This is going to piss a few people off!

[Insider 4,936]

Because I have the dreaded Covid I slept most of the afternoon but did see the last race won by John Wheeler and his mates.

When the horse was returning to scale the camera's panned the stands and there was no one there.

Was it too cold that they all went home early, didn't turn up or were simply in the bar?

Waikato where all the so called best horses are, certainly didn't attract the patronage that one could or would expect.

 

[rdytdy 5,455]

There was a strong cold wind blowing into the stand hence only the hardy venturing out to watch. Most preferring to stay inside Insider.   .

[Houlahan's Dream 646]

It was fresh on the stand, that is true. Quite nice in the sun down by the rail to be honest. 

Had tea and then later on a coffee at the upgraded public stand cafe. Not bad. Lad informed me the pie was pretty good. 

[stodge 2,413]

Nothing to do with any of this but in my peak racing days, when I was a member at Lingfield and was going about 80 times per year (synthetic surface), the group of Annual Members and I got a reputation for being anything but fair weather racegoers.

This reached its peak one February afternoon when we stood on the roof of the Eclipse Stand in a snowstorm with the temperature probably around freezing, cheering on our fancies in a Class 7 Selling handicap for horses rated 0-30.

None of us cared about exposure or hypothermia - you don't if you've backed a 5/1 winner.

[We're Doomed 5,720]

15 hours ago, Insider said:

Because I have the dreaded Covid I slept most of the afternoon but did see the last race won by John Wheeler and his mates.

When the horse was returning to scale the camera's panned the stands and there was no one there.

Was it too cold that they all went home early, didn't turn up or were simply in the bar?

Waikato where all the so called best horses are, certainly didn't attract the patronage that one could or would expect.

 

I did think the same thing myself on the day. Hardly anyone to be seen for any of the races at Te Rapa. I wonder how the crowd and turnover at Te Rapa compared with the crowd and turnover at Hastings on the same day where they didn't even have any races.

It is a worry if all the big races get sent to Auckland and the Waikato but no one can be bothered turning up. Not a good look and the lack of atmosphere will turn potential punters and owners off from getting involved.

Interesting to compare the respective crowds at Murray Bridge and Te Rapa yesterday. Looked like a massive crowd at the former, and bigger than last year apparently. Worth remembering Murray Bridge has a population of 25,000 and Hamilton 185,000. 

We shouldn't lose sight of the ability of smaller provincial centres to attract decent crowds to race meeting compared to their city cousins.

[TurnyTom 1,714]

Trouble is WrD, they have already removed and isolated, or closed smaller clubs

The future is deemed to be Waikato and Auckland. I doubt Riccarton will hold to any of their major races as they will all be exported north

Thank god for Aussie racing

 

[Insider 4,936]

31 minutes ago, TurnyTom said:

Trouble is WrD, they have already removed and isolated, or closed smaller clubs

The future is deemed to be Waikato and Auckland. I doubt Riccarton will hold to any of their major races as they will all be exported north

Thank god for Aussie racing

 

More fools them, if that's what happens.

Thank God Bruce Sharrock has gone at he was a lead protagonist of everything moving north.

As I said somewhere else [another thread] my next horse will almost certainly go to Australia.

[mikenz 1,255]

4 minutes ago, Insider said:

More fools them, if that's what happens.

Thank God Bruce Sharrock has gone at he was a lead protagonist of everything moving north.

As I said somewhere else [another thread] my next horse will almost certainly go to Australia.

Sharrock has been proactive in his desire to see geo blocking and the extra 100million plus injection from Entain, maybe progress is slow or non existent so it's now someone else's issue, as for the tracks recent events have only proved that theory's and reality are often miles apart, maybe some of the recent weather issues have been the wake up call that's needed.

[Palliser 1,173]

Don't worry Entain are addressing all of the issues currently within NZ racing haha. There have been some exciting, innovative and clever moves coming from Entain haha. All they have done is pumped cash into the industry, so unless it's an infinite flow of cash, how are they hoping to claw back some revenue. If the punters and public aren't aboard then nothing changes.

[Ripples 63]

I look at things from a different perspective, even though Im definitely in the minority on RC. I believe without the financial  intervention of Entain we would be screwed,  in my view they have been a life saver for both Thorough and standard breeds.  The rising stakes are an incentive for me personally to have a horse trained in NZ, the grass may look a lot greener across the ditch but wait till you get an invoice from Waterhouse or Waller etc .  Whilst I do have oversea  betting accounts with Sportsbet  and Bet 365 from a pure what is best for NZ perspective Geo blocking has to be legislated. Aussie and several other overseas jurisdictions have had it for years.

