RaceCafe..#1...Tipsters Thread.... Share Your Fancies For Fun...Lets See Who The Best Tipsters Here Are.
Berri

So what's the real answer

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The recent RITA AGM makes interesting listening. A portion of the funds that are being accrued in the accounts are to strengthen the balance sheet, which if you look at them, are totally out of wack. I just can't understand why that happened...not.

I've always been an advocate that racing needed to control its own destiny but all I'm hearing in any recent correspondence or release is that racing is waiting for government (WP and the DIA in particular) to get things sorted. This is continuously mentioned in the AGM address by Dean. So is this the real issue? It would seem reading between the lines that RITA have their hands, feet, fingers and toes tied by government. That got me thinking...why?

So if you were looking at the full picture, we've got major national issues around the "clean and green" image, animal cruelty, methane gas emissions through farming, the concept that killing animals for meat is bad, strengthening of veganism in our society, and a general movement away from conventional humanoid activities such as shooting, hunting, climbing trees, touching women or men in a cheeky manner or taking the piss out (even in jest) of the minority groups who may have different skin colour or wear different clothing.

So where does that leave racing? The mere function of racing is gladiatorial, so that won't appeal to the social movement sectors that are being drip fed into our political systems. The concept that horses may like running does not register to most, and this concept is eroded with continuing reports of animal cruelty and neglect without our industry standing up to these accusations because they are either too weak or stupid to do so. Erosion of the reasons why this industry actually exists continues unabated.

Then you've got the political protection mechanisms to maintain the status quo, and in most cases this would seem to be funding mechanisms. We used to be race betting, Golden Kiwi and registered sweep stakes. Racing had 76% of the betting volume (now 11%) and 48,000 direct employees to the industry (now 18,000). We used to have triple the amount of mares being served and being on the ballot was a regular occurrence. Why do you think trials were introduced? History would state that it was to prove your horse was good enough to qualify for a race. Like the change of AI meaning artificial insemination to now meaning artificial intelligence, trials are now a place to educate your horses.

So you have to understand the picture in its totality. Golden Kiwi was replaced by the lotteries, which could only be described as a safe haven governmental slush fund. It instantly eroded racing's gaming market share which meant that the cost structure to hold the racing game was going to increase. Then the internet came along and that put pressure on both the lotteries and racing....then the casinos (including pokies) and online casinos. So the governmental slush funds come under pressure. That's where the politicians can deliver their legal bribes to the likes of sports clubs, grass roots art and aboriginal initiatives.

So the only way to ensure some form of financial stability is control. As racing was one of the biggest betting/ gambling service providers, it needed controlling. The 2003 Racing Act effectively did that and the likes of Rick Bettle (a government stooge), Gary Chittick (the most destructive RIB leader of our time) and Murray Aklin (arguably the most creative receiver of pokie funds) allowed the TAB, its activities, and the ownership of racing depart racing's shores and end up in the coffers of government. This was achieved by ensuring all the activities needed to be signed off by the Minister, including the accounts. In addition to that, it pointedly included a clause that said that any claims as to the ownership of the TAB were set aside and vested with government. So now government has control. Why do you think the RITA Annual Accounts have no photos of racing in it other than the front cover. It's all about sports. It's about subverting the funds to others using a platform that has/ is underwritten by racing while change control occurs.

So add to that knowledge that now parliament has the animal rights activists,, urban type minded people who have had little or no exposure to animals or the country side, think gambling is a social disease, and see race horse owners and breeders as some sort of socially elite minority, and there you have it....the real reason why development of the industry will continue to be slowed to a snails pace.

Our only chance is to really change the game. We need someone who will take the plunge and REALLY change the game!!! We need a new way of directing racing without government intervention in order to liberate it. Is there a Minister for Rugby, Sailing, sheep shearing?

So I'll start the ball rolling...let's get someone interested in government to allow racing to make its own financial and social argument that sees the tote being vested back into racing's hands, where the bureaucracy is a commercial structure with commercial rules, that promotes commercial decisions (and not political ones) to drive the industry forward. If we leave this too long, we will fade into oblivion. Now that the full plan has been exposed, let's reject it and say we need to be able to push the reset button.

If I could find that person in parliament, would you be up for it?

 

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I would be a keen supporter for what you are advocating. There are some minor points that I have reservations about but I agree strongly with your overall proposal. another thing you may have overlooked is the necessity to get the control of racing out of the hands of racing clubs and into a commercial structure (as outlined by you)

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1 hour ago, Stables said:

I would be a keen supporter for what you are advocating. There are some minor points that I have reservations about but I agree strongly with your overall proposal. another thing you may have overlooked is the necessity to get the control of racing out of the hands of racing clubs and into a commercial structure (as outlined by you)

How is that going to improve things? 

