Well done ATC

[Ludwig]

So according to Guerin, the ATC are"perplexed" at the low horse numbers for Auckland meetings . So their solution for April is to throw more money at the problem....$200 to each horse starting, irrespective of where it finishes!!!

So where are these extra horses going to appear from? It appears that they want to attract ones who would be starting at Cambridge. So how does that help Cambridge field numbers?

And if the ATC are only perplexed now, what have they have been doing? The dwindling numbers have been obvious for ages, so why have they only just woken up?

And I love the time honoured solution! Throw more money at the issue even though you've got no idea about what is the root cause, or possible long term solutions.

I think they've been listening to Cindy and Grant.

[Chief Stipe]

What IS THE PROBLEM?

I hear everyone talking about THE PROBLEM but no one seems to be clearly defining the problem NOR its causes.  That goes for officials, media and social media posters.

[Chief Stipe]

79 horses nominated for Auckland this Friday for 10 races.  One of them is an Amateur Drivers race.

81 for 9 races at Cambridge on Thursday for 9 races.

So neither are that good.

IF Auckland can't sustain good fields then HRNZ should be looking at shifting another meeting elsewhere into that Friday night slot - it is a good revenue earning slot for racing as the competition is light from OZ.  I can't see the point of having an Amateur Drivers race on a Friday night at Auckland.

As for the $200.  If it is coming out of the ATC's funds then good on them.  If it is a HRNZ subsidy then NO given that in my opinion lot of the problems lie with them and not the clubs.

 

[Brodie]

The problem is the fact that there are not enough horses in work clearly in the Auckland area.

Obviously not enough people wanting to race horses at Alexandra Park even though the stake money is generally better than the south Island!

The racing at Alexandra Park is normally very mundane and so the people going oncourse to punt would be normally pretty small and not attracting new owners, so the pool is being whittled away!

You would need to be of well above average means to be owning a horse up there and there are easier ways to make a dollar!

It is probably not going to get any better up there, with the cost of living increasing due to the stupid decisions being made by the most incompetent Government we have ever had!!!

[Doomed]

8 hours ago, Ludwig said:

So according to Guerin, the ATC are"perplexed" at the low horse numbers for Auckland meetings . So their solution for April is to throw more money at the problem....$200 to each horse starting, irrespective of where it finishes!!!

So where are these extra horses going to appear from? It appears that they want to attract ones who would be starting at Cambridge. So how does that help Cambridge field numbers?

And if the ATC are only perplexed now, what have they have been doing? The dwindling numbers have been obvious for ages, so why have they only just woken up?

And I love the time honoured solution! Throw more money at the issue even though you've got no idea about what is the root cause, or possible long term solutions.

I think they've been listening to Cindy and Grant.

Seems a bit weird. The trots already pay back to last anyhow, so rather than getting $300 for running last you will now get $500. And rather than the winner getting $10,000 they will now get $10,200. Doesn't sound like the most innovative solution.

[Forbury]

17 hours ago, Ludwig said:

So according to Guerin, the ATC are"perplexed" at the low horse numbers for Auckland meetings . So their solution for April is to throw more money at the problem....$200 to each horse starting, irrespective of where it finishes!!!

So where are these extra horses going to appear from? It appears that they want to attract ones who would be starting at Cambridge. So how does that help Cambridge field numbers?

And if the ATC are only perplexed now, what have they have been doing? The dwindling numbers have been obvious for ages, so why have they only just woken up?

And I love the time honoured solution! Throw more money at the issue even though you've got no idea about what is the root cause, or possible long term solutions.

I think they've been listening to Cindy and Grant.

They should contact Steve lock and get him to relocate there and even bring Nora bishop out of retirement.

[Brodie]

8 races at Alexandra Park Friday night competing against Addington once again!

of the 8 races, 4 currently have less than 8 starters so only 2 tote place dividends so not that attractive to punters?

It is going to be a major battle for this Club to attract sufficient horses to make a good meeting and hard to see $200 being sufficient to attract more?

[mikeynz]

If they want to only run one meeting only on fridays it's hard to justify Auckland getting that date with such a average card,maybe except for so called feature meetings,  running two meetings is better from a tv watching viewpoint.

