Reefton Posted August 20, 2021 Author Share Posted August 20, 2021 11 hours ago, nomates said: I feel your sadness Reefton , i am in the same position , as are many other , the enthusiasm for the sport has been sucked out of us , but we are continually told to remain positive , haha . I am now past caring , i had a great time whilst involved and while i still a have a small interest now it certainly won't be increasing here . I was hoping that we could become good again but i think we past the tipping point now . Not really sadness NM - just tiredness with the continual battle. At the end of the day I can just switch to watching Aussie or Sigaporean or Hong Kong racing on far superior tracks with an Aussie TAB account if I wanted. But the issue is I quite like the people interaction - whether it be the battler owner trainer with a slow one or the very very prominent Mr K Myers or M Pitman(or for that matter the Richards even if I do bag TA somefimes). Racing is a game for optimists (you are always going to win next time) and this constant uncertainty does nothing to increase positivity. Even the AWT attitude of just product product product for TV with no consideration of attracting on course attendance. You are NEVER going to develop racing devotees without making actual attendance an attraction. You might create a bunch of sad gambling addicts (like the pokie desperados) but there is nothing like being there and seeing the action close up. Ninety percent of us seem to say the early childhood experience of seeing horses galloping at close range with jockeys in bright colours is what hooked us on the game and that is being denied the vast majority of young kids these days. From where I sit NZTR is not one tiny little bit interested in that aspect and shutting country racecourses is another nail in the coffin 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefton Posted August 20, 2021 Author Share Posted August 20, 2021 41 minutes ago, Doomed said: I seem to recall that back in the 80s there was a proposal to build one brand new centralised racecourse on the Coast totally funded by the industry. But, surprise, surprise, the clubs weren't interested. Back then I think Kumara was going ok. So the new grandstand was built at Omoto instead. Things might have been different if the clubs had been more open minded. Ironically, the first galloping club to give up was Westport, probably in the 80s. I suspect their problem was that their dates just didn't work. Interestingly the Coast isn't that far away from Canterbury. Christchurch to Greymouth is closer than ChCh to Oamaru, and certainly closer than the Waikato to Ruakaka. I put that proposition to the Clubs when we set up BWCR at a time when the NZRB would have had funds to help. Even had the site in mind halfway between Grey and Hoki. But Kumara for obvious reasons weren't interested and the elderly committemen of the others attitude was 'oh well if we have to do that I will just walk away'. Made no difference to me so didn't push it. Reefton was far too far away for us to be part of it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefton Posted August 20, 2021 Author Share Posted August 20, 2021 41 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Why would have a centralised racecourse worked? Didn't help Harness racing on the Coast. Where was the centralised harness venue on the Coast? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefton Posted August 20, 2021 Author Share Posted August 20, 2021 3 minutes ago, Reefton said: I put that proposition to the Clubs when we set up BWCR at a time when the NZRB would have had funds to help. Even had the site in mind halfway between Grey and Hoki. But Kumara for obvious reasons weren't interested and the elderly committemen of the others attitude was 'oh well if we have to do that I will just walk away'. Made no difference to me so didn't push it. Reefton was far too far away for us to be part of it. I wanted to include the Harness as well plus Pony Club and whoever else as well and would have been an event venue too but no enthusiasm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 11 minutes ago, Reefton said: I wanted to include the Harness as well plus Pony Club and whoever else as well and would have been an event venue too but no enthusiasm Sounds great. I recall Bill Kennedy telling me about it too, on the Ahaura flat, he said, heaps of available land, enough for a large track with a moveable rail to cope with several days racing, ample space for accommodation facilities for horses/staff as well. Instead, Greymouth ended up with the best underwater yacht club facilities - as noted by one local wag as the Grey River rose steadily up into the tearooms, the grandstand, and the jockey's room. