curious

Worse, as usual with track issues there is no detailed report to the industry. The promised one for Hastings is yet to materialise.

I'm no expert but they should have been able to kill them between spring and now and they would have been evident in any core samples. My dad lived in fear of them as a farmer. Pretty sure there's also a long acting bacterial treatment too. If true, it's totally lax.

It'll be the issues they have caused since spring which will likely be patchy dead spots. Also, because they then burrow down and rehatch in the spring they are hard to kill at this time of year.

I agree. Can't they get a truckload of Neem granules in there if they want to be eco friendly at the same time? I can even keep the little buggers out of my lawn and I'm no green thumb.

Just by way of comparison, overseas online casino providers are paying GST of $37.5 million a year. So, NZ punters are losing 250 million a year on that gambling medium. I think that figure may have got mixed in with some of the claims about NZ racing's wagering losses to overseas bookies.

Isn't that because they've added irrigation so that the outside is watered to the same level as the inside, thereby taking away any outside advantage and mitigating the risk of it become slippery out there if they get rain on the day?

Oh yes, I see now. That's about right, maybe 57-58%.

Wouldn't that be the all racing code figure, not just the NZTR share?

Interestingly, in the course of investigating this, I came across the following in relation to the previously much discussed topic of the quantum of offshore betting by NZers: “Offshore platforms who offer gambling on sports and race fixtures currently pay a Point of Consumption Charge of around $4 million per annum, that is returned to the sports and racing codes in New Zealand for community benefit and harm minimisation efforts,” Kieran McAnulty said. Applying a bit of simple arithmetic based on the above 10% figure, that means that the total overseas sport and racing gambling spend by NZers is about $40m. From that, you would guess that the NZTR share of commissions, after expenses, is likely only just in 7 figures.

Pretty confident that Entain can work that out for themselves. Not that a de Lore article could possibly hold much sway but for the naive at this point.

As expected, complete bs from de Lore. This prompt response from Tony Severinson, Head of Funding and Analytics, NZTR. Bet 365, along with all other Australian Corporate Bookmakers, do pay Racefields fees to Racing NZ (via TAB NZ) for betting taken on NZ races. This commission is paid directly to the NZ racing code whose product is being bet on. In addition, offshore betting providers are required to pay Point of Consumption Charges (POCC) to the DIA, set at 10% of Gross Betting Revenue of all bets placed with them by NZ residents. Racing NZ receives a quarterly payment from DIA for POCC, although no breakdown of the contributions from individual operators is available.

Correct but you can't believe much that de Lore writes. $170m for 2023/24 (+36% compared to current financial year) $175m for 2024/25 (+40%) $180m for 2025/26 (+44%) $185m for 2026/27 (+48%) $200m for 2027/28 (+60%)

I'd rather just do what any diligent journalist worth his salt (and I'm not referring to de Lore) would do and verify what he is reporting before he does so.

I have contacted both the DIA (as the designated authority) and NZTR to find out if it is true or not that Bet365 are not paying BIU or consumption charges as de Lore has claimed. I'll let you know if and when I get a response. It seems incomprehensible to me.

Good question. It seems to be the week for disappearing threads, here and elsewhere.

I feel the pain! Looks like Amade was saying where the hell did they get this bloke from?

I like the guy. He was a good stipe. But what has happened under his rein at NZTR is not very flash.

Which casino are they going to?

Still has a licence but no runners this season.

It doesn't sound like they knew anything much.

http://i1.cmail20.com/ei/y/47/24C/52B/124600/csfinal/CorporateEmail-banner-9900000000079e3c.png As a result of the abandonment of Hawke’s Bay Racing Inc.’s meeting at Hastings yesterday, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has confirmed the following date and programme changes. Programme and Date Changes After considering all options and taking into account the views of affected participants, NZTR has determined that the Group 2 Lowland Stakes and the 3YO Set Weights and Penalties that was not run yesterday will both be moved to Racing Taupō’s meeting on Friday 8 March. In order to accommodate these moves, nine races will now be run at this meeting next week. The necessary approvals for these changes have been obtained from the New Zealand Pattern Committee and the TAB NZ Dates Committee. The Group 2 Lowland Stakes will now be run over 2000m metres and the 3YO SW&P race will be run for a stake of $25,000. NZTR notes that, while the Group 2 Lowland Stakes is an important race in its own right, it also plays a very important role in the 3YO fillies pattern, as it helps underpin the race rating of the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham. In NZTR’s view, running the Lowland Stakes at Taupō gives both it and the New Zealand Oaks, the best opportunity to meet the required ratings performance to retain their status as Group 1 and Group 2 races, respectively. In addition, the 3YO Set Weights and Penalties race will also move to Taupō as an important lead-up to the Group 2 Wellington Guineas. A 3YO Set Weights & Penalties race over 1300m is to be added to the Ōtaki-Maori Racing Club programme on 6 March, to be run for a stake of $25,000. Other key programme changes are summarised below: · The R60 1200m is being deleted from the Racing Taupō meeting on 8 March · An R65 over 2100m is to be added to the Wellington Racing Club programme on 9 March There will be new nominations for both races being moved to Taupo (closing at the normal time on Tuesday 5 March) with preference being given to horses who were meant to run yesterday at Hastings. Hastings Abandonment NZTR received a full Stewards’ Report this morning regarding the abandonment, including the track preparation in the lead-up to the raceday. NZTR is awaiting reports from the Club on the preparation of the track, particularly consideration of forecast showers, to ensure that all available options were considered for the surface preparation given the adverse forecast. NZTR will engage with the Club, Racing Integrity Board and New Zealand Jockeys’ Association to ensure we get the best possible outcomes for the industry moving forward and that we are making proactive decisions when it comes to the preparation of tracks with our current weather patterns. NZTR and the Club have also agreed to immediately undertake a full renovation of the Hastings turf to regain confidence in the track. More information will be provided by NZTR regarding this process once a detailed plan has been finalised. Yours in racing, http://i2.cmail20.com/ei/y/47/24C/52B/124600/csfinal/Darin-Balcombe-9903cf028a01453c-ffd5db75c50ee306.png Darin Balcombe Chief Operating Officer Darin.Balcombe@nztr.co.nz

But then Cameron says we can't fix the tracks because we don't have enough tracks available to divert the racing to while we fix them.

I understand the deluge lasted about 10 minutes. It must have been that the rain left the track slippery afterwards? No stipe's report yet to explain what the issue was.

Yes. That's~the total for 3 years with 450 split over the 3 years and whatever else they bid payable up front. Results Average - $691,667 Aggregate: $6,225,000 Median: $700,000 Slot 1: John Chew - $725,000 Slot 2: Kerri Spence Bloodstock and Clotworthy Racing - $675,000 Slot 3: Wexford Stables - $700,000 Slot 4: Daniel Nakhle - $675,000 Slot 5: Te Akau Racing - $675,000 Slot 6: Ozzie Kheir - $700,000 Slot 7: Entain New Zealand - $700,000 Slot 8: Andrew Forsman - $675,000 Slot 9: Cambridge Stud - $700,000