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Tauhei Notts

Racecourse Drunkeness

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I saw something yesterday at Ellerslie that could be a problem developing.

The drunken louts after the last race emerging from the Whips and Spurs function.

They weren't just drunk as I was when refused entry to Cowboys in Queenstown a few months ago. They were terribly aggressive. The big big Pacific Islander bouncers seemed to handle the problems with aplomb. But the one problem is that the Pacific Islander bouncers cost so much that an entry fee must be escalated to cover the expense of security.

But if it costs so much to enter then I must get horribly shit faced drunk to get my money's worth. That seems to be the twisted logic (wrong word?) applied.

Interestingly, the women were not pissed. Well, not like what I have seen at Flemington on Oaks Day.

I get the impression that the aggressive drunken louts were serious businessmen during the week, but white trash at weekends.

It is a pity that racing clubs will need to spend so much on security in the future to supervise those drunken, aggressive louts. And those few security guards that have the intelligence to handle piss addled dickwits in a polite and caring but very very firm manner, demand high wages. And they earn their very high wages!

Please don't take this comment as that of a wowser. I enjoy a drink or ten. A few years ago I turned up at the Christchurch Casino at 2.30 a.m.

"Have you been drinking, sir?" the doorman asked.

Although drunk I still had enough wit to reply;

"Of course sir. If I came to an outfit that employed people like you, sober at 2.30 a.m. I would know that I have a problem"

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By way of explanation, I'm of westie extraction, however I don't feel the need to test my pecs against fellow racegoers. I've at times been known to empty the contents of my stomach, but that's usually at a time convenient to both venue and taxi driver.

I make no distinction of race. I merely note that at Ellerslie, the trash is pale. Just the same, I would have no problem noting the trash at a Warriors game.

Trash is trash, and belongs on the footpath for collection on a Tuesday morning.

And with that, I'm three bottles of chardy in, and it's time to hit the Viaduct! :)

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By way of explanation, I'm of westie extraction, however I don't feel the need to test my pecs against fellow racegoers. I've at times been known to empty the contents of my stomach, but that's usually at a time convenient to both venue and taxi driver.

I make no distinction of race. I merely note that at Ellerslie, the trash is pale. Just the same, I would have no problem noting the trash at a Warriors game.

Trash is trash, and belongs on the footpath for collection on a Tuesday morning.

And with that, I'm three bottles of chardy in, and it's time to hit the Viaduct! :)

 

Brilliant post and hope you are feeling ok this morning.

 

The key point is idiots are idiots whether drunk and at a racecourse or not.

 

We managed to spend Saturday afternoon drinking beer  at Riccarton, then onto the Racecourse pub for a few hours then met friends in town and drank to the wee small hours finishing at 4am. No trouble, no aggro, just a great time.....

 

What annoys me is that at Addington on Cup day when I am in a round of 8 guys I will only be able to buy 1 beer at each visit to the bar - I understanding that this policy reduces the risk of some other idiot getting drunk and in a fight...... reduce everything to the lowest common denominator eh?

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The vast majority of the crowd at Ellerslie who pay to get into the stands or the Marquee's are pale skinned.  I noticed when I was down at Hastings for the Spring Classic day, the crowd was similar.  Predominantly pale skinned that is.   Yes, there were celebrations  and a few sunburnt intoxicated people leaving the track but the crowd was basically very well behaved overall.

 

Probably more behaved than 'the trash' that frequents the local centre in West Auckland.   "The key point definitely is idiots are idiots whether drunk and at a racecourse or not".  Well said Chelseacol.

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This is a problem throughout NZ.

Wingatui has its big day of the year on the 5th Nov & the same will occur there.

I go to a good deal of Wingatui meetings but I stay away on that day as the majority of patrons under 40 are there to get pissed and have a "good time" but don't give a continental about the racing.

 

Cheers,

Craig.

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Brilliant post and hope you are feeling ok this morning.

 

The key point is idiots are idiots whether drunk and at a racecourse or not.

 

We managed to spend Saturday afternoon drinking beer  at Riccarton, then onto the Racecourse pub for a few hours then met friends in town and drank to the wee small hours finishing at 4am. No trouble, no aggro, just a great time.....

 

What annoys me is that at Addington on Cup day when I am in a round of 8 guys I will only be able to buy 1 beer at each visit to the bar - I understanding that this policy reduces the risk of some other idiot getting drunk and in a fight...... reduce everything to the lowest common denominator eh?