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Bloggs Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 1 minute ago, Freda said: Sounds great. I recall Bill Kennedy telling me about it too, on the Ahaura flat, he said, heaps of available land, enough for a large track with a moveable rail to cope with several days racing, ample space for accommodation facilities for horses/staff as well. Instead, Greymouth ended up with the best underwater yacht club facilities - as noted by one local wag as the Grey River rose steadily up into the tearooms, the grandstand, and the jockey's room. LOL, classic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 25 minutes ago, Reefton said: Even the AWT attitude of just product product product for TV with no consideration of attracting on course attendance. You are NEVER going to develop racing devotees without making actual attendance an attraction. You might create a bunch of sad gambling addicts (like the pokie desperados) but there is nothing like being there and seeing the action close up. Ninety percent of us seem to say the early childhood experience of seeing horses galloping at close range with jockeys in bright colours is what hooked us on the game and that is being denied the vast majority of young kids these days. That's why Centralisation is counterproductive to increasing participation in Racing. Both you and I got our introduction to racing via the local racecourse - yours was probably Omoto, mine Hokitika. I'm not sure about you but I went to the races at Hokitika many times before I visited any other racecourse on the Coast. The sink hole on the Coast has always been Kumara - a course that has NO community but has only ever been a holiday attraction, a curiosity, a novelty. It has dragged Coast racing down. Once you centralise you remove communities from direct involvement and their volunteers stop volunteering. Then costs increase because you need to pay people to do work that others in the past had been willing to do "for the club". On the West Coast the show always came to town a bit like the circus and then like gypsies all the floats and hangers on moved to the next town. Nothing wrong with that. Even in recent years there have been many meetings where the number of people oncourse has far outnumbered those on course at some of our so called premier tracks midweek. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 24 minutes ago, Reefton said: Where was the centralised harness venue on the Coast? Victoria Park for all intents and purposes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 27 minutes ago, Reefton said: I put that proposition to the Clubs when we set up BWCR at a time when the NZRB would have had funds to help. Even had the site in mind halfway between Grey and Hoki. But Kumara for obvious reasons weren't interested and the elderly committemen of the others attitude was 'oh well if we have to do that I will just walk away'. Made no difference to me so didn't push it. Reefton was far too far away for us to be part of it. Exactly the reason it wouldn't work and the exact reason why racing participation is declining. Centralising the circus eliminates the volunteers, excludes communities and introduces higher costs. You only have to look at Australia to see that maintaining and encouraging bush, country and provincial racing has helped with their success. