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This would be unfortunate for a number of reasons.......6 x weeks is a very short trial period , particularly at this time of year. Sure you have had a couple of Group 1 meetings but also nights with both small and low quality meetings , plus not going up against comparable meetings last year. The meetings are different plus covid complicates things and things just getting back to 'normal'. ATC [ J.MacKinnon] is taking credit for this innovation / trial. When they announced it they said it would be 12 x weeks , then later said they had invited Addington to be part of it too !. It was ATC's baby ! Among the Financial debacle that is ATC , they recently announced that the Club is in a strong financial position [ Equity strong , best ever Net Asset position , plus they said all cash flow requirements currently under control.] The pokies pay most of the 'racenight' expenses while more vacant spaces being rented out so no cashflow issues. The ATC should have no excuses not to continue the trial and give it a decent chance.......they said an indepth analysis would take place as to the future of the trial. 6 x weeks is not long enough for an indepth trial ,particularly when ATC have served you up some 7 race programs and small fields and the Channel not widely advertised. You need to push hard and insist on a longer trial etc. Personally I have seen very little of the Show as I usually attend meetings ! Also personally , I enjoy the fantastic job done by Jo Stevens with 'best of nights' plus winning interviews and various chats with industry participants...ditto Nigel's work in South. They too kicked off on on a shoestring budget ...nothing !

Given we have a minute budget i think you really need to give more credit to the 2. Yes 2 people behind the scenes who make the show possible. We have produced 5 shows to date on a 40k budget when trackside have a million dollar budget. Im not quite sure what you were expecting when we have had very little support from anyone. Karen and i are almost working for free and our 2 technical masterminds are supplying their own gear and not even earning minimum wage. The HD part is frustrating but as far as we are concerned we have met the brief which was set out originally. It is now up to the higher ups to give us more money so we can take the show to the next level. As i am a betting man i would be setting the likelihood of the show continuong past this week at 200/1

If you can read, you will appreciate these were extremely unusual and severe conditions. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300612542/wild-weather-flooding-threatens-foxton-home-as-owner-pumps-water-for-11-hours

Tony, I have trained one or two at Foxton on and off for the last 20 years and although it is a well draining track, every few years, the water table gets up to a level that means the track drainage has nowhere to go. This is particularly so when the Manawatu River floodgates are opened at Moutoa.and worsened when that meets high tides. http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/5/40353 If it weren't for that, Palmerston North would be flooded and you probably wouldn't even be able to get to Awapuni. Foxton and Foxton Beach in particular pay the price for that. You have the beach as a work around at those times for training purposes. Clearly, the club's training operations are not financially viable on their own (never have been) with the trial business and volunteerism creating most of the club's revenue now there is no racing there.The course proper needs to be managed for that as a priority. You'll have the AWT at Awapuni to work on shortly and presumably most of the trial and jumpout business will shift to that venue when Levin closes.

Although I never really got out of the blocks yesterday I much prefer this comp to the bingo comp. as its less down to pure luck.(probably why I did so poorly)

Jason and Karen, I appreciate your efforts , magnificent and chance to become the most watched HR programme. The grumps amongst us only want to be negative. Sure not as polished although last week purchased larger new Tv and picture quality improved greatly so have been watching all night.I remember being invited to the Hutt studios when trackside had its first night with Karen Fenton Ellis and George Simon having a lot of probs and eventually came right with a huge budget (must have been about 1990) A fresh opportunity to have our own channel is too good an opportunity to miss out on. (after accountants have shut virtually everything else down) Good Luck .. and congratulations

Been reading the comments and taking in all feedback but after reading this post I feel compelled to say that this poster has nailed it here.

I am a galloping man but for the last two Friday night's have done something I have not done for 20 years. Bet on Harness racing. I am pretty sure it is not designed to be another Trackside so it surprises me about some of the pop shots at the show on this forum. Talk about shooting yourselves in the foot when the industry has come up with an idea that just might work. One presenter who seems a lot of fun another who seems to know his stuff, no mindless racing from all around the world and human interest stories in between - perfect to relax to on a Friday night. Cheers Davey

Russian Camalot.

Agree with your post Shad. I look at it in between races & switch to 62 to watch the races because of picture quality. Enjoy the clips in between. Even though the Kirstin Barclay storey was a bit outdated it was still interesting and better than watching a greyhound race from Waga Waga. Enjoy Nigels interviews, we need more of that sort of thing.

Come on guys, from where he found himself in the running, he was tag teamed. The pace of the race couldn't see him doing anything else and in his yester-year Stradivarius would have mowed them down. Yep, he had to extradite himself out of a hole, but then he just didn't quite show that dash that he has in the past. That is all i think Frankie was saying.

In a similar vein , aren't the Vincent's doing well in his first crop.

gee it looked ugly when he blundered the start.....and it looked like he might start pulling madly.........but incredible synergy between horse and rider......they relaxed and went to Plan B.......and it was a cakewalk......1 min 33 sec.......flying ( Mill Reef - sorry I missed your post above.....filly is a big girl ......pretraining .....gorgeous)

I thought the same thing. I watched a race from Invercargill and about half an hour later I turned on again because I thought the next race must be due, only to find it was still 10 minutes away. It is a hell of a long day out at the races on a Sunday with 40 minute gaps. Embarassing if you take newcomers to the races and everyone gets totally bored waiting for the next 72 seconds of action.

no, not this time either

Had a wallaby pie at waimate once, certainly put a spring in my step.