Addington

[We're Doomed 5,914]

I don't really follow the trots these days, but I occasionally have a quick look at the fields just to see what's going on. I had a few questions about the Addington trots this Friday.

I notice as well as a 2yo maiden with five starters there are two other six horse maiden fields. I see they run 12 races so I wondered why they feel the need to run 12 races when two of them are 6 horse maidens. Surely the maidens could race in a country maiden somewhere. It seems particularly strange to be running six horse maiden fields on a programme with group 1 and group 3 races.

And on the subject of the group 1 race what would old traditionalists like myself have known the Fred Shaw NZ Champs as back in the day. Did it once have a more familiar name? Or is it a brand-new Group 1 race?

And one last question, which will probably make me look very out of touch. I notice both Addington and Alex Pk have races called supporting team teal. Who is team teal and what are they doing that needs support?

 

[Pure Steel 1,938]

20 hours ago, We're Doomed said:

. I notice both Addington and Alex Pk have races called supporting team teal. Who is team teal and what are they doing that needs support?

It is an Initiative Australia and New Zealand wide. each race won by a female driver during a certain timeframe raises funds for cancer research.

here's a cut and paste. 

TEAM TEAL TO MAKE ITS MARK IN 2025

 

The 2025 Team Teal campaign has commenced, with Queensland’s harness racing industry coming together to raise funds for ovarian and gynaecological cancer research.

Running until 15 March, the campaign will see the Queensland harness racing industry donate $200 for every race won by a reinswoman in the Sunshine State. This year, Chloe Butler and Taleah McMullen will serve as Queensland’s 2025 Team Teal ambassadors, leading the initiative. All Queensland reinswomen will wear teal-coloured pants to raise awareness for the cause.

In 2024, Queensland’s female harness racing drivers raised over $15,000 for Team Teal, with more than $150,000 raised over 420 winners across Australasia.

In conjunction with WomenCan, Team Teal donations will support the Australian and New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group’s Survivors Teaching Students program. The program educates future medical professionals to improve the diagnosis and care of women with gynaecological cancer.

[We're Doomed 5,914]

That you for that Pure. I'm out of touch these days, but I have found that when I ask questions about harness things that hardly anyone ever answers. It makes me think that the harness contributors on here are pretty much focussed on the horses rather than any structural or other associated aspects of the industry.

[Idolmite 3,422]

14 minutes ago, We're Doomed said:

That you for that Pure. I'm out of touch these days, but I have found that when I ask questions about harness things that hardly anyone ever answers. It makes me think that the harness contributors on here are pretty much focussed on the horses rather than any structural or other associated aspects of the industry.

In my case l only knew the answer to one of your comments/queries/questions, and PS had already answered that one

[We're Doomed 5,914]

40 minutes ago, Idolmite said:

In my case l only knew the answer to one of your comments/queries/questions, and PS had already answered that one

Yes, unless you follow the trots closely it is hard to know what's going on. I find it intriguing that on a big night they feel the need to run two six horse maidens to get to 12 races. They must feel they will be profitable I suppose. 

And it would be interesting to know what old timers like myself would have known the group 1 as in years gone by.

I remember a year or so ago asking how people thought the change of racing seasons had gone, and whether it was a success. Not a single person had an opinion. I can just imagine there would have been a few comments if the gallops decided to start their season on 1 January.

[Keneperu 560]

Re season change. I guess there's a reason but Aug 1 was a date recognized and accepted. Now well who knows what the feelings are. I must admit hiding a couple of mares in the back paddock due to foal late Dec no longer necessary.  The whole set up now re Harness Racing IMO was more fun 30 years ago when people actually went racing ,every farmer had a couple of broodmares in the back paddock etc etc.

The only good thing IMO is they relaxed the retirement age for drivers. M Holmes forced out far to early!

So " we are doomed"  getting back to Aug 1 perhaps they should have made it April 1

[CeeMeNow 373]

On 3/12/2025 at 9:11 PM, We're Doomed said:

notice as well as a 2yo maiden with five starters there are two other six horse maiden fields. I see they run 12 races so I wondered why they feel the need to run 12 races when two of them are 6 horse maidens. Surely the maidens could race in a country maiden somewhere. It seems particularly strange to be running six horse maiden fields on a programme with group 1 and group 3 races.

 

Race 2, was a Non-Win  MOBILE  Trot with 6 starters, this was probably held to give this grade of horse opportunity to race, as they last raced on the 28th February.

Race 6, Non-Win 2YO, 5 starters because HRNZ/Entain have allowed 2YO racing with a minimum of 5 starters, a stupid policy in my opinion.

Race 7, originally had 7 starters, but with scratching, final field of 6.

[Pure Steel 1,938]

17 minutes ago, CeeMeNow said:

Race 6, Non-Win 2YO, 5 starters because HRNZ/Entain have allowed 2YO racing with a minimum of 5 starters, a stupid policy in my opinion.

It is early in the 2 yearold season. Best to have small fields while the horses get 'race' educated and become accustomed to racing.

All  harness horsepeople know this and prefer it to racing in the tighter quarters of 10 horse + size fields.  That would the Stupid thing lol. 

It doesn't take Einstein to realize this is best for the horses to avoid things going wrong. A wayward 2 yearold knocking the others down would/could severely dent their confidence and not help in getting them race-sound. A lot of young horses are not great at holding gait at high speed just yet. get better with practice. 

So you can see Why the Smaller fields are ideal for giving them a little room . There you go , you learned something today. Maybe the Policy Not so Stupid afterall. . 

Thankfully the policy in place means Ray Green and Telfers in the North in some 2 year old  races already , and most 2 year old races in Aus have had about 6 starters and therefore no incidents.