Positive attitude towards racing club's woes
Hats off to Dargaville Racing Club's committee They tackled the recent issue with a clear head, battled for solutions and gained the respect of its punters and business suporters. Well done guys!!!
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Dargaville Racing Club's special spring meet which allows punters to bring their own alcohol is likely to become a thing of the past.
With corporate tents booked and busloads from Kaitaia, Mangonui, Kerikeri, Opononi, Whangarei, Tutukaka and Waipu scheduled, racing was called off on November 11.
The call to abandon the meet after race three was made after a soft patch surfaced on the 700 metre mark compromising the safety of horses and jockeys.
It was the second blow to be dealt to the club.
Only days out from the meet the club was told their special race day alcohol licence which normally allowed punters to bring in their own alcohol - something the event is well known for - had been turned down.
Club president Tim Antonio says he is baffled as to why the Whangarei police had opposed the BYO licence, especially as to his knowledge there had never been any trouble in the past. He felt it unlikely BYO would be permitted at future race meetings.
But the club remains positive about the day and its future viability.
"It could have turned really sour, but everyone rose to the occasion, many staying on well after the tote and bars were closed to enjoy the atmosphere ... I was thrilled at the behaviour and attitude... everyone embraced the new rules and made it work on the day."
After frantic discussions a compromise was reached and with limitations on where racegoers could drink the day went ahead.
Concerns punters would keep away due to the alcohol restrictions were alleviated when patrons turned out in their numbers including Northland MP Winston Peters and Sir Peter Vela, the president of New Zealand Bloodstock and principal of Pencarrow Stud who flew in by helicopter.
The track was checked twice by officials before race day, but a 50 metre patch cut up bad enough to make further racing on the day unsafe.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has offered Dargaville the chance of another race day.
The opportunity is yet to be discussed by the local committee but it is likely to be a late summer or autumn meet.
NZTR will also reimburse travel costs to those trainers whose horses didn't start on November 11.
* Do you have fond memories at Dargaville's spring meet? Email them to jenny.ling@fairfaxmedia.co.nz
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
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32.1% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
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67.9% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Something we all seem to have forgotten
An Obituary to Common Sense printed in the London Times
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.
No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated valuable lessons like:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- And maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge)
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher
fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death;
-by his parents, Truth and Trust,
-by his wife, Discretion,
-by his daughter, Responsibility,
-and by his son, Reason
He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers;
- I Know My Rights,
- I Want It Now,
- Someone Else Is To Blame,
- I'm A Victim,
- Pay me for Doing Nothing
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing…
This is a modified version of a text that is originally attributed to Lori Borgman. However, it is more true today than it was when first written. It is not the version I remember, but it still gets the point across. Enjoy and remember.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
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