mikeynz

They extended the cut off time until Feb 20 for the trotters slot race, any news?

Eric Percy used to commentate the Rugby from Blenhiem I think. Ian Chambers good caller.

I think gammas got it wrong with regards to some sporting organisations running on debt, many football clubs overseas are owned by tycoons and having a football club is just a plaything for them, most sporting organisation's have to profit or their gone, Rugby and league clubs in UK often fold and remember NZ is only a small place, Australia got rid of the Melbourne Rebels, Otago Rugby faced insolvency once, hard to believe, got bailed out but I honestly can't see how Auckland Harness can keep going, it's only a matter of time, Cambridge, don't know anything about them but if their was or is to be a bailout where is it coming from?...no good running to Winston, the galloping guys conned him with their AWT money, he gave money in good faith but all we seem to get is negativity, 30 mill, lot of money, Sure Auckland were unfortunate that their great scheme came undone, happens just like many of the rogues in the property business, but shit happens.

Would make more sense for Auckland to move it's Cup to a couple of weeks before or after slots race to try and attract Aussie runners, maybe a bonus if one can win both, maybe simply best performer bonus, Auckland Cup on new years eve is dead now, only Republican Party went from the south,,rest went to Oamakau, Auckland shot themselves in the foot on this one.

Gee Winton on Thursday, then Northern Southland 3 days later, too much perhaps, main races on Sunday are a rating 55+ and a 2yo fillies race, numbers nominated will be?

No doubt, some sitting at the top of the pyramid in harness will be doing extremely well at present, never probably been so good, great stakes with tiny fields, get it while it's there,

6 races seems to be about as good as it's going to get, House has only 6 racing this week, still a good number of locals to keep them going, just as well, you do wonder if it's financially viable sending a trackside crew out to these places for 6 races, I think the dogs are on same day but they finish soon......Cambridge don't need 6 race cards, just one meet up north will mostly suffice, Gamma always says you need these small meetings for the small time trainers but you can easily schedule races to cater for them as well, even if only one day a week, 13 or so races ain't that awkward, it cuts down travel cost as well, when considering the one day a week scenario makes sense to have one track only, and I suggest Cambridge , going the right way around is at least a step in right direction.

Have to admit I really enjoy out the gate.....due to the fact I don't watch it😁

If people or organisation's live beyond their means, you see the result, but in many ways the ATC have been unfortunate the way things have turned out, but it happens many times, I guess if the ATC had everything go right they would have been seen as a bunch of geniuses, the irony of all this is they took a punt which is what drives the whole industry, unfortunatly the punt was a loser in the end...........reality today is they can't carry on forever as it is, but the issues are for them, that's the ATC to sort, if it falls over then sobeit happens to sports clubs too, if you can no longer trade you cease trading. Makes no difference how many great horses or trainers drivers have graced the place, if it closes it closes, plenty of critics of Forbury Park and the eventual closing but Forbury were never the mess Auckland is, Forbury in many ways we're pure victim of decisions from HRNZ over a long time when some of their race meetings went from major events to non events, and the slow death process began.

He has to say what they want us to hear or he's gone.

You would have to question if 2 meetings on friday nights, 2 meetings on Sundays is in the best interest for turnover, off setting that though is would you engage people's interest if there was one Friday night, Saturday and a Saturday night and a Sunday instead, I doubt you could either, Rugbys on at night now too, maybe the 2 meetings engages people more, that's a hard one to know......probably not cheap sending a TV crew to some of these meetings, I doubt Sky or TVNZ would for some, it's another thing Entain have spent plenty on, the media, some have been moved on which suggest it's not paying.

With the stakes on offer still not attracting numbers anyone with a draft horse must be tempted to stick a sulky behind it and go racing, HRNZ might just welcome all the numbers they can get.

What you are seeing in harness racing is a small number of rich buyers buying all the top stuff for a few serious large numbers trainers hogging up everything leaving the scraps for the rest, eventually it becomes mostly uninteresting and uncompetitive, financially as it stands the ones at the top are most likely doing extremely well as a business module....if the stakes fall as could be the case will their bisuness module stand up ?..

3 noms for Sundays 60+ Ashburton Cup, 7 for the Cromwell main races, I personally believe the handicapping system is fucked, too many yo yo ing up and then back down.

They actually declare it, the racecourse a sellout if all the hospitality tents / tables are sold, for the size of the place (Auckland) they get fuck all, our old friend TAB didn't understand that like a lot of things, anyway I note senior citizens get a discount, I assume Mr Fish that includes you so 30 bucks ain't that bad to see some good racing. I often laugh when you see hairdressing shops offering discounts for seniors getting hair cuts, seems logical as most don't have much if any hair left lol.