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By removing the management and decision making processes from the current multilayered system to a modern commercial structure which would enable an efficient and timely management structure that is not reliant on a whole series of commitee proceedures which are unable to make the sort of decisions that are necessary for the survival of racing

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9 minutes ago, Stables said:

By removing the management and decision making processes from the current multilayered system to a modern commercial structure which would enable an efficient and timely management structure that is not reliant on a whole series of commitee proceedures which are unable to make the sort of decisions that are necessary for the survival of racing

Hahahahaha keep the comedy coming

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Whats wrong is the old system. Its a communist one. The parallels are are almost complete from the Politburo down to the Functionary (NZTR) to the Collective (Clubs) and the Peasants. it cant work as has been demonstrated in the world. Cuba ,Venuzuela, hello!

Rita lost me when D M'cK said it wasn't their function to incentivise club performance. it cant be the Functionary NZTR as they are beholden to all the Collectives clubs. No incentive to perform and no penalty for non performance. Sorry its fkd here.

Now the Politburo will start land confiscation. Thats discriminatory  confiscate one, confiscate the lot. Then form a Corporation with directors that are liable. Create regional centres, Set annual marketing budgets and performance targets. Non performance fire them.

 

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1 hour ago, Stables said:

Laugh all you like but the present system is bankrupting racing

Everyone agrees the present system isn't working, hasn't worked for a long time, and is not fit for purpose. Unfortunately, no one seems quite sure which bits of the current system should be dumped and which bits should be retained and what should be put in its place.

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21 hours ago, Baz (NZ) said:

LEFT FIELD! :ph34r:
How about clubs run themselves and on their own merits?
Sack Rita, Sack NZRB, Sack NZ Racing, Sack TAB... Sack the lot and start from scratch. Save a lot on useless Salaries! :lol:
The strongest survive and live on as in life!

Could not agree more.... some clubs have very capable business leaders on their committees and if given half a chance might come up with something that works for their club, for their community and possibly for the industry as a whole.                        The current one size fits all,bend over and take it. ,keep your trap shut until your course is closed system is wasting that vast well of expertise in nearly every club.                               I dont know what to do to save racing but I am sure that at least one club has the recipe for success.

 

 

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On 11/19/2019 at 5:24 PM, Nerula said:

Whats wrong is the old system. Its a communist one. The parallels are are almost complete from the Politburo down to the Functionary (NZTR) to the Collective (Clubs) and the Peasants. it cant work as has been demonstrated in the world. Cuba ,Venuzuela, hello!

Rita lost me when D M'cK said it wasn't their function to incentivise club performance. it cant be the Functionary NZTR as they are beholden to all the Collectives clubs. No incentive to perform and no penalty for non performance. Sorry its fkd here.

Now the Politburo will start land confiscation. Thats discriminatory  confiscate one, confiscate the lot. Then form a Corporation with directors that are liable. Create regional centres, Set annual marketing budgets and performance targets. Non performance fire them.

 

So NZ Racing has been held hostage by a hotbed of Communists...all these years!:rcf-shocked-4::rcf-thinking:

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3 hours ago, flockofewes2 said:

So NZ Racing has been held hostage by a hotbed of Communists...all these years!:rcf-shocked-4::rcf-thinking:

Listen here Sheeps i'll try to explain it in terms you'll understand. Say if you are a little guy with a bunch of sheep and you wanted to earn some money racing these. But there is a weird old old system where a government agency makes all the laws on sheep racing. They try (not so hard) to encourage people to bet on sheep racing in the hope that will enrich the government and pay for the management of that enterprise. They really don't care much for sheep racing, but its been around for a very long time and some good piss ups can be found around it.

I digress! After costs, there's trickle down - some funds to a mob that try and organise the sheep racing clubs, but its baaa-rely enough to keep the game viable and sheep are getting hurt on baaa -d tracks. People are not keen on betting on sheep anymore as it aint that exciting when only a few go along and you might see a sheep getting offed. Better stay away!

So where does that leave you dag? 

 

 

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5 minutes ago, Nerula said:

Listen here Sheeps i'll try to explain it in terms you'll understand. Say if you are a little guy with a bunch of sheep and you wanted to earn some money racing these. But there is a weird old old system where a government agency makes all the laws on sheep racing. They try (not so hard) to encourage people to bet on sheep racing in the hope that will enrich the government and pay for the management of that enterprise. They really don't care much for sheep racing, but its been around for a very long time and some good piss ups can be found around it.