 

Where I do agree with the majority of comments is around centralisation. This is an absolute screw up, to have closed down the likes of Gisborne, Wairoa, Waipukurau, Thames, Waikouaiti, etc etc, tracks that were pivotal to their communities and attracted large crowds.  I attended Makaraka (Gisborne) several years back, and the place was packed, T Lee was commentator and there he was in “members stand” in shorts and sandals doing his commentaries. Magic. I have no doubt the TAB helped close these tracks down due to the cost of bringing in staff and setting  up trackside. In my view they had way to much influence in the industry particularly around the Racing Calendar and tracks in general.  

[Pak Star 1,114]

59 minutes ago, Ripples said:

I look at things from a different perspective, even though Im definitely in the minority on RC. I believe without the financial  intervention of Entain we would be screwed,  in my view they have been a life saver for both Thorough and standard breeds.  The rising stakes are an incentive for me personally to have a horse trained in NZ, the grass may look a lot greener across the ditch but wait till you get an invoice from Waterhouse or Waller etc .  Whilst I do have oversea  betting accounts with Sportsbet  and Bet 365 from a pure what is best for NZ perspective Geo blocking has to be legislated. Aussie and several other overseas jurisdictions have had it for years.

I think your opinion matches that of the majority.  Everyone accepts Entain (or whoever ended up partnering) was necessary to the survival of the industry.  The only issue I have with geoblocking is that it would leave Entain/TAB with a NZ monopoly and lessen the accountability of their service and products.  Thats the main point of difference when comparing to Aus - they have dozens of bookies to choose from so they can geoblock all they like as nobody needs to bet offshore.  

[Gruff 2,937]

22 hours ago, Insider said:

Because I have the dreaded Covid I slept most of the afternoon but did see the last race won by John Wheeler and his mates.

When the horse was returning to scale the camera's panned the stands and there was no one there.

Was it too cold that they all went home early, didn't turn up or were simply in the bar?

Waikato where all the so called best horses are, certainly didn't attract the patronage that one could or would expect.

 

All the best for your recovery Liz and very impressed sharing this information, the privacy act  around any medical issue separates the money makers from the decent people paying for these tyrants.... lets all talk about our health issues, we visited today someone who is going through hell as a 67 year old.... lets talk regardless of possible origin... It's not all vaccine related even though I could argue.... You don't learn from listening to the likes of Communists like Adern... And she's been giving all the titles deserved from someone taking orders from the hierarchy , shes come along way from the takeaways at Morrinsville...Criminal? In the eyes of many

[Chris Wood 1,649]

Agreed Ripples, you have to take Racing to the people sometimes, Gisborne and Wairoa being prime examples….

Neither club imposed on NZTR funds, tracks presented in great order, locals patronising their meetings, it was magic.

The local committee’s working hard , tracks prepared superbly, always patronised by volunteers, TeTeko, Dargaville,, I can’t fathom some of these decisions!

I don’t know all the South Island courses off hand, obviously the ones listed above…

Has the kicking to touch of these tracks improved NZ Racing, I think not!

[Gruff 2,937]

24 minutes ago, Chris Wood said:

Agreed Ripples, you have to take Racing to the people sometimes, Gisborne and Wairoa being prime examples….

Neither club imposed on NZTR funds, tracks presented in great order, locals patronising their meetings, it was magic.

The local committee’s working hard , tracks prepared superbly, always patronised by volunteers, TeTeko, Dargaville,, I can’t fathom some of these decisions!

I don’t know all the South Island courses off hand, obviously the ones listed above…

Has the kicking to touch of these tracks improved NZ Racing, I think not!

Chris. People have no money.... we were brought up with Rugby racing and beer  ... if this was about competing horses there is no issue, land is worth more now for many particularly now overseas runs our racing....Who owns the tracks? NZ government have sold us out and there has yet to be any treason trials.... it's all downhill...You add to that The ride on Ridgeview  Vicky in R3 Today and it's no wonder people are walking away.  Joe needs 6kg

[Chris Wood 1,649]

12 minutes ago, Gruff said:

Chris. People have no money.... we were brought up with Rugby racing and beer  ... if this was about competing horses there is no issue, land is worth more now for many particularly now overseas runs our racing....Who owns the tracks? NZ government have sold us out and there has yet to be any treason trials.... it's all downhill...You add to that The ride on Ridgeview  Vicky in R3 Today and it's no wonder people are walking away.  Joe needs 6kg

 

[Chris Wood 1,649]

I thought Joe goes well, it’s all about experience!

[barryb 2,142]

9 hours ago, We're Doomed said:

I did think the same thing myself on the day. Hardly anyone to be seen for any of the races at Te Rapa. I wonder how the crowd and turnover at Te Rapa compared with the crowd and turnover at Hastings on the same day where they didn't even have any races.

It is a worry if all the big races get sent to Auckland and the Waikato but no one can be bothered turning up. Not a good look and the lack of atmosphere will turn potential punters and owners off from getting involved.

