southland harness racing

[the galah]

I've previously pointed out southland harness racing is heading in the same direction as auckland . no doubt about it.

I've also previously said part of the answer is they should shorten the racing season and have no racing in june/july and august.They simply don't have the numbers to justify racing all year around,its too cold and the small number of southland horses that want to race in those months can be based in canterbury or auckland,maybe with a travelling subsidy,to supplement the field sizes in those areas..Thats what used to happen in years gone by,and thats what they should be doing again.

for southland,the age of most trainers and the demise of the number of owner trainers ,who once were so plentiful,are areas of obvious concern.

The reasons for the decline is best understood by southlanders.

In my opinion,the solution to future proof the sport in southland,is HRNZ should bulk fund,at all current levels provided for stakes and other things,to an organisation comprised solely of southland racing people.

I understand currently HRNZ expects clubs in areas like southalnd to set stakes at certain levels.Hrnz need to continue to fund current stake levels,but let southland distribute as they see fit,not as HRNZ see fit.

And southland need to come up with their own financially sustainabilty model and get HRNZ to agree to it long term which can future proof that region and avoid any consequences of poor decision making made by HRNZ, having an impact on them.

And of course with a more sustainable southland industry as a result of all decision making in the hands of southlanders,they won't be the drain on harness racing in nz that they are becoming.Its a win/win situation.

 

Edited 11 hours ago by the galah

[Nowornever]

I think they should have more grass track racing programmed in the summer down there on the days where there is no grass racing in Canterbury.

It gives a varied punter experience and I am convinced it leads to bigger dividends and bigger fields chopping and changing from grass to grit.

Also gives those horses with jarring grit track issues somewhere to race and those trainers chasing the grass in Canterbury might venture down south a bit more.

House, Negus, Purvis, Jones, Hope might all be tempted. They definitely would if the stakes were a bit higher for the lower grade instead of pouring it all into slot races.

[mikeynz]

36 minutes ago, the galah said:

I've previously pointed out southland harness racing is heading in the same direction as auckland . no doubt about it.

I've also previously said part of the answer is they should shorten the racing season and have no racing in june/july and august.They simply don't have the numbers to justify racing all year around,its too cold and the small number of southland horses that want to race in those months can be based in canterbury or auckland,maybe with a travelling subsidy,to supplement the field sizes in those areas..Thats what used to happen in years gone by,and thats what they should be doing again.

for southland,the age of most trainers and the demise of the number of owner trainers ,who once were so plentiful,are areas of obvious concern.

The reasons for the decline is best understood by southlanders.

In my opinion,the solution to future proof the sport in southland,is HRNZ should bulk fund,at all current levels provided for stakes and other things,to an organisation comprised solely of southland racing people.

I understand currently HRNZ expects clubs in areas like southalnd to set stakes at certain levels.Hrnz need to continue to fund current stake levels,but let southland distribute as they see fit,not as HRNZ see fit.

And southland need to come up with their own financially sustainabilty model and get HRNZ to agree to it long term which can future proof that region and avoid any consequences of poor decision making made by HRNZ, having an impact on them.

And of course with a more sustainable southland industry as a result of all decision making in the hands of southlanders,they won't be the drain on harness racing in nz that they are becoming.Its a win/win situation.

 

I don't notice much difference from a mid summer meeting to a mid winters raceday numbers wise, this season has been mostly Thursdays, now the draft calendar for next season has lots of Sundays, many same day as another meeting in Canterbury, turnovers for southland are modest to say the least, no new meetings next season, guess they've reached their limit.

Maybe switching many days from Saturdays to Thursdays now to Sundays is a example of poor decisions

Edited 10 hours ago by mikeynz

[Gammalite]

3 hours ago, the galah said:

for southland,the age of most trainers and the demise of the number of owner trainers ,who once were so plentiful,are areas of obvious concern.

The reasons for the decline is best understood by southlanders.

A few easy reasons for you are the cost of running one (a horse) is more than it's worth these days in trying.

The ones that do run go so darn fast that trainers like all Williamsons  , are just too darn good at home down South with Empire City, Ruby Rose , etc. and you can't win. the mile rates are way too quick they run. 

You need slow Thursdays to attract the slow horses. Just race for a few 1000.

Redcliffe had it's slow race day today . They do that each Thursday. For horses only running 30 second quarters. that's as fast as they can go lol. but you still need some races for them to keep people involved. 

As a side note for something different>  I see SWAYZEE"S Brisbane training stable (ex-pat Tim Butt and son Riley Butt) had the single worst day today, I have ever seen a stable have in this state. 5 horses running . None galloped but were all Beaten a total of about 300m between them . 3 very long lasts in just 30 second quarters ??  2 were banned , 2 warned for being uncompetitive and on last chance to race truely, and the 5th one was $3.20 and got beat a long 40m (beating home the Korbyn Newman driven Stablemate . Bet he wishes he was back at Dunn's already 🤣😉)  At least I can see why Swayzee ran unplaced for 8 starts running now , while in Queensland before Grimson days 😋

 

[mikeynz]

Williamson have some good ones but is the competition up to much, having said that, by turning up week after week, getting a nice earner for the trouble, which seems to be the mantra for many harness meetings, small fields, dominant stables.