Picnic Races

[Huey]

Ex Kiwi trainer Don Dwyer excelling in Aus at the Picnics.

 

 

Why can't a Summer Picnic circuit exist here?

Might give some of the Highweight riders some income in their off season and rid the establishment of the unwashed they are currently doing their best to get rid of, I'm picking it will prove more popular than most existing racing which wouldn't go down well with the establishment and may be a reason why.

 

https://www.racing.com/videos?fbclid=IwAR3euII1r9UCM8TLCEvI1pLGWrGR6sHIPdZZ3QN-XFeUTMVdrV4iwzyhN5E#/

[nomates]

I thought most of our racing already was picnic racing .

[curious]

1 hour ago, nomates said:

I thought most of our racing already was picnic racing .

Except it's no picnic.

[nod]

Picnic racing used to be an integral part of NZ racing

In the north there was Helensville,  Kerepehi , Pirongia, Waiuku etc

Round the lake at Waiuku -I still recall Shorty Hansen [World champion wrestler] putting the entire field into the lake--bye bye apprenticeship

Boxing day at Pirongia would attract huge crowds -more than Ellrslie   I won the cup several times, once with a young lass riding and her parents from the UK there to watch. A great day

Crowd control was said to be the death knell--these days it would be grand to have a crowd

[Huey]

58 minutes ago, nod said:

Picnic racing used to be an integral part of NZ racing

In the north there was Helensville,  Kerepehi , Pirongia, Waiuku etc

Round the lake at Waiuku -I still recall Shorty Hansen [World champion wrestler] putting the entire field into the lake--bye bye apprenticeship

Boxing day at Pirongia would attract huge crowds -more than Ellrslie   I won the cup several times, once with a young lass riding and her parents from the UK there to watch. A great day

Crowd control was said to be the death knell--these days it would be grand to have a crowd

Surely it would be easier to control crowds at existing venues that aren't being used?

It seems a better option for creating and retaining interest than what is setup at present.

[Huey]

2 hours ago, nomates said:

I thought most of our racing already was picnic racing .

I was waiting for that, the point being its heading towards picnic races and many are not being catered for within the game. 

I know it would never fly with the governing authority as in all likelihood it would be more popular than many feature days. 

But isn't it at least something that could enhance or re-establish interest in the sport, not to mention the welfare benefits for many horses.

[Doomed]

Just as most of the summer harness meetings have abandoned their AWTs and returned to the grass, I imagine in  a few years there will be a rush back to Wairoa, Marlborough, Waimate etc. 

Lucky we still have the option.