Brodie

Ranga, glad you think That I have good work. Not sure why it is, but just dating the facts!! The reason given for the $1000 rule was to control money laundering thru racing and stop punters financing terrorism!

Brodie is well of gallops being popular with more people than Harness! You are right, that I am not a big fan of watching gallops as not overly exciting, even though ai used to go to Riccarton many years ago. As for investing on harness racing,I haven’t had one since the TAB accused us all of being potential money launderers or financing terrorism acts!

Not much wrong with my eyes Badger! Just saying if you are watching gallops there is buggerall action until the last 200m in most races Being so far away from the public, hard to pick up the horse you have backed.

I am talking about being on Course!

Watching gallops is not overly exciting though, as you only pick them up from around the 200 metre mark and then it can be hard to spot the one you have backed. Very little action compared to harness, but then different strokes for different folks!

Yes I was talking about gallops here in NZ rather than globally. From the thoroughbred side, I am sure it is almost impossible to make money racing a galloper as the training costs have always been much higher than harness. Why do people like watching the gallops rather than harness??

Think you are right Greg. Sad but reality, and from the comments on the thoroughbred side, no different with the gallops. Personally, never been able to understand why gallops has been more popular with people, as gallops racing is very boring compared to harness lol. Hopefully things can be maintained enough for participants to remain in the industry

Only Watched race 2 today at Palmy as meeting wasn’t that inspiring. However with 2 minutes to go the win and place tote pools both had approx$2,700 invested in them! When the stake money for the race was $9k it is showing that Central Disticts harness racing is totally stuffed and is only being semi held together by Michael House’s number of horses. Unfortunately there are so many Harness Racing clubs that are on lifelines that are not going to last forever, and future for these clubs is terminal when there is bigger all punting going on! Auckland stuffed, Forbury stuffed, Palmy stuffed and I am sure there are many clubs that will be folding in the next five years max. The TAB isn’t really worried as they make the most money on sports betting and if harness disappeared they wouldn’t be crying!

Yes I did mean the AllStars because at some stage They will sell off their stable land for development in Rolleston and they would’ve had enough. Not easy to get horses into the AllStars stables either and don’t ever query what they have charged you for!

The Group Races are a big financial loss running then for the clubs but they do need them. Reality is that while the Blue and Silver are around in numbers, racing in NZ will struggle. At some stage they will reduce numbers and hopefully it is not too late

You are right Gammalite, owners could race them in Oz without selling. The beauty of Oz is that there are more races for the open class horses in the different states

The inters were always going to be a bit controversial this year due to having so many runners from the one stable. great to have the ozzies over but they have been outclassed really in the pacers. The final is going to be dominated by the team driving and there is no way that the All Stars arent going to be lengths better than the others. Forbury park was more interesting racing last night even though the fields were small. There will be more open class horses sold overseas after the Interdominions have finished without doubt. No money for most of the pacers in NZ that raced in the heats compared to OZ racing where they will shine.

Yeah, no money in harness racing nowdays

It’s not as if the 3 regulars have trouble with social intercourse!

Yes pretty sure it was. Cassie works for Sky Racing in Oz, is the TAB saying that our 3 male presenters need another person?

Was wondering if it really needs 4 Trackside presenters sitting behind a desk for the Interdominions? Surely this is just overkill and must be expensive and just another big cost for the TAB and you can see why the expenses are so great! Cassie Fahey is a lovely lady but I thought she was more a gallops presenter and why the TAB found the need to bring her over is a fair question, I would’ve thought? Is it too big of a task for “The Whale”, Greg and Michael Guerin?.

Watched a few of the races at Alex Park Friday night, being the first night of the interdominions. There didn’t seem to be very many there at all and certainly didn’t appear to be anymore than a normal Friday night meeting there. I do not believe that there is the interest in the Inters up there this year and the fact that there is only two pacing heats is pretty average. I looked at the tote win and place pools at one stage a few minutes out from the start of the first pacing heat and there was only about $6k in both pools. This showcase of harness racing being the Interdominion is going to run at a serious financial loss for the Auckland Club unless things pick up majorly. The days of getting good crowds to Alexandra Park appear to be well over and Cant see how it is going to improve knowing that they are in such a dire financial situation! The Public Relations man will say what a great success story it is but that is what they are paid the big bucks to say while they have a job.

Should throw the stupid rule out!

Where has SpatchCock gone, to answer the questions. He has hit and run with no validation

Spatchcock, unwelcome to yourself and a few others maybe!!! Regression, hardly. Spatchcock, can you please explain to us all, what the current Australian whip rule is?? Such a serious issue that SAFE did not have the harness whip rule in their sights at all, so how was it such a brilliant move from Rennell? It was a personal issue with Rennell and not a harness racing participants issue! Spatchcock, are you a Vegan?.. Would appreciate you answering all questions put to you!

Why would I run anything past SAFE?? Of course there is animal cruelty that happens, but the whip rule,in harness racing is not one of them. SAFE weren’t even worried about the harness whip in racing but HRNZ panicked when Harness Racing Australia brought in the no whip rule which never happened!!! The Ozzies whack the crap out their horses NZ drivers don’t.

The thing is, that I am sure that it is extremely difficult for any driver to have to control his horse, look for a run and also have the ability to have to count up to no more than 10 or you get done. There are anomalies as well in that a tap is a hit, you can stop and then whack and there is no discretion being used by the Stipes as to the amount of force being used. It is just a flippen no. Ridiculous!!!!

Yes, well aware this has been brought up many times, but if it is brought to their attention enough times, you never know! Look I am sure that HRNZ are well aware that they have made a major mistake in bringing in the stupid 10 hits with the whip In the last 400metres rule. Nandolo won the Geraldine Cup on Saturday, and Jonny Cox has had his licenses suspended for 4 racing days for hitting 15 times. So Jonny Cox has cheated under the current dumb rule, but the owner and trainer still gets the chocolates. The backers of the second horse plus that owner are the losers as they were beaten by a horse that was driven by a cheating driver under the current dumb rule. Had Jonny Cox not used the whip like he did, Nandolo doesn’t win. How on earth is this fair?.. It is well overdue that Harness Racing NZ come clean and admit that they have made a mistake in changing the rule to what it currently is, and change it back to what it previously was! It was brought in in a ridiculously quick manner without any real discussion and agreement with the people that it affected mostly, the drivers!!!!

Must be an Auckland thing then! Thats right it was the year of the Quakes! Not enough horses prepared to travel from the South Island or Oz to race, maybe because it is right handed? Stake for heats at $30k not that impressive but interesting to see that same stakes for the trotters in the heats!

Not too sure why they wouldn’t go with 3 heats rather than the 2? Is it anything to do with less stake money being paid out? With fields being so big, more chance of horses being interfered with and bad luck if you get back on the fence! Anyway, decision made and hope it is a great series and Auckland Club can make some serious money, as they certainly need it bigtime!!