biff

The first one should be in the Waikato, that's obvious, then the CD.........but Purcell said they have no money, maybe a lifelong naming sponsor, to put in a synthetic inside an established venue should be the preferred option, but it needs consensus from industry participants, not a decision from a suit who doesn't know what end kicks.

Keeping L Pratt sober?

We have to change the culture here GD, an all-weather track is a must, well before a Strath. The Poms are closing an icon track, they are building another all-weather! I've said until my nose bleeds, if ever a climate demanded an all-weather NZ does. The mood in VIC as they constructed Geelong was mixed, doubting Thomas's coming out of the woodwork, needless to say, now they are onboard big time. The All Weathers have been the salvation of many a flat trainer in UK, it meant many were able to keep on the staff for a 12 month cycle, previously they either stood down for 4-6 months, went out to Dubai, or if they could, were picked up by a jumps/national hunt stable.....now, those trainers have horses that have adapted to the different synthetics, owners of said horses that are happy as pigs in shit, heavier flat jocks that now get to ride 12 months and can keep their weight in check, and horses with grins that have avoided the 'gun shot' as with their limited ability they at least get to have a crack/second chance on the 'alternate' tracks......it's a win win......here, well Purcell says '' there is no money'' and many have said no way Jose to a synthetic....I say to those, get a life and move with the times!

Whilst I agree with a lot of what you say TM, I do not agree that Mr Purcell was 'not as bad' or the presenters were OK. I take a view that as New Zealanders you should always have a Kiwi running the show. How can Mr Purcell have a passion that a Kiwi has, as corny as it sounds, watching NZ Racing collapse while I lived and worked in 3 different countries it sickened me to see 'foreigners' appointed on huge salaries, all leaving without improving the product.......I don't use the word apathy lightly, and I really feel sad for those in this industry that couldn't change or influence those in charge as the bus careered across the highway into oncoming traffic, however, we use a catch-phrase in our business, ''it's not the problem it's how you fix the problem that's important'........ We could sell up and piss off back across the Tasman, just putting our venture down to 'a lost opportunity' what's a million bucks down the drain.......more, our investment is close to 1 and a half mil, chicken feed compared to the Lindsay's, however, it's the investors we had in tow with their 10 mil plus that should set the alarm bells off. In closing, most of you will see I've been passionate on here for some years, the likes to my posts are humbling and I truly thank you all, I bet when St Peter ticks his manifest when welcoming you good buggers there will be an entry clause, you get to fly business or first on your final journey..... if you were a regular on racecafe!

I hate to put a downer on the 'Pakenham' model, but let me just say, having trained the odd winner or 2 at the old Pakenham, anything would have been better than the old course, however, Pakenham is smack bang in the middle of the worst rain belt on God's earth, in plain terms, it's a shit hole.....the synthetic track is and was a God send, however the grass track is a white elephant, only suitable for summer racing, it's a bit like Stratford, an uphill run home, gives most horses a chance to run on, but that's the only positive....as for living there, anyone with a penchant for quality of life living, who wants to live in a place where a raincoat and gummies are glued on, the power costs for heating are over the top, if any of you know Kath and Kim, well that show was based on a fictitious boonie called Fountain Lakes......now believe me, Fountain Lakes is really Cranbourne in disguise, Pakenham is the poor mans, Fountain Lakes.......you have been warned/told.

Once again, you licence 100 bookmakers, corporates inc, and tax them same as the Oz model, watch what happens, TAB has to compete, the revenue stream flow on's come back to grass root racing! how else do VIC Picnics run a 5 race program, at least 10 bookmakers on course and huge crowds, now that's grass roots, NON TAB meetings race for pretty much what we do at our TAB meetings, the whole model here is rooted, and it's not like it crept up and bit you on the arse, you blokes [and sheilas] should have seen it happening, however, it is what it is, so we all need to deal with it.

It's not about the furniture Baz, the crowds at Rosehill are mainly young bucks chasing sheila's, the old STC recognised this and catered/targeted accordingly, you wont get car loads of youngies driving from Masterton to Awapuni to have a good time, but they will go down to Tauherenikau and sit on the lawn and sink a few, have a few bets, catch up with mates, and enjoy themselves, you have to promote the horse to them, get people interested in the horse, then the ''celebrities' the jocks and so forth, make it exciting, bung on a name band even, like they do at Newmarket in UK, they do it brilliantly, even Kylie played there, it's called value added, try something different, but unless country clubs want to close, then leave them alone, they'll know when the time is right.

