Brodie Posted Friday at 09:07 PM Share Posted Friday at 09:07 PM (edited) The Race By Betcha, is nearly upon us again What do harness participants really think about it and slot races? Does the trainers and owners of horses that are not in the race really give it much thought? How many people get excited about these types of races and does it actually bring enough excitement to introduce new people into racing? Is it just a transfer of funds between wealthier people rather than what it is meant to do? There are some people that love the tight class racing whether they bet or not which is interesting! Personally solely from a punters point of view, I would not be putting a brass razoo on any race such as this at Cambridge and I would highly doubt many serious punters looking to win would either! You have a field of the very best horses racing each other over sprint distances all on the job, when there is very little between them. Anyway just looking beyond the media hype to see what others thought and whether they think that the money that Entain will be putting in is money well spent? . Edited Friday at 09:08 PM by Brodie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Posted Saturday at 07:52 AM Author Share Posted Saturday at 07:52 AM Just as I thought, no one really gives a damn about these slot races apart from the ones with horses in them and the Trackside Presenters that are being paid to be so bullish about them! Does it bring new people into racing, no it doesnt it just costs the i dustry more money that it can not afford to be blowing at the moment. Feel free to disagree 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAB For Ever Posted Saturday at 09:06 AM Share Posted Saturday at 09:06 AM IMO supporting and promoting "Cup Class" horses is an important an exciting aspect of Harness.. The biggest excitement IMO is the attraction of the top Australian Horses......results in a competitive trans-Tasman battle. We used to have the Interdoms but for various reasons these fell out of favour and they got watered down...not only was series too taxing on horses other high stake races started swamping the calendar. Betting and interest increases significantly in these big races and keeps the sport/industry in the media . The slot races are very new to Harness ,the high-profile will only be matched by the NZ Cup. A key to the Slot races is that most of the big stake is funded by the participants . Personally I'd drive up to 4 hours[did in 2024] for the 'event'......NZ v Australia. I wouldn't cross the road for a card of maiden horses many driven by part-timers ! Harness generally has a bad rap among non-racing folk , but big stakes may catch their attention as apotential owner in racing or breeding stock.And racing needs more outside investment to prosper. As for the Cambridge track...it adequate and has hosted a few Jewels days successfully. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gammalite Posted Saturday at 09:29 AM Share Posted Saturday at 09:29 AM (edited) 1 hour ago, Brodie said: Just as I thought, no one really gives a damn about these slot races apart from the ones with horses in them and the Trackside Presenters that are being paid to be so bullish about them! Does it bring new people into racing, no it doesnt it just costs the i dustry more money that it can not afford to be blowing at the moment. Feel free to disagree The runners PAY a BIG chunk of the prizemoney themselves. Doesn't cost the industry much at all to run $1,000,000 races. The Industry is Looooving It . 👍😍 The BETCHA, The Eureka, The kiwi, The Nullibor, The TAB trot, The Protostar, The Ascent, The Velocity !!! win win winwin win win Brodster. It's called Buying a Slot .you can't buy one mate as they are too POPular and they go like Hot-cakes. and you're showing up as a bit of a DINOSAUR here, not able to adjust with the current way of assembling GReat Fields of the Best. GET with the Program Mate. You are the Only one doesn't give a damn . But you do really . as you wrote about it !! on ya mate . Enjoy the Fantastic Racing and watch out for the BIG Queenslander next Friday. Addington had a FANTASTIC new Slot for 3 year old trotters and 3 year old Pacers on Show day. They could race in $500,000 races because of this fantastic incentive. well done NZ Metro club Introducing those !!! 🏆🏆💰💰 Brisbane put on a $500,000 slot for 2 yearold's as well . They went 1.50. last year. Plenty of incentive to run lol. Edited Saturday at 09:30 AM by Gammalite 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gammalite Posted Saturday at 09:40 AM Share Posted Saturday at 09:40 AM 26 minutes ago, TAB For Ever said: We used to have the Interdoms but for various reasons these fell out of favour and they got watered down...not only was series too taxing on horses other high stake races started swamping the calendar. Betting and interest increases significantly in these big races and keeps the sport/industry in the media . ReBORN soon in July TABman, with 2 heats instead of 3 to qualify for the final, which what was killing it. There will be 2 past Championship winners competing . 'Leap To Fame' and 'DON Hugo'. They will scare off a lot of the kiwis. NZ hasn't been the same since Allstars retired during Covid times. (The brand that sent Lazarus and Smolda to Australia for the Interdominion and WON ) and weren't pussies like they are these days. The Interdominion Final here in Brisvegas for the next 3 years. Come have a July holiday , and I'll shout you and Greg O'connor (what a fabulous harness man that bloke is) a 'Coffee' or 2. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nowornever Posted Saturday at 10:52 AM Share Posted Saturday at 10:52 AM 13 hours ago, Brodie said: Anyway just looking beyond the media hype to see what others thought and whether they think that the money that Entain will be putting in is money well spent? No doubt it adds Aus/NZ interest and gathers exciting fields but there is no way the turnover will pay for it. Good as a viewing spectacle but will it entice people to open their wallets. I am not so sure. I think getting some fields like this during Cup week would be more beneficial especially if the Aussies bought some stablemates over for the supporting races. Turn Cup week into two weeks of high quality fields and have an Australian/NZ drivers championship at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Posted Saturday at 11:19 AM Author Share Posted Saturday at 11:19 AM Good to see support for the slot races. Not sure the exact figure that the race is subsidised from the industry coffers, but no doubt it is not inconsequential. Does it attract new people into the industry as owners or punters, highly doubt it especially seem the race is in Cambridge where there is dwindling interest in the area. Anything that is beneficial for harness racing is great and we certainly much need it. Hopefully it will get people talking and punters offloading but wouldnt be holding my breath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rangatira Posted yesterday at 12:30 AM Share Posted yesterday at 12:30 AM On 29/03/2025 at 10:07 AM, Brodie said: a brass razoo 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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