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 7 minutes ago, Freda said: Instead, Greymouth ended up with the best underwater yacht club facilities - as noted by one local wag as the Grey River rose steadily up into the tearooms, the grandstand, and the jockey's room. Like that on the Thursday and you could still race on the Saturday. How many times did it happen? Freda you are supporting the very thing that is killing the sport. It amazes me how some trainers are willing to race on a rock hard or bottomless heavy dangerous surface when high stakes are available but turn their noses up at decent surfaces at a small track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 I remember Bobby Allen driving in the first at Kumara, back in the day. By the time the last - another trot - came around, Bobby was barely able to walk,, and had to be assisted into the cart. Think he went pretty fair too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 Just now, Chief Stipe said: Like that on the Thursday and you could still race on the Saturday. How many times did it happen? Freda you are supporting the very thing that is killing the sport. It amazes me how some trainers are willing to race on a rock hard or bottomless heavy dangerous surface when high stakes are available but turn their noses up at decent surfaces at a small track. Are you on drugs? where did I ever imply that I don't support small clubs or provincial racing? For the record, I went down to Omoto with the Kennedy's, helped remove driftwood from the track and dead frogs from the tearooms, and my runner [ Strange Magic ] went very close to the track record in a 1400m race the next day. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 10 minutes ago, Freda said: Are you on drugs? where did I ever imply that I don't support small clubs or provincial racing? When you dissed Omoto in your post above. We have been "centralising racing" in New Zealand for the last 20 years at least - hasn't turned the trend yet has it? Did you know that there are over 400 registered Thoroughbred racecourses in Australia? TRACK INFORMATION Track Name Code Area Adaminaby ADBY NSW Adelaide River AD R NT Albany ABNY WA Albury ALB NSW Alexandra ALEX VIC Almaden ALMA QLD Alpha ALPH QLD Beaudesert BDST QLD Gold Coast GCST QLD Aramac ARMC QLD Ararat ARAT VIC Ardlethan ARDL NSW Armidale ARMD NSW Arrilalah ARLH QLD Ascot ASCT WA Ashburton ONLW WA Atherton ATHN QLD Augathella AUGA QLD Avoca AVOC VIC Balaklava BKVA SA Ballina BLNA NSW Balnarring BALN VIC Balranald BALR NSW Baradine BDNE NSW Barcaldine BARC QLD Barraba BRBA NSW Barrow Creek B CK NT Bathurst BATH NSW Beaumont Newcastle BEAU NSW Bedgerabong BEDG NSW Bedourie BDRE QLD Bell BELL QLD Belmont BLMT WA Benalla BLLA VIC Bendigo BDGO VIC Berri BERI SA Berrigan BERR NSW Betoota BETO QLD Beverley BEV WA Bingara BGRA NSW Binnaway BINN NSW Birdsville BIRD QLD Blackall BKLL QLD Bluff BLUF QLD Bombala BOMB NSW Bong Bong BONG NSW Boorowa BRWA NSW Bordertown BORD SA Boulia BOUL QLD Bourke BRKE NSW Bowen BOWN QLD Bowen River BOWR QLD Bowraville BVLE NSW Braidwood BDWD NSW Brewarrina BREW NSW Broken Hill BR H NSW Broome BRME WA Buchan BCHN VIC Bunbury BUNB WA Bundaberg BBRG QLD Bundarra BDRA NSW Burketown BKTN QLD Burrandowan BURR QLD Burrumbeet BBT VIC Cairns CRNS QLD Cairns Night CRNN QLD Calliope CLPE QLD Camboon CAMB QLD Camooweal CAMO QLD Camperdown CAMP VIC Canberra CANB NSW Canberra Acton ACT NSW Canterbury Park CANT NSW Capella CPLA QLD Carinda CRDA NSW Carnarvon CARN WA Carrathool CARR NSW Casino CSNO NSW Casterton CAST VIC Caulfield CAUL VIC Ceduna CDNA SA Cessnock CESS NSW Charleville CHAR QLD Charters Towers CH T QLD Cheltenham Park CHEL SA Chillagoe CHGO QLD Chinchilla CHIN QLD Clare CLRE SA Clermont CLER QLD Clifton CFTN QLD Cloncurry CLON QLD Cobar CBAR NSW Coen COEN QLD Coffs Harbour COFF NSW Colac CLAC VIC Coleraine COLR VIC Collarenebri COLL NSW Collie COLI WA Collinsville CVLE QLD Come-By-Chance CBYC NSW Condobolin COND NSW Cooktown COOK QLD Coolabah COOL NSW Cooma COOM NSW Coonabarabran CBBN NSW Coonamble CBLE NSW Cootamundra COOT NSW Corfield CORF QLD Corowa COR NSW Cowra COWR NSW Cranbourne CRAN VIC Cranbourne SYN - (Synthetic) CTRS VIC Cranbourne TRN - (Trial) CTRN VIC Crookwell CKWL NSW Cunnamulla CUNN QLD Dalby DALB QLD Darwin DRWN NT Deagon DEAG QLD Dederang DDRG VIC Deepwater DWTR NSW Deloraine DEL TAS Deniliquin DEN NSW Derby DRBY WA Devonport DEV