You can see where Addington is heading tho and it ain't good

It will end up a "one day a year club" for the wrong people. They have traversed a very bad line

I prefer Hornby TAB - super service and can pop next door for a beer and a feed. Brilliant

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Very similar in aussie.Friday meetings are really only catering to off course punters at pubs and clubs.Only people on course are trainers,jockeys and strappers.Most provincial saturday meetings have music after the last for the ones that want to stay and play.Older people like myself would probaly prefer to stay at home or go to hotel as the coverage is so good nowadays on the tv.

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It's a paradox though, on the one hand you argue that we've 'lost a generation', then you use someone like Kylie Bax to lure the younger, well sort of younger, types in to what is perceived as a cocktail show with tits and high heels being the feature, extending that you've got the 'whips and spurs' show which is just a good party for young ones who'd not normally bother going racing...compound the lot and you've got a lot of young people getting some degree of exposure to the racing game....and you get a bit of collateral damage with a few punters getting pissed.

You can't have it both ways, either you give them what they want and clean up the mess after them, or you completely ignore them, let domestic on-course racing die a graceful death, and just focus on producing a product for gamblers across the globe to punt on.   

 

What is unfortunate Sheriff is, on the one hand, they cater for Whips & Spurs and as as we know they stumble out of there absolutely paralytic yet on the other hand they ban families etc that may want to take few cold ones into the infield on Boxing Day, New Years Day which also gives young ones exposure to racing.

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A good friend of mine was a duty manager at one of the bars at Addington on cup day a couple of years back.

He has been in hospo longer than I have and runs a good ship which was point proven as he was the last bar standing at the end of the day, rest had been shut down as the D.L.A. were in and out all day.

Turnover is his bar is mind blowing but if you have high prices and demand then a perfect combo.

Went to the Orari races 2 or 3 years ago which is also once a year and just one big piss up, any form of punting came second.

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Sherriff I totally agree. As an owner of licensed premises, I am bound by the laws surrounding the Sale of Liquor Act, which among many things, dictates that I must be a responsible host and, not permit anyone who is drunk on my premises. The licensing inspectors get pretty tough when they notice the latter on premises yet it appears that some Racing Clubs condone this and, a blind eye is being turned by the officials in regard to their obligations under the Act and their licence.  

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Sherriff I totally agree. As an owner of licensed premises, I am bound by the laws surrounding the Sale of Liquor Act, which among many things, dictates that I must be a responsible host and, not permit anyone who is drunk on my premises. The licensing inspectors get pretty tough when they notice the latter on premises yet it appears that some Racing Clubs condone this and, a blind eye is being turned by the officials in regard to their obligations under the Act and their licence.  

 

Can I ask how often you have to limit all patrons in your bar to one drink per order???

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Bar staff at Addington last cup day had no problem selling a young lass a bottle of wine....But I couldnt buy a round of beers for five of us? One reason why I wont be there this year, I get sick of standing in a line with everybody else, and most have no idea who is in the race? Not for me.

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Bar staff at Addington last cup day had no problem selling a young lass a bottle of wine....But I couldnt buy a round of beers for five of us? One reason why I wont be there this year, I get sick of standing in a line with everybody else, and most have no idea who is in the race? Not for me.

 

Maybe they should be asking a question at the bar to determing if they should serve you?

 

eg - who won the last race??

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Maybe they should be asking a question at the bar to determing if they should serve you?

 

eg - who won the last race??

 

 

Might be a bit hard to answer if they are only up to race 5 and the last hasn't been run yet    :D

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Ted, that's the new protocol for our verbose and obese executives..the new k.p.i., where we're to hold the last race, First :)

..it'll be Called R~10, and'll do away with the 9 Other races, and on Paper...the centralising and downsizing, can claim to've been a raging sucCess! . . .a fully grown industry as they moved forward ;)

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Drunkenness at Ellerslie is nothing new.  I remember Auckland Cup Day 1968 old men staggering their way from the beer garden to the old totalisator board betting area.   The only difference now is, the authorities are making their presence felt to stop drunk driving.   Yesterday, there were two road blocks in our area where I have never seen road blocks before only breath-testing people, not the slightest bit interested in Registration and Warrant of Fitness.

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