Messenger & Rowe Cup Fields

[Bruce M]

Race 8

Race Time:

8:22pm

Trackside 1

TAB

 

REHARVEST ROWE CUP FFA ((STAND) TROT (Gr1)

$200,000, FFA, 3200m

Race History  

For all trotters.

RacebookGearFront Line Limit

Participants for Race 8: REHARVEST ROWE CUP FFA ((STAND) TROT

Book		Form	Name	Age	Sex	Rating	Draw	Hcp	Driver	Trainer
Horse Movements: Midnight Dash to John Dickie at Clevedon, Walkinonsunshine to Robert & Jenna Dunn at Pukekohe, Mr Love to John Dickie at Clevedon
1		482735	Romeo Foxtrot	9	g	R68	1	Ft		Susan Branch
2		426342	Midnight Dash	9	g	R91	2	Ft		Greg & Ben Hope
3		123516	Walkinonsunshine	6	m	R72	3	Ft		Tom Bagrie
4		117467	Hillbilly Blues	5	g	R72	4	Ft		Michelle Wallis & Bernie Hackett
5		211131	Higher Power	4	g	R64	5	Ft		Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan
6		01260P	Confessional	6	g	R72	6	Ft		Michelle Wallis & Bernie Hackett
7		153124	Mr Love	7	g	R91	7	Ft		Greg & Ben Hope
8		262353	Oscar Bonavena	10	h	R119	8	Ft		Mark Purdon
9		783465	Ya Rite Darl	4	m	R78	U1	Ft		Robert & Jenna Dunn
10		232148	Meant To Be	4	g	R88	U2	Ft		Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan

Top

Race Number:

Race 9

Race Time:

8:57pm

Trackside 1

TAB

 

DAWSON HARFORD NEW ZEALAND MESSENGER MOBILE PACE (Gr1)

$100,000, FFA, 2700m

Race History  

For all pacers.

RacebookGearFront Line Limit

Participants for Race 9: DAWSON HARFORD NEW ZEALAND MESSENGER MOBILE PACE

Book		Form	Name	Age	Sex	Rating	Draw	Hcp	Driver	Trainer
Notifiable Gear Changes: Mr Miki: P-Off, The Lazarus Effect: SL-Off   Legend Horse Movements: Swayzee to Mark Jones at Pukekohe, The Lazarus Effect to John Dickie at Clevedon, We Walk By Faith to Matthew White at Clevedon
1		124333	Swayzee	8	g	R120	1	Ft		Jason Grimson
2		X11121	Got The Chocolates	4	g	R109	2	Ft		Robert & Jenna Dunn
3		674621	Dave Duley	5	g	R43	3	Ft		Robert & Jenna Dunn
4		14X229	Another Collect	4	g	R43	4	Ft		Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan
5		221112	The Lazarus Effect	5	g	R85	5	Ft		Bob Butt
6		811332	Mr Miki	5	g	R41	6	Ft		Brendon Laidlaw
7		362107	Leo Lincoln	5	g	R54	7	Ft		Ray Green & Nathan Delany
8		436774	We Walk By Faith	5	g	R80	8	Ft		Hayden & Amanda Cullen

Top

[Forest]

6 minutes ago, Bruce M said:

Race 8

Race Time:

8:22pm

Trackside 1

TAB

 

REHARVEST ROWE CUP FFA ((STAND) TROT (Gr1)

$200,000, FFA, 3200m

Race History  

For all trotters.

