Idolmite

I'm afraid that last paragraph diminished any interest a lot of people would have had in the rest of the statement.

Wasn't it you Hokey that suggested Interpretation was going to give all the Kiwis windburn in the Wellington Cup? Maybe our local fields are full of undiscovered champions 🤣

Wasn't it you Hokey that suggested Interpretation was going to give all the Kiwis windburn in the Wellington Cup? Maybe our local fields are full of undiscovered champions 🤣

Yes even some mid class races (not just beginner/maidens are getting lots of gallopers down south lately. is becoming a bit of an epidemic and needs to be addressed.
Rocklea in Brisbane was good stand place Charlie. 100's of horses raced /educated there. very few galloped. Only fit 5 across the front 😅. and No mobile starts as it couldn't fit around track lol.
They ALWAYS made you stand right up. Horses head over the strand even. before they would let you go.
I remember one starter saying one day when we were fidgeting a bit  ' "Jeeezz.. I hang my washing out straighter than you blokes can make a line . at least it will be dry by the time you  mug's get this start under way I suppose. "🤣

Hopefully they'll make Derby Day about $20 and I'll go and make that as "My last ever day at Ellerslie" (oops, I've just re-read your post and see that it's $45). I've already done "One last Alexandra Park" and I have a fair few other non--racing things to do before I'm completely unable to get out and about, or even worse. It's inevitable that's what's gonna happen - and it's a bet I can't lose -  so I've got to do these things while I can. But as some  days I need a driver and/or carer as well, I sure ain't paying 2x$60 for six races. And THAT bet is a certainty too.
That's $10 per race for a single race goer, $20 per race if you're paying for somebody else too. And I really don't want to be swamped by out-of-control young piss-heads either. I'm sure the ARC won't miss a small spending old pensioner like me 🤣  

Hopefully they'll make Derby Day about $20 and I'll go and make that as "My last ever day at Ellerslie" (oops, I've just re-read your post and see that it's $45). I've already done "One last Alexandra Park" and I have a fair few other non--racing things to do before I'm completely unable to get out and about, or even worse. It's inevitable that's what's gonna happen - and it's a bet I can't lose -  so I've got to do these things while I can. But as some  days I need a driver and/or carer as well, I sure ain't paying 2x$60 for six races. And THAT bet is a certainty too.
That's $10 per race for a single race goer, $20 per race if you're paying for somebody else too. And I really don't want to be swamped by out-of-control young piss-heads either. I'm sure the ARC won't miss a small spending old pensioner like me 🤣  

Hopefully they'll make Derby Day about $20 and I'll go and make that as "My last ever day at Ellerslie" (oops, I've just re-read your post and see that it's $45). I've already done "One last Alexandra Park" and I have a fair few other non--racing things to do before I'm completely unable to get out and about, or even worse. It's inevitable that's what's gonna happen - and it's a bet I can't lose -  so I've got to do these things while I can. But as some  days I need a driver and/or carer as well, I sure ain't paying 2x$60 for six races. And THAT bet is a certainty too.
That's $10 per race for a single race goer, $20 per race if you're paying for somebody else too. And I really don't want to be swamped by out-of-control young piss-heads either. I'm sure the ARC won't miss a small spending old pensioner like me 🤣  

And as the crowds reduce I'm sure the prices increase to cover costs as they sell less......but l bet you a dollar that if crowd sizes suddenly increased again on a regular basis, prices wouldn't decrease. But you're right Stodge, if the ancillary costs - course entry, food, drink - is so expensive to the extent one can hardly afford a bet, what is the point of the day out at the races? It's no wonder some/many/most choose to eat, drink and bet at home. 
I went on course to the Auckland Trotting Cup on New Year's Eve, first time I'd been to Alexandra Park for years. Wasn't a bad crowd, although most were full-time ensconced inside and I've always preferred being outside. Very few others ventured out most of the afternoon, but there were nowhere near enough seating options for those who chose to be out in the fresh air. They didn't have designated mobility car parks, but despite the owners carpark out front was virtually deserted we weren't allowed to park in there. I did pretty well financially, but the atmosphere was virtually nil and after viewing the food prices we decided to get something on the way home instead. Some pretty good options in the cafe though, although certain grub was only available on certain days of the week [according to the signage], and New Year's Eve wasn't one of them days. I didn't bother asking what was and what was not on the menu. The worst thing was the whole deal was over about 5 o'clock or 6 o'clock, can't quite remember, so the "ribbon of light" was never lit up. I guess their research told them more people would come if they got out by 6pm to go party somewhere else? Dunno. But the fields are that poor most other weeks under lights that the daytime Cup was probably still the best idea.
I was a regular at Ellerslie too in earlier years, and i want to do "one more Ellerslie" before i become too immobile to get out to such events. I'd like it to be a big meetings, but they look more like teenage piss-ups to me now and I'd probably get bowled over by some drunken fool trying to be a hero. My first choice would be the Great Northern Steeplechase, but they'd have to climb 3 times over houses now that the legendary hill has gone. I'll pick a day somewhere. It won't be a day with a $60 gate charge. 

