Otaki Maori G1 moved to Ellerslie

[pete]

Group 1 Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club WFA Classic to Move to Ellerslie

The Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) have agreed, subject to NZ Pattern Committee approval, to relocate the Group 1 Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club WFA Classic to Ellerslie on Eagle Technology Avondale Cup & Guineas Day, Saturday 22 February 2025.

The race was developed by the Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club from Listed level in 1986 and obtained Group 1 status in 1992. Previously run for $400,000, the race will now be contested for $500,000 in 2025 and will increase to $600,000 in 2026.

The move was not an easy decision for the Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club, and NZTR would like to thank their committee members and executive staff for seeing the potential in the move to Ellerslie and ultimately agreeing to run the race away from its spiritual home.

NZTR COO Darin Balcombe believes the move will help to protect the race’s Group 1 status the Club has worked hard to develop over the years.

“NZTR understands the importance and cultural significance of the race to the Ōtaki-Māori Racing Club and applauds the industry first approach they have taken in discussions to support the long-term future of both the race and the Club,” Balcombe said.

“As one of only two races to develop into a Group 1 from Listed, it is important we protect its status in New Zealand Racing. The stakes increase, as part of the Summer Carnival, gives this race the opportunity to succeed at Group 1 level well into the future.”

To aid in the increased travel costs to Central District connections, Ōtaki-Māori RC and NZTR will contribute up to $1,000 in travel subsidies for Central District based horses that compete in the Ōtaki-Māori RC WFA Classic.

There will be additional travel subsidies available for the highest finishing Central Districts trained horse should they return for Champions Day at Ellerslie March 8th.

[Hesi]

A very generous move on the part of Otaki???

[ngakonui grass]

Is this a permanent move???

[Hesi]

Based on this, you would have to say yes

"As one of only two races to develop into a Group 1 from Listed, it is important we protect its status in New Zealand Racing. The stakes increase, as part of the Summer Carnival, gives this race the opportunity to succeed at Group 1 level well into the future.”

[ngakonui grass]

I agree with what they say they are doing it for but it leaves me with the question of what race is next.

[Hesi]

If you believe that this was a proactive move on the part of Otaki, then it is up to the club(s) to decide.

Still subject to Pattern Committee approval

[Buller Rep]

10 hours ago, Hesi said:

A very generous move on the part of Otaki???

Don't you mean stupidity?

They made the race, particularly their Sponsors, each of whom stayed in for a very long time stating with Sir Arthur Williams, then Pat Baker etc.

I am disgusted with the sell-out by the club and to the participants of the CD.

  

[Buller Rep]

7 hours ago, Hesi said:

If you believe that this was a proactive move on the part of Otaki, then it is up to the club(s) to decide.

Still subject to Pattern Committee approval

And they are bending to the push as I have actually spoken with one member of the Pattern Committee today!

Every move by NZTR over the last 8 to 10 years has been to destroy [unintentionally] the ground support of the rest of the country.

They are all friggin idiots, are those in charge.

What more can I say?

 

[curious]

6 minutes ago, Buller Rep said:

I am disgusted with the sell-out by the club and to the participants of the CD.

Did the club really sell out, or were they pushed?

[curious]

5 minutes ago, Buller Rep said:

And they are bending to the push as I have actually spoken with one member of the Pattern Committee today!

Every move by NZTR over the last 8 to 10 years has been to destroy [unintentionally] the ground support of the rest of the country.

They are all friggin idiots, are those in charge.

What more can I say?

 

Not much. What they don't seem to get, is that they are closing down the more profitable clubs and events in favour of the least profitable and when the Entain money comes to an end and they have to stand on their own feet they are completely stuffed unless they can come up with another benefactor. I can only hope that at that point, the regional clubs have the energy and resources to emerge from the ashes.

[Buller Rep]

1 hour ago, curious said:

Did the club really sell out, or were they pushed?

Good question. I guess the only way to find out is to talk to someone at the Otaki Maori Racing Club but I don’t know anyone there these days.

[Hesi]

From an earlier announcement

The new-look summer programme is also heralded by the creation of a two-day Karaka Millions Carnival. The Carnival will bookend the famous NZB National Yearling Sales Series, which attracts bloodstock buyers and industry participants from all over the globe.

The Group 1 Railway, which will now be held on Day 1 of the Karaka Millions Carnival, will also form part of a new Super Sprint Series, with a $500,000 bonus for horses that perform well across the three New Zealand legs (the Telegraph Handicap, the Railway Stakes, and the BCD Sprint), as well as a number of soon-to-be-named races in Australia later in the Autumn carnival. This bonus scheme will sit alongside the Summer Middle Distance Series, which was established earlier in 2023 and will also be worth $500,000 next season.