RacebookGearFront Line Limit

Participants for Race 8: REHARVEST ROWE CUP FFA ((STAND) TROT

Book		Form	Name	Age	Sex	Rating	Draw	Hcp	Driver	Trainer
Horse Movements: Midnight Dash to John Dickie at Clevedon, Walkinonsunshine to Robert & Jenna Dunn at Pukekohe, Mr Love to John Dickie at Clevedon
1		482735	Romeo Foxtrot	9	g	R68	1	Ft		Susan Branch
2		426342	Midnight Dash	9	g	R91	2	Ft		Greg & Ben Hope
3		123516	Walkinonsunshine	6	m	R72	3	Ft		Tom Bagrie
4		117467	Hillbilly Blues	5	g	R72	4	Ft		Michelle Wallis & Bernie Hackett
5		211131	Higher Power	4	g	R64	5	Ft		Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan
6		01260P	Confessional	6	g	R72	6	Ft		Michelle Wallis & Bernie Hackett
7		153124	Mr Love	7	g	R91	7	Ft		Greg & Ben Hope
8		262353	Oscar Bonavena	10	h	R119	8	Ft		Mark Purdon
9		783465	Ya Rite Darl	4	m	R78	U1	Ft		Robert & Jenna Dunn
10		232148	Meant To Be	4	g	R88	U2	Ft		Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan

Top

Race Number:

Race 9

Race Time:

8:57pm

Trackside 1

TAB

 

DAWSON HARFORD NEW ZEALAND MESSENGER MOBILE PACE (Gr1)

$100,000, FFA, 2700m

Race History  

For all pacers.

RacebookGearFront Line Limit

Participants for Race 9: DAWSON HARFORD NEW ZEALAND MESSENGER MOBILE PACE

Book		Form	Name	Age	Sex	Rating	Draw	Hcp	Driver	Trainer
Notifiable Gear Changes: Mr Miki: P-Off, The Lazarus Effect: SL-Off   Legend Horse Movements: Swayzee to Mark Jones at Pukekohe, The Lazarus Effect to John Dickie at Clevedon, We Walk By Faith to Matthew White at Clevedon
1		124333	Swayzee	8	g	R120	1	Ft		Jason Grimson
2		X11121	Got The Chocolates	4	g	R109	2	Ft		Robert & Jenna Dunn
3		674621	Dave Duley	5	g	R43	3	Ft		Robert & Jenna Dunn
4		14X229	Another Collect	4	g	R43	4	Ft		Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan
5		221112	The Lazarus Effect	5	g	R85	5	Ft		Bob Butt
6		811332	Mr Miki	5	g	R41	6	Ft		Brendon Laidlaw
7		362107	Leo Lincoln	5	g	R54	7	Ft		Ray Green & Nathan Delany
8		436774	We Walk By Faith	5	g	R80	8	Ft		Hayden & Amanda Cullen

Top

Probably worst Rowe cup field ive seen. 

[Thejanitor]

1 hour ago, Forest said:

Probably worst Rowe cup field ive seen. 

Definitely. Look at some of the greats that have won this race -- Just Believe, Sundee's Son, Stig, Icandoosit, Lyell Creek, iron horse Idle Scott, Yankee Loch, Sir Castleton, No Response, Eastern Light. 

Oscar Bonavena is the best performed horse in this years disappointing field but he's getting old like me and Swayzee.

The Messenger distance 2700m will see some of the field struggling to keep up. 

[Shad]

1 hour ago, Forest said:

Probably worst Rowe cup field ive seen. 

Looks more like Skid Rowe, very disappointing.

[Idolmite]

17 minutes ago, Shad said:

Looks more like Skid Rowe, very disappointing.

From where I lived and worked, south of the Bombay's, I used to organise a bus trip in to this meeting annually. Always full. I don't think one could fill a 42-45 seater this year if the seats were free!! So sad. 

[We're Doomed]

Two 4yos in a race that used to be for 4yos only.

[Idolmite]

17 minutes ago, We're Doomed said:

Two 4yos in a race that used to be for 4yos only.

Yes, both Auckland and Christchurch used to host super competitive 4 y/o series with the Taylor Mile race and the Messenger at Alex Park, and I think Addington's was the DB Superstars? Times have certainly changed. 