TAS Devonport Tapeta Synthetic DEVS TAS Dingo DING QLD Donald DON VIC Dongara DONG WA Doomben DOOM QLD Drouin DROU VIC Duaringa DUAR QLD Dubbo DUBB NSW Dunkeld DUNK VIC Eagle Farm E FM QLD Edenhope EHPE VIC Eidsvold EIDS QLD Einasleigh EINA QLD Emerald EMER QLD Enngonia ENNG NSW Eromanga EROM QLD Esk ESK QLD Esperance E BY WA Ewan EWAN QLD Exmouth EXMO WA Fernhill FERN NSW Fitzroy FITZ WA Flemington FLEM VIC Flinton FLIN QLD Forbes FORB NSW Gatton GATT QLD Gawler GAWL SA Gayndah GAYN QLD Georgetown GTWN QLD Geraldton GTON WA Geurie GEUR NSW Gilgandra GILG NSW Gladstone GLAD QLD Glen Innes GL I NSW Goondiwindi GOON QLD Gordonvale GORD QLD Gosford GOSF NSW Goulburn GOUL NSW Grafton GRAF NSW Great Western GR W VIC Gregory Downs GR D QLD Grenfell GREN NSW Griffith GRIF NSW Gulargambone GBNE NSW Gulgong GULG NSW Gunbower GBWR VIC Gundagai GUND NSW Gunnedah GUNN NSW Gympie GYMP QLD Hamilton HTON VIC Hanging Rock H RK VIC Harden HRDN NSW Hawker HKER SA Hawkesbury HAWK NSW Hawkesbury Inner HWKI NSW Hay HAY NSW Healesville HEAL VIC Hebel HEBL QLD Hillston HILL NSW Hinnomunjie HMJE VIC Hobart HOB TAS Hobart Inside Track HOBI TAS Holbrook HOLB NSW Home Hill HOME QLD Horsham HSHM VIC Hughenden HUGH QLD Ilfracombe ILFR QLD Ingham INGH QLD Injune INJU QLD Innisfail INNI QLD Inverell INVL NSW Ipswich IPSW QLD Isisford ISIS QLD Jamestown JTWN SA Jandowae JAND QLD Jericho JCHO QLD Jerilderie JER NSW Julia Creek J CK QLD Junction JUNC WA Jundah JUND QLD Kalgoorlie KALG WA Katherine KATH NT Kembla Grange K GR NSW Kempsey KEMP NSW Kensington KENS NSW Kerang KRNG VIC Kilcoy KCOY QLD Kimba KIMB SA Kimberley H CK WA King Island K IS TAS Kingscote KCTE SA Kojonup KOJO WA Kumbia KUMB QLD Kununurra KNRA WA Hillside SANH VIC Lakeside SANL VIC Pioneer Park ALSP NT Landor LDOR WA Lark Hill LARK WA Larrimah LMAH NT Launceston LAUN TAS Track Name Code Area Laura (Q) LURA QLD Laura (SA) LAUR SA Laverton LTON WA Leeton LEET NSW Leinster LEIN WA Leonora LEON WA Lightning Ridge L RG NSW Lismore LISM NSW Lock LOCK SA Lockhart LKHT NSW Longford LFRD TAS Longreach LRCH QLD Louth LTH NSW Mackay MKAY QLD Mallawa MLWA NSW Manangatang MTNG VIC Mansfield MANS VIC Marble Bar MARB WA Mareeba MRBA QLD Mataranka MATR NT Maxwelton MAXW QLD McKinlay MACK QLD Meekatharra MEEK WA Mendooran MEND NSW Merriwa MERR NSW Merton MERT VIC Middlemount MIDD QLD Miles MILS QLD Millicent MILL SA Mindarie-Halidon HDON SA Mingela MING QLD Mingenew MNEW WA Mitchell MICH QLD Moama MOAM NSW Moe MOE VIC Monto MONT QLD Moora MOOR WA Moranbah MBAH QLD Moree MREE NSW Mornington MORN VIC Morphettville MORP SA Morphettville Parks MRPK SA Mortlake MORT VIC Moruya MRYA NSW Morven MORV QLD Moulamein MOUL NSW Mount Barker MT B WA Mount Gambier MT G SA Mount Garnet M GT QLD Mount Isa MT I QLD Mount Magnet MT M WA Mount Perry MT P QLD Mudgee MDGE NSW Mungery MGRY NSW Mungindi MNGI NSW Murray Bridge (Not Used) M BR SA Murray Bridge GH MUBR SA Murtoa MURT VIC Murwillumbah MWBH NSW Muswellbrook MWBK NSW Muttaburra MUTT QLD Nanango NNGO QLD Naracoorte NARA SA Narrabri NBRI NSW Narrandera NARR NSW Narrogin NGIN WA Narromine NMNE NSW Newcastle NCLE NSW Newman NMAN WA Nhill NHIL VIC Nine Dragons NDRA VIC Noccundra NOCC QLD Noorama NOOR QLD Normanton NORM QLD Norseman NORS WA Northam NTHM WA Nowra NOWR NSW Nyngan NYNG NSW Oak Park O PK QLD Oakbank OAKB SA Oakey OAKY QLD Oakley OKLY QLD Orange ORAN NSW Pakenham PAK VIC Parkes PRKS NSW Penola PNLA SA Penong PNNG SA Penshurst PENS VIC Pentland PENT QLD Pine Creek P CK NT Pingrup PING WA Pinjarra Park PINJ WA Pinjarra Scarpside PINS WA Pooncarie POON NSW Port Augusta PT A SA Port Hedland PT H WA Port Lincoln PT L SA Port Macquarie P MQ NSW Port Pirie PT P SA Prairie PRRE QLD Quambone QUAB NSW Quamby QUAM QLD Queanbeyan QBYN NSW Quilpie QUIL QLD Quirindi QUIR NSW Quorn QORN SA Renner RENN NT Richmond RICH QLD Ridgelands RIDG QLD Rockhampton ROCK QLD Rockhampton Sand Track ROHS QLD Roebourne RBRN WA Roma ROMA QLD Rosehill Gardens RHIL NSW Roxby Downs ROXB SA Royal Randwick RAND NSW Sale SALE VIC Sandown SAND VIC Sapphire Coast SAPH NSW Scone SCNE NSW Sedan Dip S DP QLD Seymour SEYM VIC Spendthrift Australia Park WERR VIC Ballarat BRAT VIC Ballarat Synthetic BRTS VIC Pakenham