 

Edited April 5, 2022 by mikeynz

[Dougie]

2 hours ago, Brodie said:

8 races at Alexandra Park Friday night competing against Addington once again!

of the 8 races, 4 currently have less than 8 starters so only 2 tote place dividends so not that attractive to punters?

It is going to be a major battle for this Club to attract sufficient horses to make a good meeting and hard to see $200 being sufficient to attract more?

Why don't the ATC do their own 'Michael House' set up........... ask say the Williamson's to source 20 horse's from their own 4 stables or acquire some short term horses.... ATC pay all transport etc get the horses to Auckland for say a minimum 8 week period etc etc etc. K Tomlinson or similar person can run the satellite stable short term and even rotate horses in/out.  Try this for a few months and see how turnover improves, need to find a way to get field sizes up to 12/14 for each race.

Edited April 5, 2022 by Dougie

[Ludwig]

2 hours ago, Brodie said:

8 races at Alexandra Park Friday night competing against Addington once again!

of the 8 races, 4 currently have less than 8 starters so only 2 tote place dividends so not that attractive to punters?

It is going to be a major battle for this Club to attract sufficient horses to make a good meeting and hard to see $200 being sufficient to attract more?

Interesting that Winton and Methven have huge fields, without resorting to the financial bribe. The size of the Auckland fields is a rather obvious problem, along with the lack of grassroots support for the industry. But as for solutions, I will have to consult with Wolfgang.

[Ludwig]

11 minutes ago, Dougie said:

Why don't the ATC do their own 'Michael House' set up........... ask say the Williamson's to source 20 horse's from their own 4 stables or acquire some short term horses.... ATC pay all transport etc get the horses to Auckland for say a minimum 8 week period etc etc etc. K Tomlinson or similar person can run the satellite stable short term and even rotate horses in/out.  Try this for a few months and see how turnover improves, need to find a way to get field sizes up to 12/14 for each race.

And in such a case, what would the Williamson's get from such an arrangement. Yes, they have four stables, all built from scratch from honest hard work. Maybe that's the example that some Auckland stables need. Build it from the ground up, not ivory tower wheeling and dealing.

[Dougie]

3 hours ago, Ludwig said:

And in such a case, what would the Williamson's get from such an arrangement. Yes, they have four stables, all built from scratch from honest hard work. Maybe that's the example that some Auckland stables need. Build it from the ground up, not ivory tower wheeling and dealing.

Mate you really are a bit of a sour puss... horse numbers are NOT and will NOT be in the Auckland area for the near future, long term that's there problem I was just offering a short term solution.....Williamson's totters 9 times out of 10 race v each other for $7000- $9000, I was offering a free hit at $12000 to $15000 in weakish races,  ........ and we wonder why no one posts on this site anymore.

[Ludwig]

1 hour ago, Dougie said:

Mate you really are a bit of a sour puss... horse numbers are NOT and will NOT be in the Auckland area for the near future, long term that's there problem I was just offering a short term solution.....Williamson's totters 9 times out of 10 race v each other for $7000- $9000, I was offering a free hit at $12000 to $15000 in weakish races,  ........ and we wonder why no one posts on this site anymore.

I just love it how those who are desperate resort to name calling.

[Dougie]

9 minutes ago, Ludwig said:

I just love it how those who are desperate resort to name calling.

How am I desperate, I'm not even involved in the industry, just happen to have friends that have owned G1 winners and are breeders..... a long time trotting lover and punter.

[Brodie]

At the end of the day something needs to be done in regards to Alexandra Park racing, as it can not continue the way it is!

Financially it has to be a total flop and going forward there is no new participants coming thru!

With the population in Auckland you would think that it would be flourishing however it is the total opposite and is a drain on the coffers!

How do we get new owners coming thru in Auckland?

Without the horse no.s increasing racing in Auckland is doomed as the punters just do not bother

[Chief Stipe]

In my opinion and I've said this about Gallop tracks/clubs - you can't financially sustain a race track without having permanent training facilities.  Both Ellerslie and Alex Park have closed that door.  The economics of transporting horses around is increasingly more costly.  But not only that logistically it must be a nightmare getting your horses into Alex Park.  That in itself would be a turnoff for those coming from south of Auckland.  Perhaps they should have a horse train like they did in the old days bringing horses and punters to the course.

