mikeynz

Some very modest figures for Cambridge, no different than Tuesdays, Winton had some lean pools too, later in the day not as bad, I just don't believe many have money or maybe many just not shit hot interested in many of harness meetings but Harness Racing want more of the same, I guess though if you have more meetings that will bang total turnover up, nothing else will. Just like Rugby I think there is over supply, we can only consume so much.

But in many ways this is just another of the many odd decisions HRNZ keep making, more isn't better.

Question is with Waipukurau is if Hastings returns does Waipukurau get the heave ho again? Having said that it still comes down to whether the locals patronize it but racing needs to have a presence, and same for my other hobby horse, Blenhiem, it's proven if you get the right days you can get the public support, Kaikoura harness on anniversary proves that, can't be that difficult, surely, harness takes racing to the people, gallops seem to be taking it away.

Nelson's request for 2 days in June turned back due to Friday night lights needing preserving, surely they can make the odd exception, ? Nelson also seeked Timaru not race before them in January, turned down but then one wonders why numbers light but Nelson might be smarter to get rid of mile racing on day 2, Auckland and Cambridge getting more races, Auckland running at Ruakaka, Easter Monday, many of the Southern days to Sunday, where possible, Waimate move to Washdyke same day as Tuepeka, Labour Weekend, will it be grass track? Manawatu weirdly race day before Cup but then nought for a month looks like 3 single days and 7 2 days. Hawera race twice mid January just after Kapiti, one day only, but running when they do rules ouf South Islanders. In reality not that much has changed, seems Harness Racing seem obsessed with more and more of the same old stuff.

More than likely in light of recent events probably many changes by this time next year, didn't Wairoa have their cup run in Taranaki this season, now temporary at Waipuk.

Just note they have released the gallops calandar, Waipukurau is back on the go.

Seem to be heading in a different direction than Auckland Trotting Club.

Paddy O Donnell and Hardluck Harry.......radio racing show.

At tracks like Trentham are many of the public facilities over capilised for their usefulness as more and more racecourse become depopulated ?, racing clubs may need to move like Cricket has by having boutique type setups, having flash setups with no one there seems senseless. Urbanization is putting the squeeze on some of these places , maybe moving is the best option.

Percy the place punter......Friday Flash.🤠

Racing would be smarter to spend on making the product better for the participants rather than the public, better tracks etc etc, that's why many of the rural venues with lower overheads makes better fiscal sense.

Wellington Cup day is more than likely the only days most probably go racing in the capital but that's par for the course for most race clubs Ellerslies crowds are poor for the size of the place as Auckland don't care about horse racing, question is does it make sense spending upgrading facilities for a once in a blue moon event, Trentham may be wiser to move elsewhere. Plenty of sporting stadiums like that too though, Dunedin Stadiums becoming a non event, will be worse when Christchurch gets going, North Harbour stadium had a good crowd last night, with no one supporting the Blues at Eden Park be fair to assume most at the ground were supporting the Pacific side which symbolizes the demographic changes occurring in our society, no different to the Warriers, league is the domain of the Pacific community, people are becoming selective about what they attend, but some of these big stadiums with no crowds is never a good experience. That Wellington stadium when mostly empty is a poor look whether it's the Phoenix or the Hurricanes, or the Black Caps, seems Wellingtonions have given up on the NPC just as Aucklanders have

No Reon Murtha or Reg Clapp on the honour's board.

February, ......way things are in CD especially the official calandar may well be a draft one still, but a whole new dates refreshed calandar would do no. harm, does the gallops need 2 Sunday meetings?.

I would add I would only back fast horses instead of slow ones well that would be the theory anyway If only I knew then what I know now ☹️

Not far from June and dates not out yet, or not published anyway, recent times with many tracks not functional, the CD area especially, Awapuni, Hawkes Bay etc etc, it proves that you can rewrite the calandar as regards venues, no reason they couldn't reset the whole Calandar, start again.

And there must have been manipulation in regards to the no deductions promotion, which they could still run if bets were taken after half a hour before race 1,. It would be good to get all the betting figures, not just the tote ones. The tote figures for many harness meeting seem stagnant, I can't say if they are good or bad but they seem to be consistent. they fluctuate for first four if it jackpots and place pools are poor if small on numbers with a dominating favorite yet if 8 or more then the place pool stacks up we'll as opposed to the win pool, it's not rocket science coming to that conclusion.

I wish I could that in rea life, about 40 years would do me 😒

Or is it just me?

And you wonder if the top of the south will ever get their winter harness dates back, the talk was that Nelson might get a Tuesday Thursday meet back in May, Friday night lights on trackside 2 meetings seems to be the in thing for harness racing but gee even one week wouldn't hurt and often Friday nights Rugby and League on the tell anyway, you got to look after the provinces.

Maybe the trainers could ride them instead.

Good point too,but surely the good folk of Marlborough would like a day out at the races and the trainers would enjoy a few days away from the same old same old.

And only 1 grass meeting north of the Waitaki until then that's a long time, as I've stated before Blenhiem needs reinstating, next week is another ideal time along with a couple of other windows, not hard if you try.

Early July next for Ashburton, they actually got 2 extra dates this season, one in February, a Sunday and another midweek in April when strangely Timaru lost their April day, that was moved to November.

I'm starting to believe Harness racing is losing it's appeal to many in more ways than one, some feely average racedays that many just skip by.