bus stop

Well rather than making statements on things you "heard around the traps", why don't you just ring the damn clubs or GRNZ to actually find out? 

The world is being forced into a radical rethink and not before time. For once in my lifetime, nature has been allowed to breathe. We are witnessing natural phenomena that humanity has never experienced before. People who never exercised now stroll pollution free streets. Families sit down to dinner cooked from scratch. Gardening has become a thing once more. A new type of hero emerges, they are not the 5 million dollar All Black, the overpaid CEO of Spark. Many positives balance tragedy and hardship. Every aspect of our lives is being examined and re-examined. Nature has hit the reset button.

The racing industry was in trouble long before COVID-19 reared its head. The divisions within growing at an alarming rate. We created and promoted monopolies, we adopted a more is better mentality, a corporate culture of saturation. Those at the top believing they are all that and renumerating themselves accordingly, those attached reaping the benefits of that aliance. We now see that model failing across the world. From our lounge sofa, we are watching the world unravel. Nothing will ever be the same again.

We somehow believe we are important, that we are untouchable. Big mistake. Fact is we are non-essential. We exist to satisfy the needs of a very small percentage of the population and that is scary. We have the opportunity to make ourselves over. To discard what came before and start anew. Strength comes from supporting each other, not propping up the few. Over the next six months, life will be very challenging and I personally don't believe that our present leadership has what it takes to get us through. They seem hellbent on following an existing prescription, a flawed model.

We have the opportunity to make ourselves over, use our time in pain to build a solid industry where all prosper. We don't need 60K or 30K races, we need a healthy industry that satisfies public expectations, that supports participant and canine health. We need to clean up our act if we are to recover and thrive. Saturation will kill us.

Well done Adam for looking for solutions, unfortunately, to experience future growth you first need to fix the cracked foundation.
 
 
 
 

I wonder if the average participant realizes how dire the circumstances are for all racing in NZ right now

The majority of participants are struggling, making it through the next six months their priority and challenge. Stakes cuts loom. Who gives a proverbial about your elite race stakes it benefits very few. You want to put 15K into one race in the current climate. You're delusional. Sacrifices have to be made for the benefit of all. 

Why do we have to create an industry out of an industry ? NZ racing isn’t squeaky clean but hell it doesn’t need many officials to oversee it.

We are also now testing in the asymptomatic population. Let's wait and see what they find here before we jump to any conclusions. Lets proceed on the side of caution, and on the basis of the evidence, I'd say.

Thanks Ponderosa and Scooby, a great competition. 

Personally I agree with the current course of action.........BUT I am realistic and old enough to understand life in NZ as we have known it will be very different from recent times.
I have worked overseas when younger for about 7 years and had a taste of overseas travel in recent years. Even though Kiwis are very one-eyed about the quality of lifestyle we enjoy ,we have been very fortunate and our disadvantage of our remoteness to rest of world is also a huge bonus.
We have an abundance of life essentials......Food , water , sun and ?????..many !
Our government and lifestyle is generally free of corruption and we have democracy and personal freedom ,freedom of speech etc.
We have very good educational institutions and produce many very smart people in Health and technology.World class !
Technology means we are in touch with the world and time wise we see the sun first each day.
I believe we have all our needs met and plenty of opportunities.
Sure we have a lot of 'have nots' and in recent years this gap has widened.
Sadly this Virus and the aftermath will kill a lot of businesses and many will lose jobs.........our booming tourism business will suffer for years.
Like NZ racing ,the Guvmint has overspent for decades and put resources into wrong areas .............our size will make recovery a slow and difficult one but the quality of life ..the food ,water etc is still abundant along a good attitude !!!!
Many find change difficult....attitudes are vital Its not what happens ,its how you take it.
Dont cry.....create.
Create success in the future ,don't moan about the past and stuff you don't control .
Amen!

Not in my book> Who wants to watch 2 or 3 people discussing last weeks races and talking solely about the most favoured horses in the forthcoming weekend racing. The programmes as boring as hell. I no longer bother to watch it

Good idea if ever I saw one. Should have happened without coronavirus both across the Tassie and here long before now in my humble opinion given that the average weight of a New Zealander has increased by 5% in the last 23 years. The average Kiwi male is about 85 kgs and the average weight for a woman is a little over 72 kilograms according to stats. But the NZ racing authorities have done nothing and in the interim we've lost some very good jockeys.  Here's the story from Oz.
https://www.racenet.com.au/news/minimum-weight-for-nsw-jockeys-raised-to-combat-covid-19-20200318
 

RFS its not my place to mention names they will come to light when they dont appear on fields in time. On current numbers it may be up to 20 less dogs 

NZTR CIRCULAR 2019/20 – No.17


 
Coronavirus COVID-19 Advisement


 
NZTR has convened a working group which has been monitoring the situation regarding COVID-19 and its possible impact on our industry.


 
The attached club template provides guidelines for the situation as it stands, but as you will be aware things are likely to change rapidly.


 
Bernard is attending a meeting with RITA this afternoon; the working group is scheduled to meet again on Wednesday. 


 
An option, should things continue to escalate, is that we will be conducting meetings without the public and we are preparing for this eventuality.


 
We expect clubs to be implementing the steps outlined here immediately and will provide a further update next week.


 
We are also communicating separately with owners (see below the example of the letter sent to owners racing at Trentham on Saturday), trainers, and jockeys to advise of the steps taken, specifically around access to the birdcage.


 
Please contact Martin Burns, Mary Burgess or Bernard Saundry at NZTR if you have any queries.


 
Example of owner’s letter


 
Dear Valued Owner,


 
This is an important update regarding the Wellington Racing Club’s Al Basti Equiworld NZ Oaks meeting on Saturday.