[We're Doomed]

19 minutes ago, Idolmite said:

Yes, both Auckland and Christchurch used to host super competitive 4 y/o series with the Taylor Mile race and the Messenger at Alex Park, and I think Addington's was the DB Superstars? Times have certainly changed. 

Hard to put a finger on where it all went wrong for harness racing. Was it breeding, training, programming, handicapping? Something certainly ended the competitiveness of harness racing and ended its public appeal.

[Bruce M]

40 minutes ago, Idolmite said:

Yes, both Auckland and Christchurch used to host super competitive 4 y/o series with the Taylor Mile race and the Messenger at Alex Park, and I think Addington's was the DB Superstars? Times have certainly changed. 

 Because standardbreds were traditionally slower maturing it wasn't considered that 4yo's were capable of matching the older handicappers therefore there were a lot of 4yo only races. First was the Forbury 4yo series then others followed like the Pelorus Classic, Superstars (which is starring Marketplace on Friday night) and the Messenger and Taylor Mile. They were designed to fill what was seen as a gap between 3yo racing and open racing.It enabled good 4yo's to race for good money.

Before Inky Lord won the NZ Cup in 1989 only three 4yo's won the Cup in eighty five years...since then eight have won and many more have placed. Nowadays the top 3yo's automatically become favoured contenders for open company. The change in season timing accelerates the process even more. 

Galloping has never really had 4 y/o races and the 3yo's just moved into handicap racing.

[CeeMeNow]

MG on the Messenger;

" HRNZ were understandably reluctant to run the Group 1 with only 4 starters as that would have meant no place betting and almost undoubtably a small turnover with the race running at a huge loss"

Well, they will get 3 dividends, provided there are no scratching's, but with the addition of 2 R43's, a R41 and a R54 it is hardly going to add value to the race, and I suspect it will still end up with a huge loss.

[We're Doomed]

1 hour ago, CeeMeNow said:

MG on the Messenger;

" HRNZ were understandably reluctant to run the Group 1 with only 4 starters as that would have meant no place betting and almost undoubtably a small turnover with the race running at a huge loss"

Well, they will get 3 dividends, provided there are no scratching's, but with the addition of 2 R43's, a R41 and a R54 it is hardly going to add value to the race, and I suspect it will still end up with a huge loss.

I'm glad you explained that. I only check in on harness racing occasionally. I saw those 8 horses and thought I had never heard of half of them and was thinking they had come through the grades quickly to be in a group 1.

[Pure Steel]

1 hour ago, CeeMeNow said:

Well, they will get 3 dividends, provided there are no scratching's, but with the addition of 2 R43's, a R41 and a R54 it is hardly going to add value to the race, and I suspect it will still end up with a huge loss.

I suspect the 4 loose class horses will just get in the way in the Messenger. Maybe 'Open' races should still have a Minimum Rating Requirement to avoid this.?

Should of just run it as the 4 horses field. Everyone loves seeing Choc's , Laz, WWBF,and Swayzee dooshing it out . and they all get even shot then with No excuses. 

There's a 4 horse field at Addington but you're not wetting your pants about that. It's Not Auckland so they don't get the boot sunk in to them on forums I spose 

I'll tell ya what though , The Superstars Group 2 at Addington Friday, running the same time as Auckland,  has nice horse MARKETPLACE drawn 1 . Must be paying $1.10 ? The horse is way beyond that field in ability, so anyone 'Betting against him' has rocks in their head really. betting will be not worth worrying in that race 

Where-as at Auckland , where some Superstars are about to clash again in some SUper racing,   the LAZ v Swayzee v Choc's v WWBF contest a much better race to bet for your favourite horse on. I'm lining up my bet already . Maybe some kiwi's should do the same to stop/prevent the worrying about the/any Huge Loss on the race ?  ( leave that to the Marketplace race lol   )

[MisterEd]

15 hours ago, We're Doomed said:

Was it breeding, training, programming, handicapping?

