Brodie Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 Just looked at the fields for Auckland this week! How on earth is racing at this venue profitable? The field no.s in most of the fields is abysmal, with only 7 starters in a maiden trot racing for 12k! There are 6 starters in other races so the turnover is going to be poor! The stake money on offer is not too bad all things considered, so what is the problem here? I would say the interest in harness racing in the North Island has dwindled so much that owners just can not see it financially beneficial! There are next to no Junior drivers in the north, trainers giving it away or going to Oz and very boring racing most of the time! Not sure how Auckland are able to put up the stake money at such levels? Are we seeing harness racing in the North Island coming to an end within the next few years, as Palmerston North is on its final legs as well. If Michael House stops taking horses there it has to close as you can not run meetings with 5 races!!!!!, 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 2 hours ago, Brodie said: Just looked at the fields for Auckland this week! How on earth is racing at this venue profitable? The field no.s in most of the fields is abysmal, with only 7 starters in a maiden trot racing for 12k! There are 6 starters in other races so the turnover is going to be poor! The stake money on offer is not too bad all things considered, so what is the problem here? I would say the interest in harness racing in the North Island has dwindled so much that owners just can not see it financially beneficial! There are next to no Junior drivers in the north, trainers giving it away or going to Oz and very boring racing most of the time! Not sure how Auckland are able to put up the stake money at such levels? Are we seeing harness racing in the North Island coming to an end within the next few years, as Palmerston North is on its final legs as well. If Michael House stops taking horses there it has to close as you can not run meetings with 5 races!!!!!, One problem regarding financial viability for trainers, maybe it's simply too expensive to live there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the galah Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 (edited) If you look back it was on 29 november 2014 that barry lichter wrote a story titled "Auckland trots out costly gamble to rescue racing". Lichter it seems is one of the few real racing journalists in the north with any credibility on this matter.At the auckland clubmeeting in which only 100 of its 600 members bothered to turn up, a vote was held on the property development that was to save the auckland club from what appeared to be a dire future. ATC board chairman,kerry hoggard and his board gained almost unanimous support from members,and described the vote on the board recommended decision as a real vote of confidence. Only 6 members voted against it,with one,a gavin logan saying property development was the most dangerous game they could play and predicted the decision to proceed would eventually lead to the end of trotting at the clubs headquarters. So,there you have it. It seems everyone at that club knew if the property development went bad,then they knew that would be the end. Yet here we are today,and they still blindly plough on,apparantly ignoring the inevitable. Edited November 16, 2021 by the galah 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted November 16, 2021 Share Posted November 16, 2021 1 hour ago, the galah said: So,there you have it. It seems everyone at that club knew if the property development went bad,then they knew that would be the end. Yet here we are today,and they still blindly plough on,apparantly ignoring the inevitable. Is there a lesson here for the Thoroughbred code and Ellerslie? The major metro tracks in OZ all have resident trainers and horses on course. Those that don't are close to those that do. Transport costs will continue to rise so can a track, regardless of the code, survive without resident trainers and horses? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.