Racecourse catering prices have been a big issue in the UK.
Charging NZ$15 for a pint of Guinness at the Cheltenham Festival was considered beyond the pale but wherever you go food and drink is expensive and you can’t bring your own alcohol into a UK racecourse.
Yes, children under 18 when accompanied get in for free but if you have to pay say NZ$100 for food and drink for two adults and two children it soon takes the shine of the “race day experience”. Racecourses make a lot from alcohol and catering and are resistant to cut prices despite intense pressure.

Yes, Weaver rings a bell. 
And Bloke, you are right. The run through the 5 Cups was of great interest to all racing followers at the time. Add in the Concorde, Railway and Telegraph for the sprinters, and the entire Spring and Summer was worth remembering. And now that's all we can do. Every one is a mere shadow of its former self, scattered all over the place with some moving dates on a regular basis. This includes the Auckland Harness Cup (we had two in 2024, one in May, the other New Year's Eve). And that's without even mentioning the quality of the fields. 

Yes, Weaver rings a bell. 
And Bloke, you are right. The run through the 5 Cups was of great interest to all racing followers at the time. Add in the Concorde, Railway and Telegraph for the sprinters, and the entire Spring and Summer was worth remembering. And now that's all we can do. Every one is a mere shadow of its former self, scattered all over the place with some moving dates on a regular basis. This includes the Auckland Harness Cup (we had two in 2024, one in May, the other New Year's Eve). And that's without even mentioning the quality of the fields. 

Do you think Ellerslie would have stayed as it was without Karaka? I get the impression they were hellbent on moving all of the big races to suit the corporates anyway, thus destroying what they had, and interfering with the Trentham dates too?

Yes, Weaver rings a bell. 
And Bloke, you are right. The run through the 5 Cups was of great interest to all racing followers at the time. Add in the Concorde, Railway and Telegraph for the sprinters, and the entire Spring and Summer was worth remembering. And now that's all we can do. Every one is a mere shadow of its former self, scattered all over the place with some moving dates on a regular basis. This includes the Auckland Harness Cup (we had two in 2024, one in May, the other New Year's Eve). And that's without even mentioning the quality of the fields. 

Yes, Weaver rings a bell. 
And Bloke, you are right. The run through the 5 Cups was of great interest to all racing followers at the time. Add in the Concorde, Railway and Telegraph for the sprinters, and the entire Spring and Summer was worth remembering. And now that's all we can do. Every one is a mere shadow of its former self, scattered all over the place with some moving dates on a regular basis. This includes the Auckland Harness Cup (we had two in 2024, one in May, the other New Year's Eve). And that's without even mentioning the quality of the fields. 

Do you think Ellerslie would have stayed as it was without Karaka? I get the impression they were hellbent on moving all of the big races to suit the corporates anyway, thus destroying what they had, and interfering with the Trentham dates too?

I'm not so sure about that. They're both very good. 

The trouble is Racing is just too long a day for most people, it’s slow & boring.
Even I find myself when on course bored as, having to wait 35 mins between races is just too long in a modern world.
Getting that time down to 25 mins is crucial for racings survival, yeah we know it’s a huge task but it’s not impossible.
25 mins between races, which start at 3pm in the summer & done by 6pm.
Winter start at 12 & finish at 3pm.
Gallops Friday Sat & Sun only 2 meetings each day.
 

I'm not so sure about that. They're both very good. 

Maybe that’s because there was nothing for moaners to moan about 😂
 
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Never ASsume or PREsume. Anything. But no, l don't know the answer to that. It would certainly be interesting to know exactly who any given figures does, and doesn't, include. 

18 race meetings per WEEK, 639,000 attendees per YEAR would be closer to it. It just doesn't say that, leaving it open the interpretation of the individual reader.
We certainly don't average 35,500 attendees over those 18 meetings. If we did, some of the larger meetings would need to attract over 150,000 attendees to make up for the tracks like the doggie tracks that are virtually uninhabited. 

18 race meetings per WEEK, 639,000 attendees per YEAR would be closer to it. It just doesn't say that, leaving it open the interpretation of the individual reader.
We certainly don't average 35,500 attendees over those 18 meetings. If we did, some of the larger meetings would need to attract over 150,000 attendees to make up for the tracks like the doggie tracks that are virtually uninhabited. 

Every individual blade of grass must be classified as an "attendee". 

Every individual blade of grass must be classified as an "attendee". 

Every individual blade of grass must be classified as an "attendee".