NZ has got programming, handicapping and the stakes structure wrong and it’s now showing quite clearly. Too many races, not enough horses, and penalties that punish form. Horses head offshore or retire early, fields weaken, owners and trainers see the pattern and breeding drops. It’s a downward spiral of our own making. 

[Pure Steel]

1 hour ago, MisterEd said:

NZ has got programming, handicapping and the stakes structure wrong and it’s now showing quite clearly. Too many races, not enough horses, and penalties that punish form. Horses head offshore or retire early, fields weaken, owners and trainers see the pattern and breeding drops. It’s a downward spiral of our own making. 

talk about Negative Nellie. The racing has never been better in NZ . Great stakes races all year round , and the Best horses ever seen are Competing in them. 

People that owned , raced, trained or drove horses in the 80's did it way way way tougher , than those left in the game in NZ today. many left for Australia like Newberry, Brosnan, Harris, the guy with the favourite in the Derby Friday , etc etc . 

Just put in some ELBOW Grease is the answer !!! . How do you think Grant Dixon has the best horse going ? In Leap To Fame ? sheer hard work.  it's Weight of numbers. He has 7 real battlers racing today , and none will probably win. But he has a Go.  every day of the week (well 5 days anyway) 

The remaining NZ trainers ( except Telfers and Dunns and who roll up the sleeves and have a go ) are too slack . How many is Orange and Zac Butcher training ? aren't they spose to be the best drivers ? slacking off mate. That's the Problem with NZ.

Also All the old boys like Barry P, Tony H , Maurice M, Mark P , Fergies  Stormonts,Bernie H, Old Ray Green, Hughes, Phil Williamson , .They're ALL NEAR retirement . they're all very old BUT are very good , but can't train as many as they should. And COMPLETELY too good for any Youngster trying to beat them .

So the other problem with NZ harness is these Remaining Competitors are just too good and too hard to beat. Nathan Purdon Can't even do it  . that just Shows how hard it is to win . That's your real problem .  too Good and too slack lol     you need more races , not less lol 

 

Proof is how many Aussie trainers compete there now, when they never used to even bother. Majestic Cruiser actually started it off winning the Messenger about 4 years ago to the day nearly.  this years messenger might go to his Grimson stable-mate . be interesting to see. Since then 'Just Believe' with Greg Sugars crushed all the trotters in NZ for a couple of years,   and you blokes have completely lost your confidence now . 

Get out of your spiral and FIGHT BACK Ed .don't go out whimpering like a big Woosey. 'Marketplace' might help the fightback soon. Give him Strength !!! 

 

[Charlie E]

17 hours ago, We're Doomed said:

Hard to put a finger on where it all went wrong for harness racing. Was it breeding, training, programming, handicapping? Something certainly ended the competitiveness of harness racing and ended its public appeal.

Overheads for trainers I reckon

[Forest]

3 hours ago, Pure Steel said:

I suspect the 4 loose class horses will just get in the way in the Messenger. Maybe 'Open' races should still have a Minimum Rating Requirement to avoid this.?

Should of just run it as the 4 horses field. Everyone loves seeing Choc's , Laz, WWBF,and Swayzee dooshing it out . and they all get even shot then with No excuses. 

There's a 4 horse field at Addington but you're not wetting your pants about that. It's Not Auckland so they don't get the boot sunk in to them on forums I spose 

I'll tell ya what though , The Superstars Group 2 at Addington Friday, running the same time as Auckland,  has nice horse MARKETPLACE drawn 1 . Must be paying $1.10 ? The horse is way beyond that field in ability, so anyone 'Betting against him' has rocks in their head really. betting will be not worth worrying in that race 

Where-as at Auckland , where some Superstars are about to clash again in some SUper racing,   the LAZ v Swayzee v Choc's v WWBF contest a much better race to bet for your favourite horse on. I'm lining up my bet already . Maybe some kiwi's should do the same to stop/prevent the worrying about the/any Huge Loss on the race ?  ( leave that to the Marketplace race lol   )

WWBF lol

[Charlie E]

11 minutes ago, Pure Steel said:

talk about Negative Nellie. The racing has never been better in NZ . Great stakes races all year round , and the Best horses ever seen are Competing in them. 

