There are now only 3 starters in the 2 year old race on Thursday night for $17k!
This is farcical and seriously we need people who are programming with some common sense surely?
It is just one of many races that are run at a big loss for the industry but then again easy to spend other peoples money !
Anyway it is what it is and the owners who get the money may as well take it while it is in play as it will disappear!
Why dont they give the winning owner a $12k bonus as well as it would be coming from Entain anyway?
You just couldnt make this sxxt up !
The half owner of 1977 Auckland cup winner (Royal Cadenza) was refused entry to birdcage presentation as he was deemed not suitably attired... in shorts and jandals.
But does it not seem that the owners and trainers are not wanting to race their horses early and therefore affecting the racing viability of their horses later on?
The days of the Gordon Middleton and Des Grice bringing out these early 2 year olds is not happening!
The industry financially just can not be operating the way they currently are!
Whether the industry survives or flourishes does not really affect me at all!
However I am deeply concerned for the harness industry and the good people that rely in it for a living!
Any comments that I make that can be perceived as negative is solely for the concern for what is going on currently.
Speaking up probably will not make a scrap of difference to what happens when Entain pulls the plug but at least I will have a clear conscience.
I personally do not believe that the decision makers really have the best interests of harness racing at heart for the longevity of racing!!
It's frustrating, I agree.
But you can't expect people to buy into yearlings if they are not going to have guaranteed races a year later.
I don't know what the answer is....