I digress! After costs, there's trickle down - some funds to a mob that try and organise the sheep racing clubs, but its baaa-rely enough to keep the game viable and sheep are getting hurt on baaa -d tracks. People are not keen on betting on sheep anymore as it aint that exciting when only a few go along and you might see a sheep getting offed. Better stay away!

So where does that leave you dag? 

 

 

terrible fail at humour,analogy,in depth analysis...you name it...give up.Successive Communist Govts I take it.:rcf-shocked-6:

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3 hours ago, Berri said:

The analogy is spot on though....or didn't you get it?!?

I get it alright.

Its called the blame game.

That blame lies squarely with NZTR and its appointments,lobbyists,and incompetent,s who are big on promises..'NZ racing will be the envy of the...world':rcfe-clown:and 

clearly HOPELESS on...delivering.

All good blokes of course.See the world,get on board the NZTR gravy train.

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On 11/19/2019 at 5:23 PM, Stables said:

Laugh all you like but the present system is bankrupting racing

Nah , old age is racings biggest problem , it's no longer on the entertainment menu for young people , no matter what's done nothing will change this . New taxes (race fields etc ) can only depress tote dividends so long term they are no incentive to get in the game , basically racings a goner at it's current scale , shrink it and it might be ok for a handful .

"" Ohio State University is among U.S. colleges that are launching programs aimed at capitalizing on the booming esports industry .

Shenandoah University in Virginia and Becker College in Massachusetts are set to join Ohio State University in offering esports courses. “It's no longer kids playing games in their basement,” Alan Ritacco, the dean of Becker College’s School of Design and Technology, told The Associated Press. He said the top esports players in the world now earn almost as much as the highest-paid stars in professional golf or tennis.

According to Newzoo, the global esports market is expected to climb to $1.1 billion this year – a $230 million increase from 2018 on the growth in sponsorship deals, merchandise and ticket sales. The analytics firm expects the global esports audience to grow to about 454 million with fans mostly turning to the Amazon-owned Twitch and Microsoft’s Mixer to watch professionals play video games.""

 

SO there you have it , racing will never compete with this type of entertainment , long term it looks like  we might be facing a return to equilisator meetings mid week , won't that be fun .

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There needs to be a strong organisation managing the assets of all racing venues. Racing like a sports team is just one user of those assets.

Similarly one organisation expert in running a racemeeting and one organisation like NZTR administrating the participants.

Another organisation organizing gambling (TAB) and the last organisation just the media side e.g. Trackside and internet.

Thats five in total each with separate goals. The current situation is an inefficient mess.

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On 11/20/2019 at 6:41 PM, Stables said:

Some clubs might have some entreprenuerial expertise, Nukkledragga, but the vast majority do not. That's been the problem, too many well meaning amateurs

Amateurs at running a race club certainly , but professionals in their business life ,unlike the govt appointed professionals with no experience in the real business world ,no experience outside of their safe govt jobs .

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can i ask those of us here...

what is the percentage (Roughly) of the profits(TAB/ON-Course betting) after Tax do the punting community contribute into the sustainablility of a Race clubs survival??

im just curious??

and from whom does the majority of the financial support come from.. to sustain a racing club.

im a bit of a noob.. when it comes to seeing the big picture of the working beast!! :D

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On 11/21/2019 at 6:09 AM, tripple alliance said:

Nah , old age is racings biggest problem , it's no longer on the entertainment menu for young people , no matter what's done nothing will change this . New taxes (race fields etc ) can only depress tote dividends so long term they are no incentive to get in the game , basically racings a goner at it's current scale , shrink it and it might be ok for a handful .

"" Ohio State University is among U.S. colleges that are launching programs aimed at capitalizing on the booming esports industry .

Shenandoah University in Virginia and Becker College in Massachusetts are set to join Ohio State University in offering esports courses. “It's no longer kids playing games in their basement,” Alan Ritacco, the dean of Becker College’s School of Design and Technology, told The Associated Press. He said the top esports players in the world now earn almost as much as the highest-paid stars in professional golf or tennis.

According to Newzoo, the global esports market is expected to climb to $1.1 billion this year – a $230 million increase from 2018 on the growth in sponsorship deals, merchandise and ticket sales. The analytics firm expects the global esports audience to grow to about 454 million with fans mostly turning to the Amazon-owned Twitch and Microsoft’s Mixer to watch professionals play video games.""

 

SO there you have it , racing will never compete with this type of entertainment , long term it looks like  we might be facing a return to equilisator meetings mid week , won't that be fun .

Then 50+ race tracks in NZ are not needed are they? 

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