Box Seat- Dexter Dunn’s thoughts?

[Brodie]

Box Seat this week had the second part of the interview with Dexter Dunn.

Very interesting listening to his thoughts.

He suggested that we might be overdoing the Standing Starts and should be more mobiles, which I agree with nowadays as the starts are just not

good enough.

There has been no improvement with them and just turns the punters off, not that it seems to concern HRNZ though as they allow the crap to continue.

How come the Stipes dont mention the poor starts in their report, cos they are all mates!

The second very interest thing Dexter said was that he thought people in the industry seemed to enjoy the short track racing???????

Personally think that serious punters hate the mile racing  that the Clubs have brought in in recent years.

He is used to the boring racing that he drives in, in the United States so will not be aware of what is going on here.

Would be good to know whether this mile racing does actually attract punters to the races and is there more wagering on them?

I would be extremely sure that it does not encourage wagering at all and is a turnoff for most serious punters and enthusiasts.

Edited yesterday at 08:32 AM by Brodie

[Nowornever]

Need standing starts but just need to make them stand still and not get a running start like most of them try to do. 

[Tonkatime!]

On 5/02/2025 at 9:31 PM, Brodie said:

 

He suggested that we might be overdoing the Standing Starts and should be more mobiles, which I agree with nowadays as the starts are just not good enough.

 

Finally Brodie. It has taken many many years but you are  on the money.
 

I totally agree with you that the standing starts are just not good enough since Peter Lamb retired. 

[Brodie]

8 hours ago, Tonkatime! said:

Finally Brodie. It has taken many many years but you are  on the money.
 

I totally agree with you that the standing starts are just not good enough since Peter Lamb retired. 

Always on the money Tonka!

It is not be that hard to have horses standing behind the tape as the trainers surely all spend plenty of time on this?

The fact that certain starters do not give a stuff about standing starts paints a very poor picture of professionalism for the industry.

All starts should be fair for all horses, but almost every standing start in Canterbury is just a raffle and unfair.

Drivers know how lax the starter is and that they can get away with almost anything including full blown run up.

HRNZ if they have any concern for the industry progressing should be coming down on the starter and not allowing AMATEUR HOUR STARTS!
Are they standing starts or not??

If not then change the name to NON MOBILE START, ANYTHING IS ACCEPTABLE!

Edited 3 hours ago by Brodie

[Gammalite]

2 hours ago, Brodie said:

All starts should be fair for all horses, but almost every standing start in Canterbury is just a raffle and unfair.

Drivers know how lax the starter is and that they can get away with almost anything including full blown run up.

HRNZ if they have any concern for the industry progressing should be coming down on the starter and not allowing AMATEUR HOUR STARTS

Not just Canterbury either Brodster.

You should of seen the Hawera meeting last weekend. The Stratford Cup on day 1 ( for supposed experienced horses) was a Dog's Dinner. A false start caused by Dennis Dunuto and at 'Take 2' he was just about sideways as they let them go the second time round.  Interfered with others. Also  The Abernathy brothers were both tipped out from handicap marks. Handicapped alright !! 🤣  It was ridiculous. 2 races later > in the Stratford Trot for the mid class trotters it was like Ellerslie with more galloping than trotting at /just after the start. 

The Hawera Cup on the 2nd day was a bit better I spose but still 3 runners lost their chance at the start. They didn't use the run-up technique at all that the Southerners use. They were actually standing.

BUT Just use the mobile like the other races on the card is the answer ?. It's right there - ready to use. 

[goldilocks]

I agree that it is time to give standing starts away, use the PBD for all races except  maidens to provide some handicapped.

Dexter has been home for a good while now, and to me it is unfortunate  that the Box Seat is the only place he has been interviewed,  surely a world champion should be seen on main stream media to help gain exposure  to the general public not already aware of his talent and record

[Withadream2]

On 2/5/2025 at 9:31 PM, Brodie said:

Would be good to know whether this mile racing does actually attract punters to the races and is there more wagering on them?

As an enthusiast I love mile racing.  Not at Addington of course or on grass tracks but love it on tracks like Nelson, Ashburton & Winton.   I wouldn’t want it to be like the USA but a couple of mile races on suitable tracks per meeting adds to the variety of distances we compete over.  Particularly valuable for mares & fillies races.