Methven Stake Money

[Keneperu]

THE  best country track in the country by a mile but the stake money Wednesday woefull. Going to be some nice divis.  That is if you can find a winner

[Keneperu]

4 hours ago, Keneperu said:

THE  best country track in the country by a mile but the stake money Wednesday woefull. Going to be some nice divis.  That is if you can find a winner

Sorry Thursday

[CeeMeNow]

I don't know, but I suspect this is the meeting they had last year just prior to day one at Kaikoura, from memory that meeting had $10k stakes, the first day at Kaikoura had very small fields and it was stated that an enquiry would be held to determine the cause, I never saw the result, if indeed it happened.

This year the first day had the World Drivers Championship, the last thing they would have wanted was competition for horses in the lead up to that, although they still had 2 races that did not have full fields.

 

[We're Doomed]

I do find it very strange in harness racing where the size of fields, crowd size and potential turnover bear no relation to stake levels. $10,000 maidens at Methven and $8,000 for everything else. I have never understood why maidens race for more than anything else.

Then the Auckland trots race for $50,000 for every race, including fields of 5 and 6, biggest field of 12. Surely that Auckland meeting can't possibly run at a profit.

[Shad]

10 hours ago, Keneperu said:

THE  best country track in the country by a mile but the stake money Wednesday woefull. Going to be some nice divis.  That is if you can find a winner

Interesting call, thought the Westport grass track also one of the better ones, some say the old methven track was very good, and horses could win from anywhere, remember reading an article from one of the trainers saying old track was more fair for all.

[unhinged]

11 hours ago, We're Doomed said:

I do find it very strange in harness racing where the size of fields, crowd size and potential turnover bear no relation to stake levels. $10,000 maidens at Methven and $8,000 for everything else. I have never understood why maidens race for more than anything else.

Then the Auckland trots race for $50,000 for every race, including fields of 5 and 6, biggest field of 12. Surely that Auckland meeting can't possibly run at a profit.

Personally I think maiden stakes should be standardized through out the country but along with that a bonus paid to the owners of the winner. There wouldn't be a horse currently racing that hasn't had a true cost of $30,000 to get it there for it's first start. 

[MisterEd]

I think the Methven fields for Thursday are great. 

Almost better for betting than Green Mile day. Not for quality of horseflesh but tough to pick big even fields.

[Lamour.2]

7 minutes ago, MisterEd said:

I think the Methven fields for Thursday are great. 

Almost better for betting than Green Mile day. Not for quality of horseflesh but tough to pick big even fields.

I hope the track is ok. Pooring in ChCh right now 

[Keneperu]

1 hour ago, Lamour.2 said:

I hope the track is ok. Pooring in ChCh right now 

Track should be great even with all the rain (just over inch) here.

Much as I love Westport  IMO Methven far superior and no "crossing" as a lot of other grass tracks are blighted by. Re the old Methven track yes it made it a true stayers track . But overall Methven always beautifully prepared facilities for horses great and a class above. 

[Double R]

5 hours ago, unhinged said:

Personally I think maiden stakes should be standardized through out the country but along with that a bonus paid to the owners of the winner. There wouldn't be a horse currently racing that hasn't had a true cost of $30,000 to get it there for it's first start. 

Absolutely agree Nigel, and a $20,000 bonus for the first win.

I am sure most owners, if not all, would rather see the top end stakes reduced, and if the Cup was reduced to say $200,000, along with all the other top stakes races.

Having had a runner placed in the N.Z.Cup, which is race everyone wants to win, and regardless of the stake, the honour of owning a Cup winner is high in every owners bucket list.

Realistically, as owners, we are wrapped if our horse qualifies, then can win a race, and knowing generally, that we are never going to be ahead of what we have put in, but it is our passion, and the hope that we might one day get a good one, and so we optimistically keep searching. 

[Shad]

On 12/17/2025 at 12:35 PM, Keneperu said:

Track should be great even with all the rain (just over inch) here.

Much as I love Westport  IMO Methven far superior and no "crossing" as a lot of other grass tracks are blighted by. Re the old Methven track yes it made it a true stayers track . But overall Methven always beautifully prepared facilities for horses great and a class above. 

Stakes there for boxing day better than methven, and so they should be, but one must say fields quite disappointing for me, maybe the travel and accommodation the difference, higer stakes don't always mean bigger fields, hopefully the weather forecast changes, otherwise might be a bit damp, mind you track handles the rain no trouble.