Most enjoyable days racing.....Boxing Day at Ellerslie

[TAB For Ever]

I guess I qualify to comment re todays Ellerslie racing on a track that looked and played superbly , the first BD meeting there since 2021.

The venue looked superb and the various groups in attendance all seemed happy and positive about the day.....the serious punters. , the families , the racing folk and the young people many of who dressed up for the occasion.

Importantly to me the racing was excellent , with very even and keenly contested races with horses coming from all parts of the track. There was really only one 'hot pot' winning at $2 [snazztavi] in what was a brilliant race of quality Group horses . The Stake was over twice it was a couple of years ago [$500k] and it was a Group 1 finish and great to see Hanger's horse prevail.

The Dunstan races were also keenly contested and the classy Australian jockeys found their match in some well timed 'local' jocks !

I didn't walk the track ,but walked the areas where the Public and members were situated.Most areas buzzing with several rooms in members stand seating 200 plus. The Food /Hospitality areas were busy and most food nearly all consumed at end.

And obviously a lot of casual punters as lines , at one stage I counted 14 in lower public stand,tellers ,kiosks and outside caravan all over 20 deep. The TAB room and serious punting ones were flat out on phones and a couple of younger ones tried to show me the Betcha App and the options avaliable with boosts ,bonus while keeping a sly eye on the boobs and bums ! The TV news just showed the Public Stand ,every seat taken ,and two levels !

Fashion in the Fields looked full on , the newish stable area is brilliant for viewing horses up close and the 4 x majestic clerks horses were creating a lot of interest.

So the racing and hospitality side was very well catered for...many people prefer to watch the TV screens while the race on. Families were having fun and kids playing in the infield.

Left with a big crowd of others after 8pm when the music finished...at least 3 x different musicians enjoyed by hundreds...the Grand Tour with music catch is very popular world wide .

So overall it was an excellent days racing IMO ,even I got ahead of the game.......the Herald suggested 5 x steps to punting success ,but only the Snazzytavi tip came off !

The years not over for me for on-course attendance but I rate today as by far the best raceday of the year in NZ...yes ahead of Karaka day , and only behind Victoria Derby day overall.

Today I counted 8000 then gave up so I'd guess between 8 - 12 k there.  Perfect size IMO

[Huey]

Fantastic news to hear , long may it continue.

It's great to see the track doing the job.

[Chief Stipe]

Nothing won drawn further out than 8.

[muzenza365]

This is not a crack at the ARC, but this money Laundering rubbish is just that, rubbish.

I went to the races yesterday and got 1k out to have some bets with and I prefer to put it on a betting voucher. The guy behind the counter asked if I had a TAB account and I said yes but why do you need to know that ,his reply was it was for money laundering,so I said give me a voucher for $950 on one voucher, and $50 on another and he said yes I can do that, but when I went to place a bet I had to give the operator my details every time I had a bet and this was all for just 1k.I believe in Australia it only applies to anything over 10k.

[SLB2.0]

I don't have a TAB account, but about a year ago I walked into a store to place a $1k sports bet. The lady told me I needed a TAB account to place the bet, I told her that I don't have one, and I was simply trying to help out my local TAB, she looked at me with disgust, so instead I told her I'll place it with sportsbet instead.

So strange to need a TAB account to place an over-the-counter bet worth more than a can of beans.

 

[TAB For Ever]

On 12/27/2024 at 4:21 AM, Chief Stipe said:

Nothing won drawn further out than 8.

Come on Chief , you better than this !

It is very common for a good majority of the winners to come from the 8 inside draws.

But there was a winner from 13 [it beat horse from 14] , and a winner from 10. Plus the 2 yr old winner drew 7 from 8.

But hey , don't let the facts get in the way of a good story !

[Chief Stipe]

5 hours ago, TAB For Ever said:

Come on Chief , you better than this !

It is very common for a good majority of the winners to come from the 8 inside draws.

But there was a winner from 13 [it beat horse from 14] , and a winner from 10. Plus the 2 yr old winner drew 7 from 8.

But hey , don't let the facts get in the way of a good story !

As you were but made you look.  The 13 barrier winner was a 2100m race.

You needed to draw handy to have a chance.  That's the way Ellerslie used to play and it seems like it will continue to play that way.

[TAB For Ever]

6 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

As you were but made you look.  The 13 barrier winner was a 2100m race.

You needed to draw handy to have a chance.  That's the way Ellerslie used to play and it seems like it will continue to play that way.

Haha...remember the real Chief.....Shifnal Chief.....top weight ,an outside gate , firm ground .....no problem ,but that was  the Railway nearly 50 years ago !

More recently , the past 23 runnings at Ellerslie the Railway winner has drawn 8 or higher on 13 x occasions.

Namely Recurring ,Miss R A , In Style, VV all drew 8

S T Alarm , Jacowils ,Julius drew 9

Imananabaa and Santa Monica drew 10

Balderessarini and Atomic Force drew 12 

E Raine and Gold Trail drew 13

You very welcome !

[Chief Stipe]

9 hours ago, TAB For Ever said:

Haha...remember the real Chief.....Shifnal Chief.....top weight ,an outside gate , firm ground .....no problem ,but that was  the Railway nearly 50 years ago !

More recently , the past 23 runnings at Ellerslie the Railway winner has drawn 8 or higher on 13 x occasions.

Namely Recurring ,Miss R A , In Style, VV all drew 8

S T Alarm , Jacowils ,Julius drew 9

Imananabaa and Santa Monica drew 10

Balderessarini and Atomic Force drew 12 

E Raine and Gold Trail drew 13

You very welcome !

Well that analysis is a bit pointless as you haven't factored in track conditions.  Wet tracks on the old surface played differently to the current one.  Anyway regardless it is is a new ball game now with the new track.

I just did a quick check of the 1200m winners on the new surface and draws 2,3 and 4 are winning the majority of the races.  Only about 4 winners were drawn in double figures.  Now given the surface is supposed to play even across its width and it apparently never gets worse than a Soft 5 that would suggest another factor.

We have discussed that in another Topic but I'm guessing it is the shape of the iconic curve into the home straight that makes it difficult to improve your position.  As was postulated before you either wait for an inside run to open up in the run home or you get your skates on from the 600m.

Perhaps in the next Railway they OZZIE Jockeys won't sit back and wait but will put the pace on and attack from the get go.  Unless of course they are on horses that have drawn 1 through 5.