People that owned , raced, trained or drove horses in the 80's did it way way way tougher , than those left in the game in NZ today. many left for Australia like Newberry, Brosnan, Harris, the guy with the favourite in the Derby Friday , etc etc . 

Just put in some ELBOW Grease is the answer !!! . How do you think Grant Dixon has the best horse going ? In Leap To Fame ? sheer hard work.  it's Weight of numbers. He has 7 real battlers racing today , and none will probably win. But he has a Go.  every day of the week (well 5 days anyway) 

The remaining NZ trainers ( except Telfers and Dunns and who roll up the sleeves and have a go ) are too slack . How many is Orange and Zac Butcher training ? aren't they spose to be the best drivers ? slacking off mate. That's the Problem with NZ.

Also All the old boys like Barry P, Tony H , Maurice M, Mark P , Fergies  Stormonts,Bernie H, Old Ray Green, Hughes, Phil Williamson , .They're ALL NEAR retirement . they're all very old BUT are very good , but can't train as many as they should. And COMPLETELY too good for any Youngster trying to beat them .

So the other problem with NZ harness is these Remaining Competitors are just too good and too hard to beat. Nathan Purdon Can't even do it  . that just Shows how hard it is to win . That's your real problem .  too Good and too slack lol     you need more races , not less lol 

 

Proof is how many Aussie trainers compete there now, when they never used to even bother. Majestic Cruiser actually started it off winning the Messenger about 4 years ago to the day nearly.  this years messenger might go to his Grimson stable-mate . be interesting to see. Since then 'Just Believe' with Greg Sugars crushed all the trotters in NZ for a couple of years,   and you blokes have completely lost your confidence now . 

Get out of your spiral and FIGHT BACK Ed .don't go out whimpering like a big Woosey. 'Marketplace' might help the fightback soon. Give him Strength !!! 

 

The main thing I think anyway PS is the overheads .

For example ATC could have purchased more land especially in Pukekohe close to the trotting track and set up a huge training complex for especially hobby trainers .

If trainers don't own land themselves how can they lease or rent land at $800 a week for example and rely on getting enough horses to cover the overheads and pay themselves .

These so called professionals should have realized that 20 - 30 years ago and surveyed trainers who threw in the towel and worked on keeping them in the game or made it realistic for new ones to get into it .

When you think of all the drivers including myself as to why didn't we become trainers personally speaking thats why I never did . It was simply not worth it .

[MisterEd]

9 minutes ago, Pure Steel said:

talk about Negative Nellie. The racing has never been better in NZ . Great stakes races all year round , and the Best horses ever seen are Competing in them. 

People that owned , raced, trained or drove horses in the 80's did it way way way tougher , than those left in the game in NZ today. many left for Australia like Newberry, Brosnan, Harris, the guy with the favourite in the Derby Friday , etc etc . 

Just put in some ELBOW Grease is the answer !!! . How do you think Grant Dixon has the best horse going ? In Leap To Fame ? sheer hard work.  it's Weight of numbers. He has 7 real battlers racing today , and none will probably win. But he has a Go.  every day of the week (well 5 days anyway) 

The remaining NZ trainers ( except Telfers and Dunns and who roll up the sleeves and have a go ) are too slack . How many is Orange and Zac Butcher training ? aren't they spose to be the best drivers ? slacking off mate. That's the Problem with NZ.

Also All the old boys like Barry P, Tony H , Maurice M, Mark P , Fergies  Stormonts,Bernie H, Old Ray Green, Hughes, Phil Williamson , .They're ALL NEAR retirement . they're all very old BUT are very good , but can't train as many as they should. And COMPLETELY too good for any Youngster trying to beat them .

