Slot race Cambridge.

[Gammalite]

5 hours ago, the galah said:

You need your high end races .

its just how you do it and whether you get the balance right as far as promoting and looking after all sectors.

i belive  HRNZ and the mainsteam harness media's fail on both fronts because they over focus,almost to the point of obsession sometimes ,on the high end races like slot races,the age group races,the highend trainers

well I think they do. All races are carded to be run Annually. So that's only once a year. We have 4 slot races in NZ . Once a year is not gunna hurt anyone , and made Cup week even better at Addington with the Ascent and the Velocity to make for a great racing product (Aus v NZ V your other slot holders , etc ) good bit of fun . 

It's a Sport . it's spose to be fun. Your big end owners like Mick Boots winning the Hunter Cup the other day with old Swayzee has over 300 horses now with over 30 trainers. He's looking out for a lot of people. Buyers like him help the breeders , etc. although he is starting to breed them himself now , as a new enterprise. 

We still have all our Derbies and Sires Stakes and that ( NZ and every State of Oz ) which has been the case for decades. 

The high end trainers set their horses for these races every year. Same at the Gallops.  they have feature racing every month and people like Waller dominate with the most horses running and all millionaire owners. 

They Showcase the sport. We can't use Mo'Unga racing at Nelson Cup as a promotion can we ? 

But the 1000's going to Cambridge to see Leap To Fame , Keayang Zahara and others compete get to see the best going . Once a year . That's hardly an over-focus . And $200,000 to put it on by HRNZ ? they're in Dreamland and can't believe their good fortune

. I guess you guys think someone else should get the $200,000 but ya just have to suck it up i'm afraid. The galloping clubs put on 100's of thousands💰  for Group racing every week , and you don't want a club like Cambridge to run 2 of the BEST races of the year . just once a year . for a $200,000 outlay . where they get the best horses like Leap To Fame (sensational 2025 win )  and Don Hugo last year who had won the 2 previous Interdominions, and Arcee Phoenix who went on to win the next Interdominion after winning at Cambridge in the TAB trot.

Just don't have em' ya reckon ??that is best for NZ harness racing ? com'on old mate . it's not that bad .😉🏆  

Here'sthe winners so far 1 Oz and 3 kiwi horses. All Aussie owned but we're the Lucky country. And support our races , and the Best in The WHole World Trainers. that we see are winning the Betcha race. 

I Hope THE JANITOR can join the list this year. Pete has him pinging nicely too .  

2025[17]	$1,000,000	Leap To Fame[18][19]	Grant Dixon	Grant Dixon	2:33.55	Chase A Dream	Merlin
2024	$1,000,000	Merlin[20]	Zachary Butcher	Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan	2:35.10	Don't Stop Dreaming[21]	Kango
2023[22]	$1,000,000	Copy That[23]	Blair Orange	Ray Green[24]	2:36.3	Old Town Road	Self Assured
2022[25]	$862,500	Self Assured[26]	Mark Purdon	Mark Purdon & Hayden Cullen	2:37.5	Majestic Cruiser	Spankem

 

[pete cook]

HRNZ putting large amounts of Industry money into a seven horse Trot Slot race, that will undoubtedly be a wagering disaster, is a disgrace. Just another example of recklessness with Entain money.

[the galah]

41 minutes ago, pete cook said:

HRNZ putting large amounts of Industry money into a seven horse Trot Slot race, that will undoubtedly be a wagering disaster, is a disgrace. Just another example of recklessness with Entain money.

and you can guarantee the race will be a total bore as well.

The $1.30 favorite will lead,go slow,no one will attack, probably the likes of gus will move around and sit parked but apply no pressure,then it will sprint home a 54 last half and the commentator and media will rave on and on about what a great performance and how wonderful it was.