Bruce Sharrock said the goal was to take the well-established Karaka Millions race meeting and supercharge it through the creation of a two-day extravaganza, as well as the addition of a Group 1 race to the opening day of the Carnival. 

“We’ll be able to showcase New Zealand racing to the world with prestigious Group 1 racing, complementing the incredibly strong feature racing at our premier Ellerslie track,” he said.

[Hesi]

From the above, it is looking like they were after another G1 for the Feb 22 race day, so that is where the Otaki race fits in

Someone else will know, but don't you have to have certain requirements, such as a G1, for the meeting to potentially qualify for the world pool

[curious]

10 hours ago, Hesi said:

Someone else will know, but don't you have to have certain requirements, such as a G1, for the meeting to potentially qualify for the world pool

Yep.

[Hesi]

So it is possible then, that the motivation for this move has come from Entain

[Buller Rep]

10 hours ago, Hesi said:

So it is possible then, that the motivation for this move has come from Entain

No, not at all. This is all the Auckland Racing Club, NZTR and the fucking grubby mits of NZ Bloodstock. 

[Hesi]

It does look that way, but you have to consider

1.  This could have been a genuine move on the part of Otaki to preserve the G1 status.  In saying that, the Pattern Committee had removed an alert for the race.

2.  While many of the smaller centres that have iconic races and do well, the future of racing in NZ is dependent on wagering growth.  Entain are doing a lot of advertising in NZ to attract new generation punters, and good on them, but this growth would be small compared with getting increased global interest.  Getting races or race days into the world pool will facilitate this, if it can be achieved.  As mentioned, G1 status is the starting point.  So maybe it is an 'Auckland thing' to satisfy egos, but it may very well be a push from Entain

[mardigras]

13 minutes ago, Hesi said:

It does look that way, but you have to consider

1.  This could have been a genuine move on the part of Otaki to preserve the G1 status.  In saying that, the Pattern Committee had removed an alert for the race.

2.  While many of the smaller centres that have iconic races and do well, the future of racing in NZ is dependent on wagering growth.  Entain are doing a lot of advertising in NZ to attract new generation punters, and good on them, but this growth would be small compared with getting increased global interest.  Getting races or race days into the world pool will facilitate this, if it can be achieved.  As mentioned, G1 status is the starting point.  So maybe it is an 'Auckland thing' to satisfy egos, but it may very well be a push from Entain

Not sure how Entain benefits from World Pool betting. My understanding is the combined pool pays out based on a race fields type approach to the local industry, and the only advantage to Entain would be if the World Pool option resulted in increased betting through Entain. Which it probably would do, but I don't expect to a large degree.

NZ is unlikely to ever achieve global interest. The racing is of limited appeal with the tracks/horses/riders. People go on about the limited stake levels in the UK. But the racing is so far superior to NZ, it isn't funny. Stake levels don't make racing. The tracks/horses/riders are a big part. Along with the rules/integrity.

Entain doesn't need NZ racing to be attractive, it needs their products to be attractive on whatever it is they are selling - most of which is not NZ Racing.

[curious]

1 hour ago, mardigras said:

Not sure how Entain benefits from World Pool betting. My understanding is the combined pool pays out based on a race fields type approach to the local industry, and the only advantage to Entain would be if the World Pool option resulted in increased betting through Entain. Which it probably would do, but I don't expect to a large degree.

NZ is unlikely to ever achieve global interest. The racing is of limited appeal with the tracks/horses/riders. People go on about the limited stake levels in the UK. But the racing is so far superior to NZ, it isn't funny. Stake levels don't make racing. The tracks/horses/riders are a big part. Along with the rules/integrity.

Entain doesn't need NZ racing to be attractive, it needs their products to be attractive on whatever it is they are selling - most of which is not NZ Racing.

Yes. Additional revenue from the media rights goes directly to the club doesn't it, not to Entain?

[curious]

On 8/23/2024 at 9:10 AM, mardigras said:

Not sure how Entain benefits from World Pool betting. My understanding is the combined pool pays out based on a race fields type approach to the local industry, and the only advantage to Entain would be if the World Pool option resulted in increased betting through Entain. Which it probably would do, but I don't expect to a large degree.

NZ is unlikely to ever achieve global interest. The racing is of limited appeal with the tracks/horses/riders. People go on about the limited stake levels in the UK. But the racing is so far superior to NZ, it isn't funny. Stake levels don't make racing. The tracks/horses/riders are a big part. Along with the rules/integrity.

Entain doesn't need NZ racing to be attractive, it needs their products to be attractive on whatever it is they are selling - most of which is not NZ Racing.

It's interesting to note that the NZTR SOI has no strategy or comment on improving integrity or the perception of it which ain't great in NZ racing imo.