PAKM VIC Pakenham Synthetic PAKS VIC Wangaratta WANG VIC Spreyton SPRN TAS Springsure SSRE QLD St Arnaud ST A VIC St George ST G QLD Stamford STAM QLD Stanthorpe STAN QLD Stawell STAW VIC Stonehenge STON QLD Stony Creek S CK VIC Strathalbyn SBYN SA Streaky Bay ST B SA Sunshine Coast SCST QLD Sunshine Coast Cushion Track SCCT QLD Sunshine Coast Inner Track SCSI QLD Surat SURT QLD Swan Hill SW H VIC Swifts Creek SWCK VIC Tabulam TABM NSW Talmoi TALM NSW Talwood TALW QLD Tambo TAMB QLD Tamworth TAMW NSW Tara TARA QLD Taree TAR NSW Taroom TARM QLD Tatura TAT VIC Tennant Creek T CK NT Terang TER VIC Texas TEXS QLD Thangool THAN QLD The Kennels KNLS VIC The Valley M V VIC Theodore THEO QLD Timber Creek TIMB NT Tocumwal TOC NSW Tomingley TMGY NSW Toodyay TOOD WA Toowoomba TWBA QLD Toowoomba Cushion Track TWBC QLD Toowoomba Inner Track TWBI QLD Tottenham TTHM NSW Tower Hill T HL QLD Townsville TOWN QLD Towong TOW VIC Trangie TRAN NSW Traralgon TRAR VIC Trundle TRUN NSW Tullamore TULL NSW Tullibigeal TLBG NSW Tumbarumba TUMB NSW Tumby Bay T BY SA Tumut TUMT NSW Tuncurry TUNC NSW Twin Hills TW H QLD Victoria Park V PK SA Wagga WAGG NSW Wagga Riverside WAGR NSW Walcha WCHA NSW Walgett WALG NSW Wallabadah WDAH NSW Wamboyne WBYN NSW Wandoan WAND QLD Warialda WLDA NSW Warra WARA QLD Warracknabeal WKBL VIC Warren WRRN NSW Warrnambool WNBL VIC Warwick WARW QLD Warwick Farm W FM NSW Wauchope WCPE NSW Wean WEAN NSW Wellington WELL NSW Wentworth WENT NSW Werribee Park FIND VIC Wilpeena WILP QLD Wiluna WLNA WA Windorah WDRH QLD Winton WINT QLD Wondai WOND QLD Woolamai WMAI VIC Wyandra WYAN QLD Wycheproof WYCH VIC Wyndham WYND WA Wyong WYNG NSW Yalgoo YALG WA Yaraka YRKA QLD Yarra Glen Hunt YGHC VIC Yass YASS NSW Yea YEA VIC Yeppoon YEPP QLD York YORK WA Young YUNG NSW Bairnsdale BDLE VIC Echuca ECHA VIC Geelong GEEL VIC Geelong Synthetic GEES VIC Mildura MILD VIC Kilmore KILM VIC Kyneton KYNE VIC Wodonga WOD VIC Yarra Valley Y VL VIC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: Why would have a centralised racecourse worked? Didn't help Harness racing on the Coast. Is there a state of the art, brand new, modern trotting track somewhere on the Coast? I must have missed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 10 minutes ago, Doomed said: Is there a state of the art, brand new, modern trotting track somewhere on the Coast? I must have missed it. Victoria Park was pretty good in its day. Even had lights for night trots!! Anyway why does it need to be "state of the art" (whatever that is), "brand new" - well we only have two of those in NZ and only one being raced on, "modern" - what does that mean? Freshly painted fences in nice pastel colours? NO - it would have to be LBGT Rainbow colours to be modern wouldn't it? Hell we have a perfectly good turf racing surface with a brand new stand and facilities, refurbished stabling, broadband internet connectivity which is going to be mothballed at best but more likely sold to fund the AWT floating on a swamp at Awapuni. Come in @curious and Foxton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 Thoroughbred Tracks in Australia by State: QLD 141 NSW 136 VIC 79 WA 45 SA 33 NT 11 TAS 9 454 Over 19,000 Thoroughbred Races a year in Australia. Yep centralisation is working out really well for NZ!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 By comparison if we go back to 2019 the last full year of racing and ironically the last year that any worthwhile information/data was published NZ had 2,582 races. A drop of 606 from 10 years earlier - in 2009 there were 3,088 races. Yep GO CENTRALISATION!!!! Actually it would be interesting to draw a graph and show the correlation between the closure of racecourses and the decline in on-course attendance and number of races held. