Maximus

They will need to find a much quicker way to inject $$M into Stakes than a repeal of the betting levy phased out over three years producing $3.18m for racing and sports.

One definition of symptom:  
Yes John Allen is a 'symptom'  and the Racing Industry was in a worrying state financially before his ill founded appointment but he has significantly added and escalated to the situation.
Firstly the blame on his appointment is on the previous Racing Minister who through association guided John Allen towards the CEO position and then it is the NZRB who are accountable for allowing a person to steer an Industry that they represent who had no racing or wagering knowledge at a time when those attributes were most needed to agree for him to be appointed.
The termination of the NZRB Board come July 1st can't come quick enough. The Board is there to protect and improve the financial interests of the NZ Racing Industry which ultimately has been proven over the past few years to not be the case. Yes they didn't have a crystal ball but they fully knew the capabilities (they damm well should have) of John Allen who they in their wisdom appointed to the role of CEO. The person chairing RITA also applied for the CEO role at the time but wasn't even accorded an interview until it was demanded from a sector of the Industry. Unfortunately the old boys network worked against the Industry and as they say the rest is history (just like much of the Industry may possibly soon be). So 5 years on a person who had far more knowledge and experience of the Industry is working on behalf of the Racing Minister to steer the Industry around. Imagine if that person 5 years ago was at the helm, I am sure while things might not still be where the NZ Racing Industry needs to be it would most definitely be in a far better shape both financially and image wise than it currently is.      
So John Allen quite rightly so isn't the sole cause of the precarious financial state that the Industry finds itself into today but he has most certainly added to it significantly by employing ex workmates and acquaintances to be appointed to roles under him knowing fully well that they just like himself had no knowledge and experience of an Industry to work for. Then he listened to people who he believed had far more knowledge and experience of racing and wagering than they in fact have. You couldn't (unfortunately) have a better example of the old term' 'its like the blind leading the blind'.
So five years on the Racing Minister who advised him and the Board that he was the right person for the role has gone, the NZRB Board will be gone in a few weeks and once that has happened eg the ones at the top have exited the CEO should follow very closely behind and I will be very surprised it that doesn't happen and then very quickly he should be followed by senior management and managers associated with the betting platform debacle. The Industry needs and deserves this to happen just as the same scenario would be played out in any Corporation whose Board and management represent the interests of its shareholders.  If any poster believes and disputes that this wouldn't happen in any other Company or Organisation I look  forward to reading their reasoning as to why not.         
 

They will need to find a much quicker way to inject $$M into Stakes than a repeal of the betting levy phased out over three years producing $3.18m for racing and sports.

They will need to find a much quicker way to inject $$M into Stakes than a repeal of the betting levy phased out over three years producing $3.18m for racing and sports.

interesting viewpoint, and there's no doubt that Tavistocks take time and stay exceptionally well. BUT how do you explain the fact that in NZ this season 36 of 46 wins have come at 1600m or less?

WHY the silence from the board.
If it was a listed company they would be required to make a statement and if they expect or can see benefits starting to accrue from the new platform why can't they say so.
 

Of course Allen must go, he should have been sacked after the Race Fields Legislation debacle, would have saved the industry $50 million plus they have  blown on the disastrous new platform. Also Gormless Glenda, she has been an absolute disgrace, she has the opposite of the Midas touch in that everything she touches turns to ...... It honestly doesn't matter what they do from now on, the new website is sooo bad all hope is lost. Sadly. There is no bright side, needed people with experience in the betting industry but 20 years ago not now. 

I'm gearing that turnover is down 30% since the new app was introduced in Jan ..is this verifiable?

Wish I had a horse that was so successful it had such a fall from grace. 2 x Everest , I'd be happy for it to run out the back a fair few times after that before a big relaxing retirement no expense spared if I had a share.

I'm gearing that turnover is down 30% since the new app was introduced in Jan ..is this verifiable?

Believe me, I know about horses. Horses have been all around me for a long time now, they are great, they are brilliant, they are truly the best animal to carry a jockey around a racetrack. What I have done for horses is truly amazing. Alot of people are saying they wanted me to go on the RITA board. That's what people are saying. That's what I have heard. On two occasions I heard it myself. It's true. Very true. And y'know. I considered it. Yeah I considered it. I did. The phonies that run racing at the moment are not doing a good job. In fact they are doing a very bad job. They shouldn't have a job. And y'know what I would say if I did go on that RITA board... 
You're fired!
Let's make racing great again. 

