Thoroughbred industry participants call crisis meeting despite funding announcement

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Thoroughbred industry participants call crisis meeting despite funding announcement

Tim Ryan 14:31, January 23 2017

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VINCE CALIGIURI

Trainers' Association president Tony Pike has labelled an NZRB funding announcement "pathetic".

 

An announcement labelled "pathetic" by New Zealand Trainers' Association president Tony Pike is a 100 to one shot to stall the groundswell of disquiet in the New Zealand thoroughbred industry.

 

Amid great fanfare, the New Zealand Racing Board announced it will provide an additional $4.77 million in funding over the next two and a half years to support the racing industry.

The intention is to improve stakes, address aging infrastructure and encourage the entry of young people to racing.

Industry participants are obviously underwhelmed by the announcement and a crisis meeting has been called this Sunday at Ellerslie prior to the high profile Karaka Million raceday.

It seems NZRB's attempt to quell disquiet might backfire and industry heavy hitters will be asking some serious questions at Sunday's meeting.

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While organisers are tight-lipped about the meeting's agenda it has been hinted that radical action will follow if solutions aren't forthcoming.

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Racing Board CEO John Allen announced at Trentham on Saturday that the pilot enhancement funds have come as a result of overwhelming feedback from the industry.

"Last year I undertook a series of conversations around the country speaking to those at the coal face of the New Zealand racing industry and hearing their concerns," Allen said.

"I received a very clear message that this is an industry under significant pressure, many people are struggling and the industry requires increased financial support now, which is why we have created these enhancement funds to help address these issues." 

In response Pike said the announcement "is obviously political" because the NZRB is under pressure from industry participants.

"It's going to achieve nothing," Pike said. "You would have to be naive to think it's going to be a big benefit."

His response was backed by one of the country's top trainers, the long-seving Murray Baker.

"It's a disgrace," he said. "They are killing peoples' livelihoods."

Allen said more than $2.8 million will be made available to tactically boost stakes, with the aim being to provide greater return to owners, trainers, jockeys and drivers, in turn attracting higher quality racing and improving the overall race experience for industry people and punters alike.

"If you cut it all down it's next to nothing," Pike said. "They need to perform a lot better than that."

The Youth Development fund will aim to help build the next generation of racing by applying more than $645,000 to encouraging the development of career paths into and through the industry.

The infrastructure enhancement fund will help address aging infrastructure of racetracks to improve safety, reliability and the oncourse experience, with more than $1.29 million available across the industry over the current, 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons.

"The allocation of funding will be made in collaboration with all three racing codes to ensure they are in line with their individual strategic planning," Allen said.

While NZRB has identified a number of key initiatives which, once fully delivered will provide an estimated $50-55 million in annualised net profit per year to racing through increased distributions, Allen said he recognises that many in the industry need help right now.

"While these investments aren't a silver bullet, they are an important short term measure to provide the industry with some breathing space until the benefits of the key initiatives are realised. It is also a clear signal to the industry that NZRB will support the long-term growth of racing in New Zealand," he said.

These initiatives will be funded by Class 4 Gaming proceeds so do not impact NZRB's distributable betting profit to the racing industry.

Drastic measures are expected to be explored at Sunday's meeting with invitations reportedly extended to Allen and NZRB chairperson Glenda Hughes where it is understood they will be faced with previously submitted, critical questions.

Their response could reverberate around the industry if it is not what participants are seeking.

 

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[Leggy 4,076]

The nude sex cruise looks interesting.

[Ohokaman 5,825]

So this "enhancement fund" comes solely from Pokies.....????

[Pam Robson 1,547]

20 minutes ago, Ohokaman said:

So this "enhancement fund" comes solely from Pokies.....????

Am I wrong in thinking that the promised 4.5 mill is the same amount as received now..?    So is that figure on top of what we now get?  or just the same figure..? in other words,  more money or more lies?

[Ohokaman 5,825]

3 minutes ago, Pam Robson said:

Am I wrong in thinking that the promised 4.5 mill is the same amount received now..?    So is that figure on top of what we now get?  or just the same figure..? in other words,  more money or more lies?

"Alternate facts" Pam...? 

And it is for all three codes.....ain't going far is it....??

[Leggy 4,076]

It's additional money to the current about 140mil distribution to all codes and yes, from pokies.

[Midget 4,489]

1 hour ago, hesi said:

Just an observation and I realize they are self funding but there is an irony between an industry crisis meeting several hours before and at the same venue and a million and a quarter million dollar race

The million dollar race is a subscription based sweepstake.....so I can't quite see your point....where's the issue there ? unless you means it's a matter of perception v. reality.

[Midget 4,489]

Having read the article atop the thread can I have a guess at what the opening line of the email containing the questions to "slippery" John and "curly" Glenda may have said.

Dear Turkeys.....would you like to join us for Christmas dinner ?......

And the answer, based on Glenda's reported defiance, " get stuffed "

Well yes, there's a prophecy written in stone right there Glenda.....and we generally do stuff the turkeys love.....

[We're Doomed 4,855]

2 hours ago, hesi said:

Just an observation and I realize they are self funding but there is an irony between an industry crisis meeting several hours before and at the same venue and a million and a quarter million dollar race

Interestingly enough the $1m race is unlikely to get a full field, so surely a sign of a struggling industry.