 
As part of the steps the industry is taking around Covid-19 access to the birdcage will be limited to jockeys; trainers with horses running on the day; their staff attending those horses; and essential race day staff only.


 
This will impact the Owners’ Shout room and owners are now invited to have a complimentary drink in the Telford Room, on presentation of your owners’ ribbon for that race.  There will be a separate station at the Bar to avoid lengthy wait times. The Birdcage presentation following the black-type races on the day will now be held on the lawn in the front of the Telford Bar.


 
You will also note other steps taken around the course regarding hygiene and the availability of hand sanitisers as we take all possible steps to keep those working at and attending our meetings safe.


 
We appreciate your assistance with this directive.

 
Kind regards,


 



 
Martin Burns

GM – Welfare & Sustainability

M 0275 110 348

Seems the real problems with lack of entries is really a north island problem,no Te Aroha today,six races at Matamata on Wednesday and only 5 races at Alexandra Park tonight,meanwhile South Island races seem to hold up well in both codes,maybe there are just too many meetings in the north ,maybe quality needs to replace quantity,the whole racing calander needs to be redone the country needs to be split into 4 regions,2 in the south and two in the north with a proper structured dates structure where at least once a fortnight you have a main meeting and on the other week a more low key meeting so every area has some balance with exceptions for feature meetings like carnivals etc and of course circuit meetings  like Westland,Gisborne the present setup of 5 or 6 races with 5 or 6 races aint a good look.Maybe if you get a better date structure then you can look at which tracks stay and which ones go,a lot of those little one or two day clubs are fine as long as the community want them,well that's  my thought on things,others may not agree.

Mike agree 100% with your comments its a shame the way its going but I cant see a light at the end of the tunnel for these 2 clubs.

The smartest dog I have ever seen, Misty Anna, when not leading, would look at the opponent in front of her approaching a corner.  If they railed she accelerated to the outer, if they stayed off the rail, she cut inside them.  She definitely looked at them before a corner, but never failed to pursue.
Uthor jumped awkwardly, and whilst getting balanced, understandably checked if the seven runners outside him were going to mash him into the rail, but he never failed to pursue. 
In the infamous Blazin Carter case, he is hit from the inside and then outside and naturally has a look at what hit him, but never failed to pursue. 

Pilli welcome back its being a while, dont see you around the traps when up that way. In my opinon in think Uthor Bale mid race sectional would of been to much for Dyna Dave to make up. But my punting results show other wise. Would love to Dave pull off a big one draw could be a problem with a lot of speed drawn inside. Be a great race what ever the outcome 

Yes have agree on the heat run but as we know there is no certainty in racing. The $7.50 to win the final on opening was great value.

What do you think was the best effort of the day on Sunday at AK.?
 
Dobby Who for me, huge effort and a deserved win for Marie

How long can WGRC keep going with 8-11 race cards if it wasnt for the Coles going to Cambridge the past few weeks Cambridge would of being struggling to hold a meeting. May be interesting to see if Auckland can attached lower grade dogs for this Sunday to full up the programe for Cup and Railway heats with lower grade heats to be run on the Monday.

Whats your claiming weight now Chris!!!!! or are you past your best.

Whats your claiming weight now Chris!!!!! or are you past your best.

Peter Kelly had always been New Zealand's best auctioneer of thoroughbreds; until Steve Davis came along.

In 2008 I was asked to do a Top Ten Greyhounds Of My Time for the 60-Year History of the Christchurch Greyhound Racing Club (1948-2008).
I came up with Misty Anna, Magic Command, Shorty Bijou, Cecilia Bale, Red Hot Zinger, Mega Maxi, Denzil Bale, Awesome Paul, Marn Groot, Another Gale, and Winsome Ashley. I listed many more very capable greyhounds but such selections are quite subjective and those named were my Chosen Ones.
Each of them was a favourite of mine for a variety of reasons and for a certain length of time but if I had to put one at the very top, it would have to be Winsome Ashley.
Ashley had a stellar season in 2007-2008, winning 4 Group 1 races and setting 3 track records, one of which still stands - 527m at Manukau in 29.77sec.. I cannot recall another greyhound with such third-phase acceleration and what so often appeared to be a contest with perhaps 100m still to go became a procession as she put on the turbo booster.and won by many lengths.
Winsome Ashley was whelped in February 2006 and was trained by Jean and Dave Fahey for the Pave The Way syndicate.
In more recent times Swimming Goat with its 22 consecutive wins would certainly have found a very high place in the best of the sprinters' ranks at Addington Raceway.
 
 

Mike as I have stated before Northern Greyhound racing is in a slow decline as you have stated dog numbers are falling away fields are being prop up by southern kennels unwanted dogs if it wasnt for these dogs the situation would be dire. Look at the number of races carded for the Xmas eve meeting at Waikato 12 races up to last year it was always a 20 race card. If it wasnt for strangled hold kennels heats for some of  the feature races wouldnt happen. The grey hair bridgre numbers a becoming more common behind the boxes and some of these must be on the count down to hanging up the collar and leads. Yes the future doesnt look to bright up north.

Mike as I have stated before Northern Greyhound racing is in a slow decline as you have stated dog numbers are falling away fields are being prop up by southern kennels unwanted dogs if it wasnt for these dogs the situation would be dire. Look at the number of races carded for the Xmas eve meeting at Waikato 12 races up to last year it was always a 20 race card. If it wasnt for strangled hold kennels heats for some of  the feature races wouldnt happen. The grey hair bridgre numbers a becoming more common behind the boxes and some of these must be on the count down to hanging up the collar and leads. Yes the future doesnt look to bright up north.