Oamaru on Wednesday

[Ludwig]

A few years ago, this was a big pre Christmas weekend meeting. Lots of firms held their staff dos there. Now it's buried on a Wednesday afternoon.

I don't understand this need to wreck previously popular and successful provincial events. Was it moved to make room for the big events at Addington?

 

[the galah]

1 hour ago, Ludwig said:

A few years ago, this was a big pre Christmas weekend meeting. Lots of firms held their staff dos there. Now it's buried on a Wednesday afternoon.

I don't understand this need to wreck previously popular and successful provincial events. Was it moved to make room for the big events at Addington?

 

I remember going to that meeting when it was on saturday that had the christmas at the races promotion. I think it was about 10years ago.The whole carpark was completely full,and oamaru has one of the bigger carparks. Looking at todays midweek meeting they had 2 cars in the carpark,with what used to be part of the carpark looking like it had grass long enough to cut hay.

10 years ago geraldine was packed on a hot november day with the car park full and people 5 deep all the way  up the straight.That too was a christmas at the races meeting.Geraldineshas  only got 1 more meeting hasn't it now?

Mind you it was only about 15 years ago i remember going to waimate and the place was packed to the top of the straight with people. Now they don't even race there.

You just have to look at the videos of races run to see what i mean.

Thats not that long ago.

Those christmas at the races were a great innovation,but they seemed to lose there appeal,whether it be because they had them at the same places in consecutive years and work firms were looking for something different,or they became a bit expensive as vlubs got a bit greedy with some things,or police put restrictions on alcohol being brought to some of the tracks,it was pre christmas do's and i know that put people and firms off from coming.Then there was the weather.

Any harness meeting on a hot day is great,but look at the last few weekends grass track meetings,the weather is too cold so often.

Whatever happened to those christmas at the race meetings?

Mind you i remember going to ashburton on a hot boxing day about 15 years ago,absolutely packed. I remember having a horse in. There was $53,000 in the win pool on the tote,and it wwasn't a big field.Within 5 years it seemed hardly anyone was there,but the weather always seemed poor.

Now days the weather is often poor,covid is a factor,and clubs don't seem as motivated to get people on course. Methven used to have a punter of the year,but they discontinued that.

I have said it before. People get into habits and routines. Once you break those habits and they find alternative ways of spending there time,then you are pushing it uphill to get them back.

Even though on course attendance was declining quickly beforehand,covid restrictions has gotten people out of the going to the races as well. Then there was the no jab,no entry thing that racing and tab's went along with. I know people who will never support businesses  and industries that didn't want them for that reason. 

there are solutions to getting people back on course,but is there the enthusiasm,drive and industry support to achieve that.Probably not.The one day a year clubs had the most of that,but they are no longer wanted.

Edited December 7, 2022 by the galah

[Brodie]

8 hours ago, the galah said:

I remember going to that meeting when it was on saturday that had the christmas at the races promotion. I think it was about 10years ago.The whole carpark was completely full,and oamaru has one of the bigger carparks. Looking at todays midweek meeting they had 2 cars in the carpark,with what used to be part of the carpark looking like it had grass long enough to cut hay.

10 years ago geraldine was packed on a hot november day with the car park full and people 5 deep all the way  up the straight.That too was a christmas at the races meeting.Geraldineshas  only got 1 more meeting hasn't it now?

Mind you it was only about 15 years ago i remember going to waimate and the place was packed to the top of the straight with people. Now they don't even race there.

You just have to look at the videos of races run to see what i mean.

Thats not that long ago.

Those christmas at the races were a great innovation,but they seemed to lose there appeal,whether it be because they had them at the same places in consecutive years and work firms were looking for something different,or they became a bit expensive as vlubs got a bit greedy with some things,or police put restrictions on alcohol being brought to some of the tracks,it was pre christmas do's and i know that put people and firms off from coming.Then there was the weather.

Any harness meeting on a hot day is great,but look at the last few weekends grass track meetings,the weather is too cold so often.

