4bettor-orworse

Inside the Goshen Harness Racing Museum, New York:

To be fair, up until about the end of last year, the TAB had probably the most convenient system I had come across. You could simply transfer money between your TAB and debit (not credit) card with no fees. Deposits were instant, withdrawls took just 1-2 hours. Now though, you can still withdrawl your balance, even if there is no profit, - but you have to phone up and ask for it to be transferred for you. Only net profit can be transferred online from your TAB account back to your debit card. The work-around, I suppose, is to make multiple small deposits, instead of one larger deposit to last you over a day / weekend. In other words, just deposit the equivalent of one bet stake and then only make a further deposit if that bet loses. That way you still have the remainder of your discretionary betting funds in your bank account. I would tend to think the new rule affects intermediate bettors the most - your $20, $50, $100 type people. Won't bother the whales or the 50c trifecta crowd.

Apologies if I'm a bit late to the party on this one but I only became aware of it recently. Can TAB customers now only withdrawl (ie directly to their bank account) money that they have "won"? If, for example, I deposited $200 into my account and had a rough day on the punt and say, lost $100, and then I wanted to withdrawl the balance remaining of $100 for an unexpected contingency, I can no longer do that online? I have to call to ask for it to be transferred and that can take 3-5 days?

Yes indeed, very sad photos, the ones you posted Barry. Haven't been out to the park for a few months so they came as bit of a shock. Thank you for all your work: both for promoting awareness about the challenges the Noel J Taylor Hall of fame was facing and for your work in keeping the hope alive that the artifacts representing the history of the sport might one day be resurrected in a brand new housing.

FULL CIRCLE, JUST ABOUT... 1997/09/17

Ah yes, that could be it!

HRNZ seems to be back up now.

Ok, so the TAB site is down. It does happen from time to time, disproportionately on key horse racing dates. But the HRNZ site is also non-responsive as well. Anybody on here with sufficient technical knowledge to explain why both sites would be down simultaneously? Hmmmm

More signage around the racecourse and within the stands would help make people aware of the museum and possibly encourage them to take a look at the wonderful collection of artifacts inside. There are very few collections of racing memorabilia like the Hall of Fame in existence - and to think it could be lost for the sake of car parking is a travesty. Honestly, what are the dimensions of the land? How many car parking spaces would be gained? Perhaps 30? Thanks Barry for helping to make folk aware of the taonga that could be lost and the hard work put in by many volunteers over the years.

Hi Tasman Man. That was quite a response! Possibly overkill , relative to the point I was trying to make, but a great collection of anecdotes nonetheless! I don't post a lot in here these days but I've been part of the cafe long enough to know you're one of the stalwarts. Also long enough to have noticed the decline in interest in talking about harness racing in general. Even major races and meetings don't attract all that much discussion nowadays. I suppose that was what I was saying really. The way I worded my previous post was probably a bit deceptive in two ways: I'm possibly waaaay older that what you realise. Maybe not of your generation but I hit the half-century next year! Old enough to be part of the "lost generation" (except I wasn't lost) I also quite enjoy reminiscing about days gone by too - but there seem to be so few left who do. (But as you point out, some might do so via PM)

Was only a child at the time but the 83 series sticks in my mind. I was more interested in running around and badgering grandad for a chocolate bar from the tuck shop behind the main stand roughly somewhere around where the admin offices now are. I remember the horses' names vividly and have rewatched the series videos in more recent years. Pacers: Popular alm, armalight, gamalight, hands down, bonnies chance. A series dominated by the aussies but Delightful Lady got a third placing in the final. Trotters: Scotch Notch, Jenner, Basil Dean, Stormy Morn Two distance / start anomolies: I think the 83 series above had a round of standing start mile races In more recent times there was a 3200m mobile final.

I suppose one could always do the research on HRNZ. But to be able to answer those questions off the the top of one's head, you'd need to be of a certain age. How many people are there still out there that would be old enough to have that knowledge whilst being "young enough" to want to engage in social media. A pretty small intersection I would have thought.

I don't feel like going through everything posted above, point by point, except to say... In terms of the overall tenor, the long-term perspective and analysis, one of the best and most pertinent posts made in the cafe for some considerable time! It will, however, quickly get pushed down the lineup of forum threads. Far more imprtant things to talk about.... what do you think about Geoff Small? where should the next jewels be held? Like Mick Guerin? Purdon dominance good for the game? What commentators get your goat? Are the TAB cutting their throat by restricting successful punters? What were the stipes thinking? What driver just blew your hard-earned? Who cares about attracting future generations and broadening the appeal when we can put a bit more into the the pockets of the aging baby-boomers? (Ok , Ok, its not quite as simple as that)

Good on you Graigosx for sharing these videos. I had already seen the restored 1953 NZ cup video prior and was going to share a link myself - but never got around to it. What remarkable footage. I wish there was more video of that quality available. As for the crowd... well it just is what it is. 1953 - what else was there to do in those days? The first TV broadcast, of any form, was still 7 years away. TV didn't start in NZ 'til 1960! Give a few years for things to gain momentum, and a few more for developments in broadcasting and who knows when the first actual live televised horse race was? I'm sure there are boffins out there who will know. I doubt there was off-course betting back then. Look at the fashion as well - goodness me! There are actually some men without hats! (a minority though) Although, it is easy to yearn for crowds of that size today, given the poor attendance at most race meetings these days, its also worth noting that crowds of that size are physically uncomfortable to be part of - especially in warmer weather. I guess there is an optimum attendance that creates the perfect balance of atmosphere and comfort.

All water under the bride or ambulance at the bottom of the cliff stuff really. Especially, seeing that most people realise that investing in a horse is a losing propostion financially - its only the entertainment / social factor that gets them involved. The points raised above only address the issue of stakes return to existing owners. What will get new people involved in the game? New revenue streams for the ATC to help boost stakes only benefit existing owners. What relevance does that have to somebody that has never been to a race meeting before (or indeed to somebody that has been to a 1000 + but sees the folley in it all?)