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army

Riccarton are you a racing club

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Went to Riccarton on Saturday as I had a horse in the Guniness  what a shame.   Firstly I had a horse racing at Tauranga but all the bars upstairs for owners were close because of over crowding so finding a place to watch him race was just impossible. As I said also had a horse in the Guniness so after being at the race pre-drink I  headed  upstairs to go into grandstand to watch my horse only to be confronted with the glass doors closed and told that due to over crowding I wasnt allowed out into the grandstand. After several times trying to explain that I had a horse in the Group 1 race surely I was able to go out and he just kept on refusing. There were several other people wanting to get out too and thanks to some kind people told the guy to at least let me out to see my horse run. Finally I get out to the stand as the race started. After the race I notice there were a hugh amount of young people up there and I bet they dont even have a share in the horse so how they get up there who knows.

Riccarton Jockey Club you need to realise

1. That without owners there are no horses

2. Without horses there are no races

3. No races means not Riccarton racecourse

It is about time that you start thinking more about the racing on these days than supply a big booze up for the young who get so intoxicated that they cant stand. They are there for the booze not for the races. You dont see alot of them investing on the tote but I pressume that that doesnt worry you because you make all your money by supply them booze all day. The requirement of the Liquor law is that you do not supply liquor to an intoxicated person but walking round you see drunk people with not 1 can in there hand but 3. How these guys all get owners bands no idea considering you restrict you bands to us as 2 per person for the owner and partner. 

Horse racing isnt cheap but we particapate for the enjoyment of watching them race and if you are lucky enough to get one in a Group 1 race you make sure you are there to watch it. I travelled down from the North so perhaps you need to consider owners a bit more because

 

1. That without owners there are no horses

2. Without horses there are no races

3. No races means no Riccarton racecourse

If you want to have a teenage booze party have one but not on a big race day

 

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army sadly more and more racing clubs are employing young Event Management graduates who have little or no knowledge of racing. Hence the poor owner is being largely ignored in this quest to attract new blood to the races. Regrettably you will have a battle royal trying to do anything about it!

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6 hours ago, army said:

Went to Riccarton on Saturday as I had a horse in the Guniness  what a shame.   Firstly I had a horse racing at Tauranga but all the bars upstairs for owners were close because of over crowding so finding a place to watch him race was just impossible. As I said also had a horse in the Guniness so after being at the race pre-drink I  headed  upstairs to go into grandstand to watch my horse only to be confronted with the glass doors closed and told that due to over crowding I wasnt allowed out into the grandstand. After several times trying to explain that I had a horse in the Group 1 race surely I was able to go out and he just kept on refusing. There were several other people wanting to get out too and thanks to some kind people told the guy to at least let me out to see my horse run. Finally I get out to the stand as the race started. After the race I notice there were a hugh amount of young people up there and I bet they dont even have a share in the horse so how they get up there who knows.

Riccarton Jockey Club you need to realise

1. That without owners there are no horses

2. Without horses there are no races

3. No races means not Riccarton racecourse

It is about time that you start thinking more about the racing on these days than supply a big booze up for the young who get so intoxicated that they cant stand. They are there for the booze not for the races. You dont see alot of them investing on the tote but I pressume that that doesnt worry you because you make all your money by supply them booze all day. The requirement of the Liquor law is that you do not supply liquor to an intoxicated person but walking round you see drunk people with not 1 can in there hand but 3. How these guys all get owners bands no idea considering you restrict you bands to us as 2 per person for the owner and partner. 

Horse racing isnt cheap but we particapate for the enjoyment of watching them race and if you are lucky enough to get one in a Group 1 race you make sure you are there to watch it. I travelled down from the North so perhaps you need to consider owners a bit more because

 

1. That without owners there are no horses

2. Without horses there are no races

3. No races means no Riccarton racecourse

If you want to have a teenage booze party have one but not on a big race day

 

I'm very sorry your experience was so poor, and although I am NOT a club official, I feel embarrassed enough to apologise in behalf of we local racing people.

Sadly, if I pointed out the concerns of so many to management there would be little reaction.

Disenchanted patrons need to contact  in writing.

Put the issues on record, and make sure the message gets to the BOARD  not just the office where it will stop.

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obviously a day you didn't enjoy so much Army - which is a great pity seeing you had a runner.

The "problem" with Cup Day is that it is by far the biggest day the Club has every year. And to make matters worse this year - the public stand was closed due to EQ issues. So that takes out of play the biggest stand and the major capacity for people who want a seat etc.

So Cup Day does become difficult in catering for the crowd - I thought the Club did pretty well on Saturday with heaps of marquees, tents and outside areas with tables and chairs etc. And I hope they made a lot of $ from all sources.

One final point - last night we had a big storm blow through - if it had rained on Saturday it would have been a disaster

 

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4 hours ago, Pam Robson said:

I'm very sorry your experience was so poor, and although I am NOT a club official, I feel embarrassed enough to apologise in behalf of we local racing people.

Sadly, if I pointed out the concerns of so many to management there would be little reaction.