For HOTY I think another factor should be considered: a horse's ability to capture the imagination of the public. MB is streets ahead of TB in that regard as well. Winning one Group 1 sprint in Queensland isn't enough IMO for The Bostonian to leap ahead of Melody Belle for HOTY. He won very narrowly off a perfect trip and rails run. And several of the best Oz sprinters not there..incl dual Everest winner Redzel, Santa Ana Lane etc. I'm very pleased to see TB win for NZ in Qsld, just don't think we should get ahead of ourselves.  

Thank you sir...I am also at the end of the road with him...he has a hide a thick as a Rhino and yes there are a few who also feel like you that have Private Messaged me too.He has been placed in the moderation due and I will see what he tries to post of the next few days and decide where he goes from there..I will take you suggestion on board though thanks for the input, cheers.
 

...and what you 'make up for' in self-professed good looks is easily offset by the fact that you are a total prat.

My apologies to teammate Rusty that I did not include two BBs in my tips ...was offline after poting for the day and dint see Maria's reminder.
Would love to say that bostonian would've been one of them but dont want to ruin my reputation too quickly. LOL

haha just watch that plimsoll line Weasel.. not too many top weights
 

PAIR 12  ...THE RUSTY WEASEL ...!! AND GOOD LUCK TO BOTH WHO SAIL IN HER...
1.  R5 Arawa Park 2.24pm :    4, 11
2.  R1 Morphettville 2.41pm :  1,2
3.  R3 Caulfield 3.05pm :  2,4
4.  R7 Arawa Park 3.34pm :  8, 9 
5.  R5 Doomben 3.50pm (Quinella Race) : 1, 3 
6.  R6 Doomben 4.30pm :  14,15 
7.  R6 Caulfield 5.00pm :  1,13
8.  R6 Scone 5.25pm :  1,3
9.  R8 Doomben 5.50pm :  5,8
10.  R7 Morphettville 6.36pm : 3, 10  

PAIR 12  ...THE RUSTY WEASEL ...!! AND GOOD LUCK TO BOTH WHO SAIL IN HER...
1.  R5 Arawa Park 2.24pm :    4, 11
2.  R1 Morphettville 2.41pm :  1,2
3.  R3 Caulfield 3.05pm :  2,4
4.  R7 Arawa Park 3.34pm :  8, 9 
5.  R5 Doomben 3.50pm (Quinella Race) : 1, 3 
6.  R6 Doomben 4.30pm :  14,15 
7.  R6 Caulfield 5.00pm :  1,13
8.  R6 Scone 5.25pm :  1,3
9.  R8 Doomben 5.50pm :  5,8
10.  R7 Morphettville 6.36pm : 3, 10  

PAIR 12  ...THE RUSTY WEASEL ...!! AND GOOD LUCK TO BOTH WHO SAIL IN HER...
1.  R5 Arawa Park 2.24pm :    4, 11
2.  R1 Morphettville 2.41pm :  1,2
3.  R3 Caulfield 3.05pm :  2,4
4.  R7 Arawa Park 3.34pm :  8, 9 
5.  R5 Doomben 3.50pm (Quinella Race) : 1, 3 
6.  R6 Doomben 4.30pm :  14,15 
7.  R6 Caulfield 5.00pm :  1,13
8.  R6 Scone 5.25pm :  1,3
9.  R8 Doomben 5.50pm :  5,8
10.  R7 Morphettville 6.36pm : 3, 10  

My theory is Stephen is waiting for Danielle to be fit and they will be in Sydney after the Hasting meetings They would be a deadly combo over there .Danielle would be so good against most of those jockeys.

spot on, Teddy!