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 (edited) 30 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: When you dissed Omoto in your post above. We have been "centralising racing" in New Zealand for the last 20 years at least - hasn't turned the trend yet has it? Did you know that there are over 400 registered Thoroughbred racecourses in Australia? TRACK INFORMATION Track Name Code Area Adaminaby ADBY NSW Adelaide River AD R NT Albany ABNY WA Albury ALB NSW Alexandra ALEX VIC Almaden ALMA QLD Alpha ALPH QLD Beaudesert BDST QLD Gold Coast GCST QLD Aramac ARMC QLD Ararat ARAT VIC Ardlethan ARDL NSW Armidale ARMD NSW Arrilalah ARLH QLD Ascot ASCT WA Ashburton ONLW WA Atherton ATHN QLD Augathella AUGA QLD Avoca AVOC VIC Balaklava BKVA SA Ballina BLNA NSW Balnarring BALN VIC Balranald BALR NSW Baradine BDNE NSW Barcaldine BARC QLD Barraba BRBA NSW Barrow Creek B CK NT Bathurst BATH NSW Beaumont Newcastle BEAU NSW Bedgerabong BEDG NSW Bedourie BDRE QLD Bell BELL QLD Belmont BLMT WA Benalla BLLA VIC Bendigo BDGO VIC Berri BERI SA Berrigan BERR NSW Betoota BETO QLD Beverley BEV WA Bingara BGRA NSW Binnaway BINN NSW Birdsville BIRD QLD Blackall BKLL QLD Bluff BLUF QLD Bombala BOMB NSW Bong Bong BONG NSW Boorowa BRWA NSW Bordertown BORD SA Boulia BOUL QLD Bourke BRKE NSW Bowen BOWN QLD Bowen River BOWR QLD Bowraville BVLE NSW Braidwood BDWD NSW Brewarrina BREW NSW Broken Hill BR H NSW Broome BRME WA Buchan BCHN VIC Bunbury BUNB WA Bundaberg BBRG QLD Bundarra BDRA NSW Burketown BKTN QLD Burrandowan BURR QLD Burrumbeet BBT VIC Cairns CRNS QLD Cairns Night CRNN QLD Calliope CLPE QLD Camboon CAMB QLD Camooweal CAMO QLD Camperdown CAMP VIC Canberra CANB NSW Canberra Acton ACT NSW Canterbury Park CANT NSW Capella CPLA QLD Carinda CRDA NSW Carnarvon CARN WA Carrathool CARR NSW Casino CSNO NSW Casterton CAST VIC Caulfield CAUL VIC Ceduna CDNA SA Cessnock CESS NSW Charleville CHAR QLD Charters Towers CH T QLD Cheltenham Park CHEL SA Chillagoe CHGO QLD Chinchilla CHIN QLD Clare CLRE SA Clermont CLER QLD Clifton CFTN QLD Cloncurry CLON QLD Cobar CBAR NSW Coen COEN QLD Coffs Harbour COFF NSW Colac CLAC VIC Coleraine COLR VIC Collarenebri COLL NSW Collie COLI WA Collinsville CVLE QLD Come-By-Chance CBYC NSW Condobolin COND NSW Cooktown COOK QLD Coolabah COOL NSW Cooma COOM NSW Coonabarabran CBBN NSW Coonamble CBLE NSW Cootamundra COOT NSW Corfield CORF QLD Corowa COR NSW Cowra COWR NSW Cranbourne CRAN VIC Cranbourne SYN - (Synthetic) CTRS VIC Cranbourne TRN - (Trial) CTRN VIC Crookwell CKWL NSW Cunnamulla CUNN QLD Dalby DALB QLD Darwin DRWN NT Deagon DEAG QLD Dederang DDRG VIC Deepwater DWTR NSW Deloraine DEL TAS Deniliquin DEN NSW Derby DRBY WA Devonport DEV TAS Devonport Tapeta Synthetic DEVS TAS Dingo DING QLD Donald DON VIC Dongara DONG WA Doomben DOOM QLD Drouin DROU VIC Duaringa DUAR QLD Dubbo DUBB NSW Dunkeld DUNK VIC Eagle Farm E FM QLD Edenhope EHPE VIC Eidsvold EIDS QLD Einasleigh EINA QLD Emerald EMER QLD Enngonia ENNG NSW Eromanga EROM QLD Esk ESK QLD Esperance E BY WA Ewan EWAN QLD Exmouth EXMO WA Fernhill FERN NSW Fitzroy FITZ WA Flemington FLEM VIC Flinton FLIN QLD Forbes FORB NSW Gatton GATT QLD Gawler GAWL SA Gayndah GAYN QLD Georgetown GTWN QLD Geraldton GTON WA Geurie GEUR NSW Gilgandra GILG NSW Gladstone GLAD QLD Glen Innes GL I NSW Goondiwindi GOON QLD Gordonvale GORD QLD Gosford GOSF NSW Goulburn GOUL NSW Grafton GRAF NSW Great Western GR W VIC Gregory Downs GR D QLD Grenfell GREN NSW Griffith GRIF NSW Gulargambone GBNE NSW Gulgong GULG NSW Gunbower GBWR VIC Gundagai GUND NSW Gunnedah GUNN NSW Gympie GYMP QLD Hamilton HTON VIC Hanging Rock H RK VIC Harden HRDN NSW Hawker HKER SA Hawkesbury HAWK NSW Hawkesbury Inner HWKI NSW Hay HAY NSW Healesville HEAL VIC Hebel HEBL QLD Hillston HILL NSW Hinnomunjie HMJE VIC Hobart HOB TAS Hobart Inside Track HOBI TAS Holbrook HOLB NSW Home Hill HOME QLD Horsham HSHM VIC Hughenden HUGH QLD Ilfracombe ILFR QLD Ingham INGH QLD Injune INJU QLD Innisfail INNI QLD Inverell INVL NSW Ipswich IPSW QLD Isisford ISIS QLD Jamestown JTWN SA Jandowae JAND QLD Jericho JCHO QLD Jerilderie JER NSW Julia Creek J CK QLD Junction JUNC WA Jundah JUND QLD Kalgoorlie KALG WA Katherine KATH NT Kembla Grange K GR NSW Kempsey KEMP NSW Kensington KENS NSW Kerang KRNG VIC Kilcoy KCOY QLD Kimba KIMB SA Kimberley H CK WA King Island K IS TAS Kingscote KCTE SA Kojonup KOJO WA Kumbia KUMB QLD Kununurra KNRA WA Hillside SANH VIC Lakeside SANL VIC Pioneer Park ALSP NT Landor LDOR WA Lark Hill LARK WA Larrimah LMAH NT Launceston LAUN TAS Track Name Code Area Laura (Q) LURA QLD Laura (SA) LAUR SA Laverton LTON WA Leeton LEET NSW