Absolutely agree, KFE has to go, conflict of interest aside, things surely aren't all that rosy for DE, or are they?.........by glossing over the bare facts Karen, and they are facts laid bare there will be bugger all centre stage, does she not recognise the danger? is DE and some of the other elite so divorced from the sad facts they think it's all about them? Well it's not all about you, so many people are getting splinters that their wounds are festering, and once gangrene sets in, well, we all know what happens then. I've seen the smirks at the coalface, people who have made their fortune in this industry, not out of training, but trading, the grass roots horse person who has had to sell their greatest asset, that one good horse, just to pay the bills?.......where else in the world does that happen? 3rd world yes, but it shouldn't happen here. How many of you, answering honestly and with hand on heart can say they have had to sell their pride and joy, colt of course, own the mare, and watched the pedigree page slaughtered by inept trainers in Asia? go on, I dare you, you honest buggers know where I'm coming from, however there is none so blind than those that cannot see. On that note, Its coffee time before going out to irrigate our paddocks before they turn to concrete.

if you mob licensed bookmakers, on course and off, you'd go north straightaway, instead lost in the void you/we are going south, really really fast, you bring atmosphere to a track you bring crowds and turnover, if AUS banned bookmakers their racing would resemble ours, fact!

Well Midget, if you're correct re the cobalt, there will be the largest compensation case in racing history, and VIC will not be able to sustain the fall-out. Kav has gone from the penthouse to the shithouse his career is almost over, so if he wins and sues, well the answer is a pineapple.

We know Leo has a fixation with Pat Bartley, however Pat is correct with at least one summation, here he identifies the No 1 issue re racing in VIC this past year, Why we don't replicate here is simply the racing mimester in NZ is not up to it, and that in itself is shameful. 1. Minister intervenes by creating new board SHARE SHARE ON FACEBOOK SHARE ON TWITTER PIN TO PINTEREST LINK Hugh Bowman win on Winx in the Cox Platewas a highlight in a troubled year for racing. Photo: Michael Dodge Racing Minister Martin Pakula did what those in charge do when the TVN balance sheet showed more red than the last federal budget,declaring "enough is enough" and the party is over for the current RV board. He advised the industry, and the state, they needed a new board, new faces and some strong voices to get the home of the Melbourne Cup back in order.

We have learnt from financial pain to never trust anything NZTR/NZRB put out as KPI's or forward projections, it's Grimms Fairytales, poor fools us to trust what was spruiked in 2011, Thank God our core business is still strong, otherwise we would be just another statistic. Good luck to Mrs Zimmerman and the other rumoured trainer leaving the CD, it's a brave move, I just hope it's not treading water, a young trainer with a grub stake should head across the ditch, especially if they are prepared to work a job after working the horses!......the world's your oyster over there. My gut tells me even Karen would be better off in Oz, at his age John Sargent took the risk, and he's been rewarded.

As the CEO who holds GP to account? it appears he's not to blame, then who the hell is?....who's exactly pulling the strings? Who does GP report to?

Or those of us that have 'other' business's or income streams, what a dreadful shame, and I mean that in every sense of the word.

He's not a journo's backside Leggy, he should have done his research and learned NZTR can't 'acquire' race clubs as they wish, it doesn't work like that Jason, join the real world pal.

We all knew what Purcell was going to say, ''we have no money boys''

What a load of bollocks!

Not knocking your comments Jimbob, but what a great show of jockeyship from the young lady, she even had the cheek to pull the stick and ride it out, will go far me thinks.

RACE!

Great History?

Love Foxton, wont be going to Awapuni, hope others vote with their feet.

Otaki will be a ghost town shortly, well the track will be, what a shame for a once proud centre, ''not down to us'' will be the cry from Jackson St.

One of their junkets should be to Vegas, or Reno, then they might learn how to saturate with finesse !

Most are trying to dodge the elephant in the room., why, I have no idea, until there is a change of management at both NZTR and NZRB nothing will happen. We had to dismiss staff last year as they were just not producing, yes it was in Australia and you have different employment laws here, but we had to draw a line in the sand as our business was suffering. It was not a hard decision in all reality, however we own the business and it is us that are accountable. Here it seems there is no one accountable, and that poor souls is lamentable.......ah that rhymes, aint life grand.

Surely you're so far up yourself you can see yourself coming, surely?.......what a tosser, get a life, and let this site carry on, as it has been for years!........wonderfully.....and without you.