The industry has also cut their noses off by not supporting harness racing North of Auckland.  

[Ludwig]

32 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

In my opinion and I've said this about Gallop tracks/clubs - you can't financially sustain a race track without having permanent training facilities.  Both Ellerslie and Alex Park have closed that door.  The economics of transporting horses around is increasingly more costly.  But not only that logistically it must be a nightmare getting your horses into Alex Park.  That in itself would be a turnoff for those coming from south of Auckland.  Perhaps they should have a horse train like they did in the old days bringing horses and punters to the course.

The industry has also cut their noses off by not supporting harness racing North of Auckland.  

How long is it since Alex Park had trainers based there? And what is the average travel time for trainers coming from South or west Auckland?

[Chief Stipe]

2 minutes ago, Ludwig said:

How long is it since Alex Park had trainers based there? And what is the average travel time for trainers coming from South or west Auckland?

Depends what time of day.  Took me 90 mins to go 11km from St Heliers to the Park once.

[Chief Stipe]

4 minutes ago, Ludwig said:

How long is it since Alex Park had trainers based there?

That isn't my point although it does support it.  In my opinion it is one of the reasons for the decline.  I just can't see how a racecourse can be sustainable economically without resident trainers nor a decent horse population within 150km.

Travel costs including time on the road is killing those that don't have substantial horse numbers close by.

[Rangatira]

21 hours ago, Ludwig said:

But as for solutions, I will have to consult with Wolfgang.

 

[Nowornever]

On 5/04/2022 at 7:41 PM, Ludwig said:

Interesting that Winton and Methven have huge fields, without resorting to the financial bribe. The size of the Auckland fields is a rather obvious problem, along with the lack of grassroots support for the industry. But as for solutions, I will have to consult with Wolfgang.

IMO on the grass there is a better atmosphere. The racing is a lot more even. The Blair Oranges and John Dunns can not dominate with their lead at all cost tactics on grass and the same goes for the trainers like Mark Purdon. Grass is a great leveler just look at Bollenger who could not win a maiden on grass from that stable. That is why grass track racing will continue to get big numbers especially from hobby trainers who have a better chance of running in the money and also from punters who avoid the 1.40 favourites on grit tracks.

[Ludwig]

33 minutes ago, Nowornever said:

IMO on the grass there is a better atmosphere. The racing is a lot more even. The Blair Oranges and John Dunns can not dominate with their lead at all cost tactics on grass and the same goes for the trainers like Mark Purdon. Grass is a great leveler just look at Bollenger who could not win a maiden on grass from that stable. That is why grass track racing will continue to get big numbers especially from hobby trainers who have a better chance of running in the money and also from punters who avoid the 1.40 favourites on grit tracks.

I agree entirely. I think Northern racing has made a major blunder by winding up it's grass track racing. It's competitive heartland racing, which is popular with the public, and gets people interested in the sport. It's a great way for local hobby trainers to be involved.

[Ludwig]

On 4/6/2022 at 4:45 PM, Rangatira said:

 

What have you done with my Wolfgang?

[Chief Stipe]

12 hours ago, Ludwig said:

I agree entirely. I think Northern racing has made a major blunder by winding up it's grass track racing. It's competitive heartland racing, which is popular with the public, and gets people interested in the sport. It's a great way for local hobby trainers to be involved.

The Gallops have followed the same strategy and are achieving the same negative result.

In OZ they are feeding money back into provincial, country and bush racing with a positive result.  Simple cause and effect would give you the obvious answer.

[Doomed]

1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said:

The Gallops have followed the same strategy and are achieving the same negative result.

In OZ they are feeding money back into provincial, country and bush racing with a positive result.  Simple cause and effect would give you the obvious answer.

But the gallops know they just have to hold on until the three AWTs are up and going and everything will be ok.  The trots already have their AWTs, in fact so many they have closed several down over the years and want to close even more.