Leinster LEIN WA Leonora LEON WA Lightning Ridge L RG NSW Lismore LISM NSW Lock LOCK SA Lockhart LKHT NSW Longford LFRD TAS Longreach LRCH QLD Louth LTH NSW Mackay MKAY QLD Mallawa MLWA NSW Manangatang MTNG VIC Mansfield MANS VIC Marble Bar MARB WA Mareeba MRBA QLD Mataranka MATR NT Maxwelton MAXW QLD McKinlay MACK QLD Meekatharra MEEK WA Mendooran MEND NSW Merriwa MERR NSW Merton MERT VIC Middlemount MIDD QLD Miles MILS QLD Millicent MILL SA Mindarie-Halidon HDON SA Mingela MING QLD Mingenew MNEW WA Mitchell MICH QLD Moama MOAM NSW Moe MOE VIC Monto MONT QLD Moora MOOR WA Moranbah MBAH QLD Moree MREE NSW Mornington MORN VIC Morphettville MORP SA Morphettville Parks MRPK SA Mortlake MORT VIC Moruya MRYA NSW Morven MORV QLD Moulamein MOUL NSW Mount Barker MT B WA Mount Gambier MT G SA Mount Garnet M GT QLD Mount Isa MT I QLD Mount Magnet MT M WA Mount Perry MT P QLD Mudgee MDGE NSW Mungery MGRY NSW Mungindi MNGI NSW Murray Bridge (Not Used) M BR SA Murray Bridge GH MUBR SA Murtoa MURT VIC Murwillumbah MWBH NSW Muswellbrook MWBK NSW Muttaburra MUTT QLD Nanango NNGO QLD Naracoorte NARA SA Narrabri NBRI NSW Narrandera NARR NSW Narrogin NGIN WA Narromine NMNE NSW Newcastle NCLE NSW Newman NMAN WA Nhill NHIL VIC Nine Dragons NDRA VIC Noccundra NOCC QLD Noorama NOOR QLD Normanton NORM QLD Norseman NORS WA Northam NTHM WA Nowra NOWR NSW Nyngan NYNG NSW Oak Park O PK QLD Oakbank OAKB SA Oakey OAKY QLD Oakley OKLY QLD Orange ORAN NSW Pakenham PAK VIC Parkes PRKS NSW Penola PNLA SA Penong PNNG SA Penshurst PENS VIC Pentland PENT QLD Pine Creek P CK NT Pingrup PING WA Pinjarra Park PINJ WA Pinjarra Scarpside PINS WA Pooncarie POON NSW Port Augusta PT A SA Port Hedland PT H WA Port Lincoln PT L SA Port Macquarie P MQ NSW Port Pirie PT P SA Prairie PRRE QLD Quambone QUAB NSW Quamby QUAM QLD Queanbeyan QBYN NSW Quilpie QUIL QLD Quirindi QUIR NSW Quorn QORN SA Renner RENN NT Richmond RICH QLD Ridgelands RIDG QLD Rockhampton ROCK QLD Rockhampton Sand Track ROHS QLD Roebourne RBRN WA Roma ROMA QLD Rosehill Gardens RHIL NSW Roxby Downs ROXB SA Royal Randwick RAND NSW Sale SALE VIC Sandown SAND VIC Sapphire Coast SAPH NSW Scone SCNE NSW Sedan Dip S DP QLD Seymour SEYM VIC Spendthrift Australia Park WERR VIC Ballarat BRAT VIC Ballarat Synthetic BRTS VIC Pakenham PAKM VIC Pakenham Synthetic PAKS VIC Wangaratta WANG VIC Spreyton SPRN TAS Springsure SSRE QLD St Arnaud ST A VIC St George ST G QLD Stamford STAM QLD Stanthorpe STAN QLD Stawell STAW VIC Stonehenge STON QLD Stony Creek S CK VIC Strathalbyn SBYN SA Streaky Bay ST B SA Sunshine Coast SCST QLD Sunshine Coast Cushion Track SCCT QLD Sunshine Coast Inner Track SCSI QLD Surat SURT QLD Swan Hill SW H VIC Swifts Creek SWCK VIC Tabulam TABM NSW Talmoi TALM NSW Talwood TALW QLD Tambo TAMB QLD Tamworth TAMW NSW Tara TARA QLD Taree TAR NSW Taroom TARM QLD Tatura TAT VIC Tennant Creek T CK NT Terang TER VIC Texas TEXS QLD Thangool THAN QLD The Kennels KNLS VIC The Valley M V VIC Theodore THEO QLD Timber Creek TIMB NT Tocumwal TOC NSW Tomingley TMGY NSW Toodyay TOOD WA Toowoomba TWBA QLD Toowoomba Cushion Track TWBC QLD Toowoomba Inner Track TWBI QLD Tottenham TTHM NSW Tower Hill T HL QLD Townsville TOWN QLD Towong TOW VIC Trangie TRAN NSW Traralgon TRAR VIC Trundle TRUN NSW Tullamore TULL NSW Tullibigeal TLBG NSW Tumbarumba TUMB NSW Tumby Bay T BY SA Tumut TUMT NSW Tuncurry TUNC NSW Twin Hills TW H QLD Victoria Park V PK SA Wagga WAGG NSW Wagga Riverside WAGR NSW Walcha WCHA NSW Walgett WALG NSW Wallabadah WDAH NSW Wamboyne WBYN NSW Wandoan WAND QLD Warialda WLDA NSW Warra WARA QLD Warracknabeal WKBL VIC Warren WRRN NSW Warrnambool WNBL VIC Warwick WARW QLD Warwick Farm W FM NSW Wauchope WCPE NSW Wean WEAN NSW Wellington WELL NSW Wentworth WENT NSW Werribee Park FIND VIC Wilpeena WILP QLD Wiluna WLNA WA Windorah WDRH QLD Winton WINT QLD Wondai WOND QLD Woolamai WMAI VIC Wyandra WYAN QLD Wycheproof WYCH VIC Wyndham WYND WA Wyong WYNG NSW Yalgoo YALG WA Yaraka YRKA QLD Yarra Glen Hunt YGHC VIC Yass YASS NSW Yea YEA VIC Yeppoon YEPP QLD York YORK WA Young YUNG NSW Bairnsdale BDLE VIC Echuca ECHA VIC Geelong GEEL VIC Geelong Synthetic GEES VIC Mildura MILD VIC Kilmore KILM VIC Kyneton KYNE VIC Wodonga WOD VIC Yarra