
Walsh will be based in Christchurch and will also have responsibility for health and safety and licensing.


 
Part of his role will be to mentor and support apprentice jockeys and the promotion of careers in thoroughbred racing.


 
He will begin his new position in early June and will take over from Will Harnett, who has resigned from NZTR to take up employment outside the racing industry.


 
Walsh announced his retirement from race riding in January, after a stellar career that produced more than 2500 wins, two New Zealand premierships and wins in the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup, Brisbane Cup and Adelaide Cup.


 
He became the most successful jockey in New Zealand in terms of wins when notching win No. 2360, in the Marlborough Cup, at Blenheim in 2014.


 
His host of Group I victories in New Zealand included a hat-trick of Telegraph wins at Trentham.


 
He also made a mark as a trainer, winning a Group I race with Zirna.


 
“I’m really looking forward to the [NZTR] job,” Walsh said. “I didn’t want to leave the industry and this has come along at the right time


 
“I’ve already been helping the young riders down here [in Canterbury] off and on for the last five or six years.”


 
Walsh is passionate about recruiting people into the racing industry. “We need to go out there, into the schools and pony clubs, to explain what a great industry this is to work in.


 
“They aren’t coming to us at the moment and we need to get out there and find the riders and staff of the future. They need to know that you don’t have to be a Jim Cassidy or an Opie Bosson to do well.”


 
NZTR Racing Operations Manager Tim Aldridge said the organisation was delighted to have secured somebody with Walsh’s background.


 
“He will be the ideal person to follow the good work done by Will Harnett,” Aldridge said.


 

 

The wife has a small share n a horse that raced in the first at Hastings and the horse's rider lost his irons after 20m after being bumped.If you read the stipes report it did mention that he was bumped but nothing about the rider losing his iron.
I would have thought that this information is worth reporting and do the Stewards believe this info is irrelevant or are they just out of their depth,for God's even the Head Stipe was present TO OBSERVE..
I give up with this mob,
SNR 

So I guess your Catholicism excuses these people that show up on TV surrounded by 8-9 snot-gobblers Midget complaining about living in cars or garages when it is their rampant rooting that causes the basic problem in their miserable lives. There will always be genuine cases where our humanity kicks in, but Michael Laws had the answer--offer these bloody sperm receptacles $5K to get their tubes tied after 2 kids. I'd offer them $50K to make sure society does not have to deal with the detritus they produce.
P.S. I am a very charitable person with a social conscience but life is about carrot and stick--all carrot these days, no bloody stick. Had it in my own extended family so know what I am talking about. And BTW, I concur that pokies are a scourge in society.