Disenchanted patrons need to contact  in writing.

Put the issues on record, and make sure the message gets to the BOARD  not just the office where it will stop.

I have also emailed the club

 

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3 hours ago, poundforpound said:

C’mon guys, you can’t have it both ways.

The first day at Riccarton was a demonstration of your ideal, just a handful of people there and little atmosphere. One word, forgettable.

The last day, it was pumping, and as for young ones being a bit liquored, so what ? It was a party, you’re trying to get the next generation to embrace racing aren’t you, and that requires a memorable experience for them. One word, fantastic.

Racing is a complex business, for every ying there’s a yang, every black there’s a white, club’s have to balance revenue streams and sources, these days turnover is by devices and hospo has become a very important alternate revenue source that has to be embraced and maximized. 

Nothing is perfect in racing but if you couldn’t find some positives out of Cup week this year you’re a miserable sort of critter.

To conclude, any feelings about the Melbourne Cup carnival given your loathing of crowds and a party atmosphere ?

 

Look I dont begrudge the club geting the young ones along the area out the back was great for them but as I said being on a jockey club committee and dealing with the alochol there is standards that you have to stick too. Any intoxicated person firstly should not be served another drink and if escorted off the grounds should be recorded in an offical incodience book. It is hard work to balance the revenue streams I know this because as I said I am on a Jockey Club committee and we are a small country club so it is so much harder.  We have big groups on some of our race days but we still cater for our owners.  As I said I know the rules and if clubs or one or 2 clubs dont adhere to it all racecourses will be no alcohol and this was stated at our meeting with the alcohol licencing board last year.  My main concern was I paid nearly 4000 for my horse to get down there then the entry fee and our airfares and accommodation and I was told sorryy you cant get in the stand to watch your horse race.  As for the Melbourne cup I cant comment becasue I have never been on course but my comment to you is are all the owners denied an entry into the stand to watch their horse race. I BET NOT.  I bet the jo public arent even allowed up into the members stand. Go to Elleslie on a big day and unless you have a ribbon on you ant get up the members  stand to watch the race.  As for being miserable I am not I am frustrated that I had to fight to see my horse run. No doubt you dont have or have never esperienced that 

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I also had a horse racing at Riccarton during the week. If the email I received from them was evidence of how they do things, then they should all get in the bin.

that email showed the scant regard for owners...so bugger them.

and all we see on Twitter is Tim Mills (?) telling the world how wonderful everything is....

 

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3 hours ago, La Zip said:

I also had a horse racing at Riccarton during the week. If the email I received from them was evidence of how they do things, then they should all get in the bin.

that email showed the scant regard for owners...so bugger them.

and all we see on Twitter is Tim Mills (?) telling the world how wonderful everything is....

 

TM has been there a long time as CEO which from a business perspective is not healthy IMHO.

Sad that you and Army were not recognized for your efforts to provide the racing product. To me that's inexcusable but not surprising.

Far too many intoxicated people and that was after 4 races. In the members car park area many were there to talk eat and drink. Most of them openly admitted that they never saw a horse, race or have a bet yet paraded as if they owned the place.

If you entered by the SW entrance  there were three booze bus's and cops galore and that was on the way in. On the way out i was amazed to find a checkpoint, im taking the piss now, and was breath tested. Copper said thanks your clear to go unlike those two car's drivers who are way over the limit. How stupid are some people and that was pre last race

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Here's a question, for all the clamping down on BYO liquor, all the cops, all the check points. Did the day look like drinking was more under control?

For all the PC crap nothing has been achieved other than to force people to heavily pre-load before an event to try and avoid the high pricing and big drink Q's.

 

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2 hours ago, horseboy said:

Here's a question, for all the clamping down on BYO liquor, all the cops, all the check points. Did the day look like drinking was more under control?

For all the PC crap nothing has been achieved other than to force people to heavily pre-load before an event to try and avoid the high pricing and big drink Q's.

 

No

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8 hours ago, chelseacol said:

7 arrests from a crowd of 13,000 (???) Quiet night in town the Police reported.

 

Only 7 arrests but how many were escorted off the course. 2 as Iwas arriving at 12.45 were being lead out. Then I saw at least another 6 being escorted off during the day when I was outside which wasnt all day. There is arrests and then there is people who were removed becasue of intoxication they both need to be counted.

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12 hours ago, army said:

Only 7 arrests but how many were escorted off the course. 2 as Iwas arriving at 12.45 were being lead out. Then I saw at least another 6 being escorted off during the day when I was outside which wasnt all day. There is arrests and then there is people who were removed becasue of intoxication they both need to be counted.

And how many of these occur on a normal Saturday night when there are 13,000 people in town - or at a concert or whatever !

For 95% of the people there it was a great day out on a racecourse - which we should be trying to encourage surely ? Idiots unfortunately are still breeding and will turn up at most events and act accordingly ....

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Check out the latest development by the Moonee Valley to recognise the breeders....just wasting time and precious breath conveying these ideas to the protective people who are charged with running our industry...

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