And the $250,000 race will get no more than nine horses. Compare that to the Gold Coast meeting a couple of weeks ago.

[Varro 244]

the million dollar race is lacking in exposed form, but doesn't look like the greatest of fields for a million dollar race

[chelseacol 2,488]

1 hour ago, Midget said:

Having read the article atop the thread can I have a guess at what the opening line of the email containing the questions to "slippery" John and "curly" Glenda may have said.

Dear Turkeys.....would you like to join us for Christmas dinner ?......

And the answer, based on Glenda's reported defiance, " get stuffed "

Well yes, there's a prophecy written in stone right there Glenda.....and we generally do stuff the turkeys love.....

Very interesting if neither of them choose to front up .... they are not compelled to attend but you would think they would want to front it head on ??

[shaneMcAlister 1,425]

The RESET button on the current system needs to be pressed.

[Midget 4,489]

1 hour ago, chelseacol said:

Very interesting if neither of them choose to front up .... they are not compelled to attend but you would think they would want to front it head on ??

There's a big party on, the troughs are overflowing, the tents at the sales will be bursting with champagne and caviar, TV cameras will be everywhere, politicians will be hovering like blue bottles over a long drop dunny.

Do you seriously think these two will be able to stay away ??

[Huey 2,037]

2 hours ago, We're Doomed said:

Interestingly enough the $1m race is unlikely to get a full field, so surely a sign of a struggling industry.

And the $250,000 race will get no more than nine horses. Compare that to the Gold Coast meeting a couple of weeks ago.

3yo race looks like being a cracker of a race though wouldn't you say?

[Midget 4,489]

Every race is a cracker on million dollar night, it's the best day of the year bar none IMO.

[Leggy 4,076]

14 minutes ago, Midget said:

There's a big party on, the troughs are overflowing, the tents at the sales will be bursting with champagne and caviar, TV cameras will be everywhere, politicians will be hovering like blue bottles over a long drop dunny.

Do you seriously think these two will be able to stay away ??

When they rock up a few times in the trainers' hut at 5 am and share a few laughs and a cup of muddy tea from a stained, cracked old cup with the real grinders in the industry who they are supposed to be supporting, I might believe they have the industry's interests at heart. Chucking TR 800k of pokie money a season for 3 years is an insult to our sensibilities as someone already said.

[Guest]

Bit ironic when John says it is to encourage the entry of young people to racing, when Wellington Racing Club are trying to do that by charging young people into their racing by charging 6 year olds $30 to get in!!!

[biff 2,158]

1 hour ago, Midget said:

There's a big party on, the troughs are overflowing, the tents at the sales will be bursting with champagne and caviar, TV cameras will be everywhere, politicians will be hovering like blue bottles over a long drop dunny.

Do you seriously think these two will be able to stay away ??

I reckon they will, even with half a brain they'd be mad to not realise the possible confrontations, and embarrassing situations.....of course a rather large Pacific Islander on each arm might be an idea, just as a deterrent. 

[Ohokaman 5,825]

Depends whether they have the right answers to the questions being asked I reckon Biff......

[Leggy 4,076]

They don't have any answers.

[puha 2,177]

1 hour ago, Midget said:

Every race is a cracker on million dollar night, it's the best day of the year bar none IMO.

Is it not NZ racings version  of a Hollywood party? Probably a good night out but the hangover lasts for another 364 days for most.

[biff 2,158]

28 minutes ago, puha said:

Is it not NZ racings version  of a Hollywood party? Probably a good night out but the hangover lasts for another 364 days for most.

That sums it up.

[barryb 2,064]

10 hours ago, Leggy said:

The nude sex cruise looks interesting.

37% of NZers would sign up for it. Interesting  higher than I thought it may be.

[Patiti 274]

2 hours ago, Leggy said:

Chucking TR 800k of pokie money a season for 3 years is an insult to our sensibilities as someone already said.

Tokenism...How are the initiatives going to produce extra money or does that include savings by regionalisation etc

Where is the cost benefit analysis of Paddy power and surely increases would be in sports betting and the sports bodies would be looking to benefit from that.

NZTR needs to look at themselves and not just moan that the TAB needs to have bigger payouts.

Dr Alan Jackson going to be there with GP?

[tasman man 11 979]

Many on here seem keen to slash the high stake races and add to low end.

IMO this would just speed up the demise of the Industry in NZ....owners would leave in droves.

Say you too k $100,000k off the equivalent of 50 races , difficult to do = $5mill.

Say they slashed $10mill off wages at NZRB = Total to spend then $15mill.

There are over 5000 gapers racing ,say they average 1 win each per season [ they don't] then they would receive an extra $3000 each.=$15mill

So the average horse ,and most aren't average ,would get back say an average of $12k back each for the investment of say $25k to $30k each as opposed to $9k.

All horses would be just pre- trained  to race in Australia where stakes appear to increase regularly ,their industry boosted by Govt spend.

My rough figures are only divided up among our TB's , ignoring harness and doggies !

As for the Wellington Cup ,cafers argued for years to return to the iconic 3200m to increase excitement and encourage owners/trainers to develop great 3200m horses like the good old days.

Now cafers are bemoaning the 3200m event as merely catering for highweight camels running around for excessive money which could be better spent giving every horse in NZ a few carrots each.

I thought the intention was to groom our horses to dominate the Melbourne Cup...haha.