mikeynz

Are any of those slot holders not connected directly to harness racing, first year Hydroflow and Senz has slots, Senz were fly by nighters,.

So the slots must have been up for renewal and up till now no takers, or not enough will there be any more, if the best horses have already booked a spot seems a expensive punt that no one wants to take, possibly a reflection of the awkward times business face, don't seem smart business if you only get half your stake back if you run down the track, harness races are so dominated by a few that technically that's what's stuffing the concept unlike the gallopers which ain't so predictable, you can't write the script so worth a punt.

Manawatu have 7 noms for 2 races for non winners, be interesting to see how they manage that but non winners should have the most numbers but not the case, Southland no better sometimes too.

I note still 2 places for the trot, only 6 at the moment, wanting 8,, looking at the slot holders it's really now just an in-house event, first year the pacers saw Senz, Hydroflow got involved, clearly the interest has waned not helped by the Ellerslie one now where slot holders would get more exposure, maybe slots ain't the great savior some may have thought, maybe a passing phase.

Amberley must have done some begging, 7 in the Cup rating 60 but 2 under that.........Wairio noms as expected, none in the 2yo fills race, 6 in the main pace, Horarata cup 18 noms rating 49+ still believe any race with 6 or less starters penalty free.

Once they would just be non totes for a minimal stake, if anything, but hey nice work for the early birds. I also note they have extended noms for Amberley cup, w at present, I think Horarata might get a few.

Maybe if the likes of Wyndham are going to put 50 grand for the kindergarten maybe race in October or something, might clash with other races but just forget 2yo racing until autumn, starting slowly and building., a 2yo in march is still a 2 year old in October so just put things back a while, I can't see what good Wyndham get from it's richest race having 6 starters and all usually from Canterbury, what's the point?

Every race or many races you see a wide band in the ratings just to get starters, rating 41s racing rating 50s, then FFAlls rating 62, racing rating 80s 90s or whatever, it's a mess. The old system while not perfect you know where you stood.

And the reality is, the money they race for ain't bad but why Cambridge Wednesday, Auckland Friday, ?

Maybe they will boost stakes for Wyndham and no new date, but Wingatui must have dropped something to have Gore Cup, not much they can do about it. Sometimes Gore must come under some scrutiny. Best track they had in Southland probably was Winton, 18 or so harness meetings so what's the sense of the gallopers moving, not like the course is shutdown.

2 nominations, then..........13 noms for 3 pacing races at Auckland, Wairio rating 50 to 70, how many ? But then also Sunday Horarata 46 to 70, programming all over the place, anything over rating 55 struggling.......strangely fields for Cambridge Wednesday generally good, I seriously wonder if going to Alexandra Park just don't appeal to many, prefer Cambridge.

Seems to be. So Wyndham will be as normal.

Leap to fame is good, but is he the best ever, aussie have had some good ones but those debates will always go on, as to who's the greatest.

Question is will March 8 be Wyndham or Gore, Gore Cup or Wyndham Cup, some compromise will be needed, one wonders if 2 day meeting, maybe Sunday, Wednesday/Thursday, maybe one day goes to Ascot Park, Wyndham itself would have been mostly Southern runners but the real issue is the track, and the day lost which when you don't have too many days in the South need all they can get.

Might be awkward finding another suitable date with Wingatui then Ascot Park, if I were the powers that be I'd run them in March at the Wyndham meeting, maybe another day later on from that maybe in May or just have one day scrubbed.