Whatever happened to those christmas at the race meetings?

Mind you i remember going to ashburton on a hot boxing day about 15 years ago,absolutely packed. I remember having a horse in. There was $53,000 in the win pool on the tote,and it wwasn't a big field.Within 5 years it seemed hardly anyone was there,but the weather always seemed poor.

Now days the weather is often poor,covid is a factor,and clubs don't seem as motivated to get people on course. Methven used to have a punter of the year,but they discontinued that.

I have said it before. People get into habits and routines. Once you break those habits and they find alternative ways of spending there time,then you are pushing it uphill to get them back.

Even though on course attendance was declining quickly beforehand,covid restrictions has gotten people out of the going to the races as well. Then there was the no jab,no entry thing that racing and tab's went along with. I know people who will never support businesses  and industries that didn't want them for that reason. 

there are solutions to getting people back on course,but is there the enthusiasm,drive and industry support to achieve that.Probably not.The one day a year clubs had the most of that,but they are no longer wanted.

A lot of very good points Galah.

Without people attending races on course the future of harness is limited!

Not allowing people on course during to the total over reaction for this Covid-19 thing has wiped out a lot of the small number of regulars that attended Addington.

Addington crowds now are generally pretty poor and no sign of increasing.

Even the Premier meeting the other day appeared extremely poor.

Personally do not go to Addington very often now and prior to Covid was a regular attended.

Unfortunately I believe it is going to be extremely difficult to get the people back on course and entice new ones as well.

The recession that this incompetent bunch want us to get into, is also going to be another nail.

[Kane21]

Will somebody tell the 450 odd, licensed trainers in NZ harness racing is finished or close to it.

[mikeynz]

3 hours ago, Brodie said:

A lot of very good points Galah.

Without people attending races on course the future of harness is limited!

Not allowing people on course during to the total over reaction for this Covid-19 thing has wiped out a lot of the small number of regulars that attended Addington.

Addington crowds now are generally pretty poor and no sign of increasing.

Even the Premier meeting the other day appeared extremely poor.

Personally do not go to Addington very often now and prior to Covid was a regular attended.

Unfortunately I believe it is going to be extremely difficult to get the people back on course and entice new ones as well.

The recession that this incompetent bunch want us to get into, is also going to be another nail.

Covid changed people's habits, and yes it's true, once you disengage it's hard to reengage.

Exactly the same with radio, was always a listener to trackside, knew every meeting, since it's gone, changed habits, dont care now but how many others have been lost in the shambles ?

Speaking of radio I believe Hosking is finishing up tomorrow for xmas, really, 2 questions, how will the country survive without him and what the hell would you do with so much spare time, maybe he is getting his political party under way or will he just talk about all the lazy people around and actually be one himself, seriously most of us have to work, knocking off on Dec 9, unreal.

And yes that Oamaru meeting has been reduced to a non event,Ashburton boxing day the same, Invercargill next week racing in competition to the aussie gallops will probably be lost in the wash as well.

Little old Westport will probably keep punching above its weight.

I watched the last race from Kaikoura a week or two back and I thought why not race on New Years days there instead of Rangiora, just seems the type of place that might be a winner, lots of holiday makers there, was just a thought.

I dont even buy into all this xmas at the races shit, Ascot Park Saturday yet xmas is more than a fortnight away, fuckin bullshit.

Edited December 7, 2022 by mikeynz

[mikeynz]

Alls not lost though people, racing tonight at the mighty Manawatu as that stuck record Aaron White used to repeatedly inform us.

[Brodie]

4 hours ago, Kane21 said:

Will somebody tell the 450 odd, licensed trainers in NZ harness racing is finished or close to it.

To be fair Kane, you are part of the reason harness is in trouble.

Stick your head in the sand and make the most of it while it is still going!

Can you honestly say why you think things are promising for harness for the ones that are not plundering the major stake money?

Edited December 7, 2022 by Brodie