Edited 1 hour ago by the galah

[Gammalite]

41 minutes ago, pete cook said:

HRNZ putting large amounts of Industry money into a seven horse Trot Slot race, that will undoubtedly be a wagering disaster, is a disgrace. Just another example of recklessness with Entain money.

You guys are just Bitterly disappointing these days.

Not a skerritt of support for the great competitors on the track , nor your fabulous organizing bodies .

And the Galah backs you u calling it a disgrace ?  that's a disgrace lol 😆😋 (should leave that for Doomsday Brodie)

Of course any race Keayang Zahara is in doesn't have good betting. duh. that's what happens when champions arrive. So you say DON"T HAVE THE RACE because of the Betting  ???😅🤣  that's great support for the champions lol 😂 I do concede,  You can't really back anything to beat her. (my suggestion would be take First 4 in those sort of races but whatever)

As for Recklessness with ENTAIN money. what total ROT. ENTAIN puts in the money to use over a season. They are worth BILLIONS  they are back in court this year with a potential $100,000,000 fine (for money laundering) and already have that set aside , should the day come. WHAT BETTER way for them to SPEND their proceeds but on BIG Harness races. 

The Slot races involves the PARTICIPANTS putting in $30,000 each as well . The small input from HRNZ is a True Blessing for them. Not a disgrace. They are rejoicing in their good fortune. Great racing of some of the best TROTTERS EVER SEEN in Gus,  Keayang Zahara and Muscle Mountain . 

14 fabulous Group 1's to be run at Auckland through the Autumn next 3 months, on their newly re-surfaced track . Well done HRNZ for the great NZ racing and support of your participants. 🏆💰 Thank you Entain for the great Entertainment as well. 

 Disgrace and recklessness ???  lol 🤣   poor old trotters. NZ used to like them too over the years. times change I spose.🙄😉

[Spatchcock]

22 minutes ago, the galah said:

and you can guarantee the race will be a total bore as well.

The $1.30 favorite will lead,go slow,no one will attack, probably the likes of gus will move around and sit parked but apply no pressure,then it will sprint home a 54 last half and the commentator and media will rave on and on about what a great performance and how wonderful it was.

They won't be afraid to force the issue with Belle Neige or Gus, I would say.

[pete cook]

Gamma, I really do admire you rose-tinted glasses. Yes, the 7 slot holders put in $30k each, but although I was never much good at maths, that only comes to $210K.So to say HRNZ only puts in a small amount to a $500k stake is simply wrong. Nobody likes watching super horses race more than me, as I've been doing for around 60 years, but I'm a realist and, as it stands, the race will be boring and very expensive for a game that can't afford either. I could send the rest of the day outlining the better ways that the Entain money could be spent, but others on here have already done it on here.

[Gammalite]

7 minutes ago, pete cook said:

. I could send the rest of the day outlining the better ways that the Entain money could be spent

they could spend it on thoroughbreds I spose. 🙄 But that would be no no no good to ya. and harness racing NZ.

Thankfully Ladbrokes put on QLD racing (Ladbrokes is a subsidiary of Entain) and we don't bet much on the 'Boring' racing here. the fields are too even with the rating system.  It's just 500-600 participants making a living virtually. 

So even though QLD harness is running at a betting loss we still use the ENtain money to run the Interdominion each Winter and a whole host of Group 1' s (just in July and Dec as that's the budget we have)  .

the 2 Interdominions are worth $1.5 million between them . BUT WE don't say DISGRACE and WASTE of FUNDING , even though the whole lot is funded by Queensland racing (and not the participants like the slot races) just because in ALL likelihood LEAP TO FAME and KKEAYANG ZAHARA will Win the 2 Interdominions and will Stifle the betting.

We have the races Still !! and enjoy and Don't call it a disgrace or Recklessness . a bit like the progressive HRNZ introducing the great slot racing to Addington past 2 years as well to really sell the great harness product.

I guess it's in the approach you have as a doomsayer  . how's your Bunker going. get it as deep as Brodie yet 😋