Chief Stipe Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 Harness Racing New Zealand estimates it is now halfway through the exhaustive process of finalising a new racing programme for the 2022 year. “The change of horses’ birthday to January 1 has prompted a massive re-think of the way we run our sport,” says HRNZ General Manager – Racing Catherine McDonald. “For months now we have been looking at everything – how to enhance every part of our sport, and that includes increased stakes, improving breeding numbers, better opportunities for all grades of both pacers and trotters, and keeping our horses here rather than being sold to Australia …. it is a massive project.” There has been extensive consultation with clubs, trainers, breeders, owners and other industry participants, including weekly Wednesday meetings at HRNZ. “We have just had round two of feedback as we zero in on what the programme will look like,” says McDonald. “Those final decisions are still some weeks away.” READ: FAQs on Change Of Birthday Consultation – Part 2 WATCH: Trainers Comments WATCH: Owners & Breeders Comments WATCH: Analysis with Michael Guerin & Greg O’Connor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 11, 2021 Author Share Posted August 11, 2021 If they are "halfway through" the process and they have been doing it "for months" it begs the question - when did they start and when do they expect to finish? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 (edited) There was a lot of good stuff in all the interviews, and great to see something being done, even if it is just words at the moment! You can have all these ideas from participants, but they didnt seem to say anything about getting people back on course, without that they are pushing shite uphill!! Michael Guerin spoke a lot of sense in his interview with Greg! He said that the heavy restrictions on certain punters by the TAB basically is not in the best interests of harness! He said the Bookies decisions are crucial to the industry! He asked for the NZ TAB to have the SAME LEVEL OF FAIRNESS!!! Is this not what BRODIE has been wanking on for many years NZ TAB? The TAB business plan is seriously flawed and if they continue along the lines of driving punters away, there will not be the income for them to be able to pay decent money to the owners of the horses! TAB you do need to change NOW, take the bloody restrictions off the fixed odds or at least have them at a reasonable level not $200 or less!!!!! I do not believe they will because they have not got the expertise working there and they are only interested in keeping the yield up rather than profit!! Hopefully things will improve and harness racing will flourish but they need it to start in Wellington!!! Edited August 11, 2021 by Brodie 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karrotsisback Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 (edited) This is fantastic! Love the transparency. Excellent stuff HRNZ. Love the Country Cup Gems idea. And the New pathway called the Silk Road R40 to R55 or R60 And the 40 times x $5000 breeder & owner bonuses - Yes this is great. Have idea please a 1st time owner - winner bonus for 1st time their horse wins 😁 Brods - you will love Guerins feedback, he talks aggressively about un-restricting, restricted punters. He makes good points too! Edited August 11, 2021 by Karrotsisback 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karrotsisback Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 (edited) Just making up for my time on the sidelines so getting posts in 😁 Another idea - as they asking for feedback, in between some races e.g. from race 3 to say 6 have some live entertainment at those big meetings e.g. Jewels or New Years Eve or whatever others you are trying to really promote & push that has big on-crowd numbers. A performance that lasts max 5 mins prior next race horses hitting the track, straight after a race has been run. Have stage and everything set up ready and acts perform on it. They would need to have a rehearsal prior of course. Doesn’t have to cost much. Can get young groups that would love the exposure to live perform in front of a big crowd or perhaps wants the practice. (Cheerleaders, hip-hop groups, a singer, dancer, Latin performers, etc also gets the younger generation interested - keeps them entertained). They could be in middle of the track & cameras on them & drones to show up on big screen & beam into all the rooms - lounges where peeps are. Some peeps at Jewels 1st time race goers were asking me how long between each race. Could tell they were getting impatient. So get some entertainment for them. Also distractions from peeps just solely getting plastered. Edited August 11, 2021 by Karrotsisback 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karrotsisback Posted August 12, 2021 Share Posted August 12, 2021 (edited) Ok so maybe the logistics of entertainers being in the middle of track be too difficult. But could always make up an entertainment area. Something for general ticket holders to be entertained with. At Jewels for e.g. at the back they had a DJ set up by food truck area. Which I thought was great when walking past hearing the beats. Only prob tho was weather/rain & not many peeps in that area to enjoy the sounds. I personally don’t really go to the track anymore. Find it a bit boring in between races waiting. Prefer to watch on TV at home, so during wait time, can do whatever want include entertainment jumping on BOAY. Cheerleaders for example could be implemented to be fun. Could have each wear the colours of each horse in race for the big race. And just prior they hit the track, the cheerleaders could perform a cheer dance. Perhaps even the cheerleader with the winning colours on could go & take a photo with the owners & horse. Make it more vibrant & entertaining. Much easier sell to peeps saying there is entertainment too in-between the races! For a big North meeting, think something like this is worth a crack. On a day meeting in summer. Might end up being cheesy & a flop, or on the flip side could be a great hit! (PS at basketball Breakers & even LA Lakers when they were around and NZ ANZ netball premiership games - they have entertainment in-between times. Eg cheerleaders, mascot, someone from audience taking a shot at the goal to win money, Japanese drum players kind of thing & so on - moral of story they keep the peeps entertained!). Edited August 12, 2021 by Karrotsisback Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Posted August 12, 2021 Share Posted August 12, 2021 (edited) How about bringing on TAB Bookmakers on course that actually allow you to wager what you want????? Would bring punters back on course and some atmosphere as unfortunately it is flat as a pancake nowadays! One other thing that is limiting turnover is the ridiculous $1k identify yourself rule that was brought in!! FFS no one in NZ is money laundering $1k punting on harness racing, it is all about TAB wanting total control of everything, nothing at all to do with Money Laundering!!! Edited August 12, 2021 by Brodie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted August 12, 2021 Share Posted August 12, 2021 19 hours ago, Brodie said: Is this not what BRODIE has been wanking on for many years NZ TAB? Yes, it is what you have been wanking on and on about for years 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 So they are redoing the calandar,but will anything be any different? By my reckoning Easter will still be at Easter,winter will still be at the same time of the year,so what changes are people expecting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robalan Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 The new season started on 1 August. It will be over before they bring in their new programme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davis Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 1 hour ago, mikeynz said: So they are redoing the calandar,but will anything be any different? By my reckoning Easter will still be at Easter,winter will still be at the same time of the year,so what changes are people expecting? The new season will benefit two and three year olds the most. Trainers will be able to take more time with the youngsters preparations and that should mean fewer injuries to the young horses. Horses can have a few starts then put aside, brought back into work given a few more starts, have a winter spell and then be ready for the latter part of the season in November-December. It will also benefit the slower maturing horses that will come into their own at the end of the season. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nowornever Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 On 12/08/2021 at 2:49 PM, Brodie said: How about bringing on TAB Bookmakers on course that actually allow you to wager what you want????? Would bring punters back on course and some atmosphere as unfortunately it is flat as a pancake nowadays! One other thing that is limiting turnover is the ridiculous $1k identify yourself rule that was brought in!! FFS no one in NZ is money laundering $1k punting on harness racing, it is all about TAB wanting total control of everything, nothing at all to do with Money Laundering!!! Yes it's a pain if you want to launder money now you have to do it $999 dollars at a time. 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karrotsisback Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 On 8/17/2021 at 1:00 PM, mikeynz said: So they are redoing the calandar,but will anything be any different? so what changes are people expecting? Saturday, Saturday, Saturday. Would like to see HRNZ request some Saturdays. See what the response is. The Auckland Cup is rumoured to be raced in May, but to be confirmed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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