My pleasure to give you my thoughts on racing here in the US.  You already know how I feel about DQ rules.  Because of my worldwide travels, I think we could learn a lot concerning how racing is conducted around the world.
Santa Anita - Maybe they were damn unlucky. They worked and re-worked the tracks.  They have some of the best out there.  Lots thought that the foundation was never addressed when they removed the polytrack a few years ago and that may have been the problem when they had an excessive amount of rain this past winter.  Now that the rains have let up, they haven't quite had the problem/deaths they were having.
Drug Rules - I wish we followed the rest of the world's standard.  Get rid of race day meds, re. Lasix.  I had a horse (stakes winner) ran better without it.  The sport did fine before it was permitted. 
Track closures - We haven't had many, mostly the smaller venues/fair track.  We lost the two in South Dakota due to their state funding.  The stink of that is that their government "stole" around 2 million dollars (I think it was in the early 2000's).  Now when the are struggling a bit, they don't want to support racing.  Lots of good local people/volunteers at the local level trying to effect change and re-boot in 2020.  We will lose Suffolk Downs (Boston) after this year due to commercial development (Avondale watch out-residential), but there is talk that one of their defunct tracks, Great Barrington Fair, is considering renovation and will pick up their dates.  We lost racing in Portland Meadows earlier in the year for commercial redevelopment, but another Oregon track, Grants Pass, is looking to pick up their dates and there is talk of building a replacement just outside Portland.  We lost Hazel Park (Detroit), last year, but racing in Michigan just isn't well supported.  They had a number of closures (Great Lakes Downs, Mount Pleasant Meadows, and Pinnacle) over the past ten years or so.  But we got one back this year in Arizona.  Yavapai Downs is re-opening/re-branded as Arizona Downs in the Prescott Valley (lovely little place).  The really good news is that none of our "major" tracks haven't closed lately, less Hollywood Park a few years ago.  With the Preakness running a week from Saturday, you may here that Pimlico (Baltimore) should be closed and the race moved to Laurel (midway between Baltimore and Washington DC).  I've been to Pimlico (ran there a couple of times) and yes, it's in "the hood" and is in drastic need of investment to improve the grounds/stands, but Pimlico (to me) is a national treasure.  It was built in another time and has so much history attached to it.  I hope the powers that be in Maryland will do what's necessary to keep it in place.
Racinos - I think they are great!  The track that I "cut my racing teeth on", Penn National (Pennsylvania) is a now a racino (I now make my home in Orlando, Florida).  Racing was in great shape before state and national lotteries; and other stand-alone casinos came on line around the mid-1980s.  Racinos have kept so many tracks afloat/succeed.  For me, it was a way to level the field when the revenue that was going into racing was taken from them by other forms of legalized gambling.  The states that were willing to work with the racing industry, by placing a full-service casino/slots/card room, and funneling a percentage of profits back to racing are either doing alright or thriving.  This is one model that the rest of world could model from the US.
Co-Mingling of National Pari-Mutual Wagering Pools - I know you didn't ask about this, but I am compelled to offer you my thoughts on it.  I LOVE racing in the UK, Ireland, France, Australia, and of course, New Zealand.  The problem is that I cannot wager directly into their national Tote/PMU/TAB pools.  When I bet on races in these countries here, my bets go to a wagering hub (I think it is located at Woodbine/Canada) and these pools are small and sometimes not worth betting in to.  Many people here in the US are turning to punting on racing in Hong Kong because they allow us to wager directly into their pools, which day-to-day, are the biggest in the world.
Top Meetings - It seems they are doing as well as ever.  Probably the biggest success story is Oaklawn (Arkansas).  For their location, the purse structure is on steroids.  The triple crown races and preps; the graded races and Breeders Cup are doing well; though the TC and BC only get national network television coverage.
World's Best Tracks - Yes, we have some of the best and when I say this you might think "this guy is full of ****".  I've been racing in 17 countries (to correct what I wrote in my first post) and have visited 376 thoroughbred racecourses/12 in New Zealand (I was in/am retired from the US Navy, living in Scotland, Australia, and Belgium; tried really hard to get posted in Christchurch when we had a unit there) and I've seen many of the best in world, less UAE, Hong Kong, and Japan (though I know there are still a few out there in countries that I have visited, example Ellerslie, Flemington).  In the US, I would put these at the top of my list: 1) Del Mar, So. Cal, 2) Arlington Park, Chicago, 3) Saratoga, New York, 4) Santa Anita, So Cal, and 5) Keeneland, Kentucky.  These would easily fall into my top 5% of racecourses visited.
Racing in New Zealand - I made a long overdue visit in Feb/Mar 2018.  My visit was awesome and my hosts are each racecourse extended exemplary hospitality (much better than I get here at home).  I even had a look at Taupo and Thames, who were not racing.  Sad to hear that Thames will be closing.  For me, it is disgusting decision, lovely little track and town.  My favorite was Te Aroha, but I greatly enjoyed my visit at each of the other 11.  Can't wait to get back there.  Someday, I will get around to write a post concerning my visit and the track closure decision there that was announced a few months ago.
Crikey, that got long, but I hope you will find my response interesting and illuminating.

The problem is that it should really have been the horse that was wiped out on the turn protesting, not the runner up who was not really hampered. I think Maximum Security should have won but the interference put the steward in a tricky spot because under their rules he had to be disqualified. It's a shame but there was very nearly a bad fall from the incident which would have been an even worse result for the sport which is struggling in the US as it is. 

The well-rested Mustelid is a starter.
 

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