Valley Y VL VIC 'Dissing Omoto'...? I shared a comment from a local which I thought was humorous. I am well aware that Australia supports provincial/country racing. I have made reference to it, and the difference in attitude, many times. I've also indicated that I think market forces should be the arbiter of who stays and who closes up. As Reefton has stated, also many times, the day trainers/owners/the public don't want to go to Reefton, he'll put up the white flag. Not because some pen-pusher makes an ill-thought out decision. Edited August 20, 2021 by Freda 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 2 minutes ago, Freda said: 'Dissing Omoto'...? I shared a comment from a local which I thought was humorous. I am well aware that Australia supports provincial/country racing. I have made reference to it, and the difference in attitude, many times. All good Freda. My latent anger at the screwing over of the small viable clubs came to the surface. My apologies. But that aside has anyone stopped to think that this 20 year experiment with "Centralisation" is not actually working? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 2 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Why would have a centralised racecourse worked? Didn't help Harness racing on the Coast. Are you saying there was a centralised Harness track on the Coast? Where was it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 1 minute ago, Chief Stipe said: All good Freda. My latent anger at the screwing over of the small viable clubs came to the surface. My apologies. But that aside has anyone stopped to think that this 20 year experiment with "Centralisation" is not actually working? 2 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: All good Freda. My latent anger at the screwing over of the small viable clubs came to the surface. My apologies. But that aside has anyone stopped to think that this 20 year experiment with "Centralisation" is not actually working? Can't answer that, with quantitative analysis. But, certainly, anecdotally, many people. Hell, I read a piece [ not sure where now ] which indicated just how much support provincial racing received from local councils/state govt, to 'marry up' the racing experience with the whole tourist industry, with wine trails, vineyards/restaurants, stud tours, orchards, fishing, boating, flower farms, the whole deal wrapped up to showcase the region. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Beau Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, Michael said: Are you saying there was a centralised Harness track on the Coast? Where was it? Greymouth, almost in the centre of town. It may have been called Victoria Park. If my memory serves me correct it was on Maori leasehold land as is the centre of Greymouth, the shops etc. Edited August 21, 2021 by Dark Beau Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 1 hour ago, Michael said: Are you saying there was a centralised Harness track on the Coast? Where was it? Yep Victoria Park Raceway. A mini Addington - even had lights for night racing. Watched Arapaho win there with Jack Smolenski in the sulky 2 March 1974. The picture below is of him at Addington. The stake for the FFA was $3,500. In today's money that is $36,500!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikie Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 3 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Victoria Park for all intents and purposes. I don’t remember Westport centralising there i don’t remember Reefton centralising there What Clubs centralised there? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikie Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 43 minutes ago, Dark Beau said: Greymouth, almost in the centre of town. It may have been called Victoria Park. If my memory serves me correct it was on Maori leasehold land as is the centre of Greymouth, the shops etc. I know full well where Greymouth’s Victoria Park was (and is) DB But I can’t recall any Clubs centralising there Can you tell me which Clubs centralised there? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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