Interesting to compare the respective crowds at Murray Bridge and Te Rapa yesterday. Looked like a massive crowd at the former, and bigger than last year apparently. Worth remembering Murray Bridge has a population of 25,000 and Hamilton 185,000. 

We shouldn't lose sight of the ability of smaller provincial centres to attract decent crowds to race meeting compared to their city cousins.

I was there, it was blowing hard from the South & bloody freezing. I went out 10 secs before start & back in as they crossed the line.

To be fair they had a week & a half to get people along to the track. There are very few people like me who want to spend 6 hrs at a race course on a Saturday now, life is too busy & let’s face it racing in NZ has zero atmosphere on course to entice anyone along.

Comparing population sizes is irrelevant as how would any in Hamilton know it’s on? Race gambling is a taboo subject & my guess is 90% of Hamiltonians wouldn’t have a clue that Racing still takes place there.

 

[We're Doomed 5,720]

10 hours ago, barryb said:

I was there, it was blowing hard from the South & bloody freezing. I went out 10 secs before start & back in as they crossed the line.

To be fair they had a week & a half to get people along to the track. There are very few people like me who want to spend 6 hrs at a race course on a Saturday now, life is too busy & let’s face it racing in NZ has zero atmosphere on course to entice anyone along.

Comparing population sizes is irrelevant as how would any in Hamilton know it’s on? Race gambling is a taboo subject & my guess is 90% of Hamiltonians wouldn’t have a clue that Racing still takes place there.

 

Very sound points. And yet the public always seemed to know when Gisborne and Waikouaiti were on. They still seem to know when Kumara and Tauherenikau are on.

[JJ Flash 2,549]

15 hours ago, Palliser said:

Don't worry Entain are addressing all of the issues currently within NZ racing haha. There have been some exciting, innovative and clever moves coming from Entain haha. All they have done is pumped cash into the industry, so unless it's an infinite flow of cash, how are they hoping to claw back some revenue. If the punters and public aren't aboard then nothing changes.

Well summed up

[JJ Flash 2,549]

19 hours ago, mikenz said:

Sharrock has been proactive in his desire to see geo blocking and the extra 100million plus injection from Entain, maybe progress is slow or non existent

Can you provide us evidence of this comment? 

[racingoutsider 300]

Evidence of what? At the roadshows, Sharrock said we should have an announcement shortly and they expect it in place by next February. Their tentative budget allows for it.

[barryb 2,142]

2 hours ago, We're Doomed said:

Very sound points. And yet the public always seemed to know when Gisborne and Waikouaiti were on. They still seem to know when Kumara and Tauherenikau are on.

Those meetings are on during the holidays in holiday destinations & are hardly comparable. Pirongia equalisator meeting used to get 5000 attending on boxing day as well.

I have been to a number of meetings at Tauherenikau where there would be lucky to be 50 there.

 

[We're Doomed 5,720]

48 minutes ago, barryb said:

Those meetings are on during the holidays in holiday destinations & are hardly comparable. Pirongia equalisator meeting used to get 5000 attending on boxing day as well.

I have been to a number of meetings at Tauherenikau where there would be lucky to be 50 there.

 

Yes, I am aware of that. But if races like the Arrowfield and the Livamore, 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas etc get moved north permanently they most likely won't be during the holidays or at holiday destinations. I do worry about the interest in such races in the north and the resulting lack of atmosphere.

Auckland didn't do a good job of creating their own version of Cup Week by shuffling their Cup around the place. And they seem to have abandoned the idea of having anything major on their own traditional holiday dates such as Boxing Day, NY Day, Auckland Anniversary day, Easter, even Queens Birthday etc.

[bloke 1,313]

3 hours ago, barryb said:

Those meetings are on during the holidays in holiday destinations & are hardly comparable. Pirongia equalisator meeting used to get 5000 attending on boxing day as well.

I have been to a number of meetings at Tauherenikau where there would be lucky to be 50 there.

 

Tauherenikau get a crowd of 10k on Waitangi Day, a day when other clubs have tried to make a go of it and have given up. They had 15k on January 2  and get about 1k for their November meeting. Tell me Barry when you have seen only 50 people there?

[barryb 2,142]

8 hours ago, bloke said:

Tauherenikau get a crowd of 10k on Waitangi Day, a day when other clubs have tried to make a go of it and have given up. They had 15k on January 2  and get about 1k for their November meeting. Tell me Barry when you have seen only 50 people there?

Yeah & it shows that Racing isn’t about the horses as the fields are often tiny & rubbish.

I have been many times to those meetings & large numbers have their back to the races,  they pay $20 each to have a picnic in the Sun.

Similar to what I have seen at Taupo between Xmas & New Year.