TARANTULA

And the small owners with average horses that actually prop the industry up are still standing on the street corner with the cap out looking for any small increase to the bottom end .
These increases will do nothing for the quality of the races nor add extra international interest .
When things go tits up because of a lack of owners they can reflect on decisions like this .
Completely underwhelming for the majority of the racing participants .

Isn't it dependent on how many greyhound races they can squeeze in between galloping races .

Last year WTC held at Oamaru on grass.

1/2/26 Waikouaiti Trotting Club.

Looking at the Forbury  thread just wondered what has happened to Waikouaiti  Trotting club  ? Was always a good day out.

As I recall, they still have one day yearly, on the grass at Oamaru. It used to be two, but the committee was dwindling and ageing. It's usually in February/March.

Good discussion.This is part of the ongoing saga of the ATC and north island.Maybe we are 50% of the way along but most ? would say we are a lot further along with the latest offer etc (personally not).
If any of the money from Forbury Park or the “ windfall” from blocking NZ punters from overseas betting platforms (smaller part of 100 ml)is used to “solve” this saga, it will be a huge disappointment  to a large number of participants.
Watching my words carefully in the new environment.

Lamour, you asked bloody good question, if these Clubs own the land etc why should HRNZ get any of it? or get to 'hold' onto the funds for that matter....
Tarantula, you said it all right there, and no need to watch your words you aint sayin anythin that aint already in the public domain 😁 if any of the money from the sale of any other Race course/club goes to proppin up ATC then not only is that unfair but an absolute waste of funds; as has been proven given their track record (FTClub) and the bloody sorry state the ATC currently finds itself in....🙄
 
Cheers Iraklis

Good discussion.This is part of the ongoing saga of the ATC and north island.Maybe we are 50% of the way along but most ? would say we are a lot further along with the latest offer etc (personally not).
If any of the money from Forbury Park or the “ windfall” from blocking NZ punters from overseas betting platforms (smaller part of 100 ml)is used to “solve” this saga, it will be a huge disappointment  to a large number of participants.
Watching my words carefully in the new environment.

IMO I don't think the Auckland saga is solvable unless they sell it off is it? 

To be fair to them though, they haven't let "success" go to their heads. They realise they can do even better and are planning to employ multiple new managers on the promotional and forward thinking side of the industry. No wonder they don't have time to get the basics right. Just so many other exciting things going on.

The ladies are doing really well. I listened to trackside on the radio yesterday and the ladies at Riccarton and wherever the northern meeting was was did really well. I thought Nicole was good in the studio last week as well.

She outshines the lot by quite a way in my opinion.
Always impressed me with her work on Oz harness and has all the right ingredients to succeed.
For mine, not many that have trained / ridden / driven make good presenters, but she is one out of the box.

Shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic?

More corporate heads to be brought in...how is that good..sorry for seeming cynical.

And the crop to be born soon are from a drop in mares served of 12.5%

.... and of the 1847 mares bred in 2023/24 only 1180 foals were microchipped this year!  It's gonna get a lot worse before it gets better ....

The latest Stallion Register has a table showing only 1552 mares were served last season, a 40% drop from the 2016/17 season. Auckland/Cambridge is just symptomatic of what is happening country wide.

I’ve been saying for ages the penalty for $8k races should be 2 points. I believe if HRNZ did that it may well significantly help the numbers at those meetings.  It seems so logical I fail to see why HRNZ don’t do it.  Where is the logic in giving the same penalty to the winner of a $8k race as a $15k or higher stake race? The powers that be seem to be stuck in a certain mindset and don’t show any creativity in their decisions. 

Oh gawd JJ mate this is shit news, hey just my thorts and I could be wrong, but I reckon Tarantula was sayin 'everythin is goin well' through seriously clenched teeth 😆 I stand to be corrected....what's to become of Harness Racin here in the North ay?....I absolutely shudder to think 😧
 
Cheers Iraklis

I think you have answered your own question but good on you for doing so

AUCKLAND NOMS ….9 races 76 noms.Overall up 1 after Waikato cancelled.
Now looks like 8 races.     What is this going to look like in 2 years time,when lower horse numbers kick in.
But everything is going well………..

AUCKLAND NOMS ….9 races 76 noms.Overall up 1 after Waikato cancelled.
Now looks like 8 races.     What is this going to look like in 2 years time,when lower horse numbers kick in.
But everything is going well………..

Owing to insufficient entries the Waikato BOP meeting to be held at Cambridge this Thursday has been abandoned. Auckland TC Nominations will remain open until 3pm today.

They know the chances are that the fields will be pretty average at best , nice bonus for those battling away keeping the poly meetings afloat .