Chief Stipe

So you're just Anti-racing fullstop? Given you appear to not consider Kumara yesterday to have been a success.

Most but not all. If they were wouldn't programming be better than it is?

Well if it isn't it should be!

Even more reason to have internet access available oncourse!

Which would make it even more important for a Club like Motukarara to have WiFi access oncourse! (A discussion ongoing on the Harness Forum).

I wasn't including gate takings as part of oncourse turnover. With regard to the 8% that does that include bets made oncourse through the mobile app?

Yes well unfortunately most trainers aren't up to speed with computers and are slow with their stable returns and manually notify their nominations.

Even Without A Fight and Soulcombes runs in the last Melbourne Cup!

Really? What about handicapping?

But those front runners all had high cruising speeds - makes it tough to come from behind regardless of the track. Sunline was the classic high cruise speed front runner. She could string fast furlongs together one after the other.

I disagree. Sometimes back runner Jockeys will leave their run too late but with the camber and the Strathayr there isn't a bias stopping you from coming wide...early! That's the surface.

That's Gai Waterhouse's approach. Distort what view? I think everyone who has something positive to say about Kumara is just applauding what looked like a great day out with a crowd that Trentham, Awapuni, Riccarton and Te Rapa would have been happy with. Many seeds of future racing interest sown yesterday.

Then make sure they walk the talk in the future. Who is the "in crowd"?

Your point? If you have a horse good enough and with the lead up form you'll have no trouble paying those nom fees.

The nomination fees are normally for Grp races - mostly there are no fees. One thing about nomination fees for the big races is it eliminates the inexperienced tyre kickers.

You find it hard to find a connection to what? Profitability?

The punters don't need PHONE reception - just a WiFi connection. Surely the TAB can provide that at Motukarara or for that matter at any agency or sports pub with access limited to the TABNZ app.

Welcome fellow warrior. PS: you posted at 12:37pm...so Good Afternoon.

I wouldn't call it a "dog track" - it's one of my favourites. The Strathayr track and the bend camber gives all horses a chance. You can still sling shoot for home!

I bet a few imepexperienced Jockeys learnt a thing or two yesterday at Kumara. Assuming the Trainers took them aside and critiqued their rides and they listened. The number I saw getting their space wrong and having to check their horses repeatedly.

A recent visit to Trentham by a friend reinforced what you say. They're stuck with monolithic single use stand facilities and other buildings to cater for an era long gone. Kumara proves you don't need any of that to attract a huge crowd. Where is the imagination at Trentham? Why not develop a mobile campervan facility that can be used throughout the year and on raceday? I read on Channel 2 where a loyal club member was building up the Champagne Turf and the crowd that was there. They must have been stuck in the members room with 300 other people because the crickets were still chirping on the rest of the course. I've said it before where these big clubs have gone wrong is they have forgotten what differentiates them from every other hospitality gig in town. The Racehorse! That's who should be catered to first and foremost followed by the trainers, their staff and owners. Why would Trentham in their right mind put a pile of rubble, dirt and building refuse obstructing the view of their unique 1200m shoot is beyond me. They visited the home of @Huey's Mafia recently - the Matamata Racecourse (I presume thats where they hide although there were no armed guards). The facilities are tired and paint chipped but functional. However the main track was immaculate as were all the different training tracks and the facilities for horses were in tip top shape. They were followed around by the Chief of Security though.

I haven't changed and the average punter hasn't. I think people over the last few years of tyranny and centralised control are appreciating simpler things for enjoyment. No dress code, BYO food and drink... The ability to bet from your smart phone has also helped - don't need to move from your ringside table or camper van other than to watch a race or smell the horses.

Are you talking about Rosehill? Or Trentham most days now?

Cost Accountants don't. They only work on single points in time e.g. New Years Day is not profitable to open a Sports Bar because you have to pay time and a half.

FFS you couldn't remember what you had for breakfast yesterday let alone 150 different horses and colours a day! I found his commentaries fantastic. Sure sometimes he made a rare mistake - all the good ones have. I've got some great memories of his commentary calling my horses home first. Jack O'donnell, Reon Murtha, Darren Tyquin, Tony Lee all told a story and made racing exciting and interesting. I can quote excerpts from race commentaries they've made verbatim.