dock leaf

Was trying to think who those photo's reminded me of. Another legend

And yet the industry puts the money towards stakes and advertising for these big days and the clubs are the ones that keep all the profits from the entry fees, food and bev. Another club gets allocated a shit date, with shit stakes and attracts a shit crowd and gets labelled a shit club

Always wondered what your opinion is on track closures in the south. Surely the likes of yourself, BJ Anderton, Parsons, Ridley, CWJ and Mosely could sort it out in one afternoon. For what it's worth in Southland I'd have Racing and Training at Riverton. Training and Trials at Winton and Harness Racing. Then close the rest. Close hounds too. In Otago I'd have Racing and Training at Wingatui. Racing at Cromwell and Dual Code Racing and Training at Oamaru. Then close the rest. They're the courses that cater best for the horses and punters IMO. Good luck today

No.26 - 29-1-19 NZTR Venue Plan 2019.pdfNo.26 - 29-1-19 - Media Statement.pdf

this sounds like everything is almost fixed here ........ http://www.teakauracing.com/news/and-theyre-off-nz-herald-spotlight-on-david-ellis/

Wouldn't the cruising speed in Sydney races be quicker than NZ? I thought that would be the main factor in him settling during the races?

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/racing/patrick-would-be-proud-emotional-metropolitan-win-for-kiwi-stayer-20180929-p506v3.html

Wouldn't any aussie trainer have taken Patrick Erin if they were offered him? Hardly needed an agent in this case I would have thought

Slow pace in Wellington Cup, otherwise he would have won that one I reckon

Doesn't sound like the submissions are going to be taken too seriously https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/hard-road-ahead-total-overhaul-racing-industry-planned

The article above from the Herald. Not sure how much of a hearing those 20 clubs will get... If not all of the 20 clubs are for the chop, then how many and which ones do racecafers agree are best to be gone? Why would the Dual Code tracks at Timaru, Oamaru, Gore, Winton and Wyndham all be done away with? Wouldn't their (if any) upkeep be 50% funded by harness therefore making them more attractive to keep? Especially as most of them have good surfaces. Obviously wasn't possible for Forbury move out to the Wingatui venue, or Addington and Riccarton to start fresh somewhere with sale proceeds? CJC would want more than muskets from this next sale though. Are the gypsies in the most trouble as they will now have to fund 100% of the dual code venues that Nztr are due to cut off? Mr Peters said Gypies and Dogs will both be better off after all changes are implemented, but also said that betting % payouts will be aligned to each codes generation (which I agree with, sports included). So I imagine the two minor codes will be struggling until Mr Peters grand plan starts to pay off.....

Racing: Axing clubs is NOT a done deal 1 Sep, 2018 5:00am 3 minutes to read Officials from Avondale Racecourse in Auckland have been raging against the dying of the light for years. NZ Herald Thoroughbred racing bosses vowing to listen. The closure of 20 racetracks around the country suggested in the Messara report is far from a done deal. And thoroughbred racing bosses say they will listen to cases put forward by those clubs whose tracks are facing the axe. The Messara review of racing was released by Racing Minister Winston Peters on Thursday and the most emotionally jarring recommendation was the closure of 20 thoroughbred tracks to save costs and in some cases for the land to be sold to contribute to racing's future. The economics of closing at least some of New Zealand's 48 thoroughbred tracks is indisputable, the major problem being nobody wants it to be their club. Although those behind the jewel in the crown of racetrack closure, Avondale, won't officially comment on the proposed sale of their track with the money to go into industry coffers, they have raged against the dying of the light for decades so don't look likely to sell up and give up. Others such as Rotorua and Timaru, who between them have 18 meetings this season, are simply against closure and believe their local communities will be too. "We have a meeting to discuss the report, and obviously our recommended closure, next week," said Rotorua chairman Andrew Bryant. "But I am absolutely certain we will make our case to stay open. We are disappointed because we were never consulted about any of this. "And even if the about 50 per cent of the track we own outright was ever closed and sold, I am sure the local community would want that money staying in Rotorua, not going to meetings in Tauranga. "I don't think that makes long-term sense." Timaru president Noel Walker says their track is the best racing surface in the South Island and the industry wouldn't be getting any of the club's money. Although the track closures were a key recommendation of the Messara report, NZTR boss Bernard Saundry says the 20 tracks suggested are not all certain to close. "Obviously we can't survive with 48 tracks, we can't afford to run them all and I think everybody in the industry agrees on that," says Saundry. "But the minister was very open about the fact there would be room for consultation and we will listen to what clubs have to say, of course we will. "Some clubs may want to sell and then restructure and we will listen to their ideas." While Messara's list is a starting point and the majority of the tracks mooted for closure will almost certainly do so, few people at even the highest levels of New Zealand racing have yet got their heads around how the acquisition of any funds from those sales will go. The exact legal footing under which New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing can annex the proceeds from any racetracks sold was hazy to most of the dozens of industry participants the Weekend Herald spoke to yesterday. Confusing matters further, the three codes have been working together on their own future venue plan, to be released in October, and some of the tracks Messara has suggested closing were not on the code's hit list so could be saved. Chopping block The 20 tracks mooted for closure are: Dargaville, Avondale, Thames, Rotorua, Wairoa, Stratford, Hawera, Waipukurau, Woodville, Reefton, Greymouth, Hokitika, Motukarara, Timaru, Kurow, Oamaru, Waimate, Omakau, Winton and Gore.

i just meant grit tracks available to them in the south.

and ascot park, forbury, ashburton and addington

wonder what the wobblers think? oamaru, timaru, gore and winton all dual code venues