So the other problem with NZ harness is these Remaining Competitors are just too good and too hard to beat. Nathan Purdon Can't even do it  . that just Shows how hard it is to win . That's your real problem .  too Good and too slack lol     you need more races , not less lol 

 

Proof is how many Aussie trainers compete there now, when they never used to even bother. Majestic Cruiser actually started it off winning the Messenger about 4 years ago to the day nearly.  this years messenger might go to his Grimson stable-mate . be interesting to see. Since then 'Just Believe' with Greg Sugars crushed all the trotters in NZ for a couple of years,   and you blokes have completely lost your confidence now . 

Get out of your spiral and FIGHT BACK Ed .don't go out whimpering like a big Woosey. 'Marketplace' might help the fightback soon. Give him Strength !!! 

 

Your statement "racing has never been better in NZ and great stakes races all year round" sounds confident but in back in reality the opposite is true.

I know a very big owner and breeder who is stepping out of the game disillusioned with the way it has been run. Would have raced and bred hundreds of horses over the last 30 years and he has thrown in the towel this year. Horses and property are going on the market very soon.

[We're Doomed]

5 minutes ago, MisterEd said:

Your statement "racing has never been better in NZ and great stakes races all year round" sounds confident but in back in reality the opposite is true.

I know a very big owner and breeder who is stepping out of the game disillusioned with the way it has been run. Would have raced and bred hundreds of horses over the last 30 years and he has thrown in the towel this year. Horses and property are going on the market very soon.

Pure Steel has a very simplistic view of things and appears to have absolutely no idea how everything works. He thinks small fields running for massive stakes is great. He then goes on to point out how many Aussie trainers send horses over these days.

He seems to have no idea how stakes are funded. And it doesn't occur to him that the Aussies come over because of the easy money that they would never be able to race for at home.

I think if he ran a corner dairy he would give away $1,000 everytime someone came in to buy a loaf of bread because that way he would have heaps of happy customers. Then in a few years he would go bust and wonder where it all went wrong.

[Pure Steel]

11 minutes ago, MisterEd said:

Your statement "racing has never been better in NZ and great stakes races all year round" sounds confident but in back in reality the opposite is true.

I know a very big owner and breeder who is stepping out of the game disillusioned with the way it has been run. Would have raced and bred hundreds of horses over the last 30 years and he has thrown in the towel this year. Horses and property are going on the market very soon.

that could be because costs of running one a very high now ? possibly ?  I don't race one myself anymore because of that. ( you have to win a race every 4 months Queensland just to break even , which is achievable , with the excellent ratings system in place these days ) but once you've raced a few the gloss wears off a bit. especially if those you mix with are doing something else now as well.

One lovely man who posts on this site has a share in a trotter in the Rowe Cup , and he won the trotting Derby this time last year. He's still pretty happy with his horse , and i'm disappointed to see comments about the poor old trotters earlier in this thread with never seen a worse Rowe Cup  etc. (Poor old OSCAR , been a real trooper for NZ for a lot of years and no love lol ) hope he wins it for Mark . a wonderful Stalwart of the sport . he never gives up. 

One of my old owners here , as well as racing 3 locally at Brisvegas , has shares in 2 at horses at Dalgety's . So I always hope they win when they're in , as is great that he's trying to support the NZ yearling sales ( like Boots and Shannon and co ) and race some there to help out a little. 

Very sorry to hear your big owner 'Selling out' or disillutioned . He really needs to talk to Nigel ( Unhinged ) to perk himself up a bit. That bloke is through the roof keen and supportive of the NZ sport . Get good money for his property these days anyway ? prices are staggeringly huge these days. 

[Pure Steel]

12 minutes ago, We're Doomed said:

Pure Steel has a very simplistic view of things and appears to have absolutely no idea how everything works. He thinks small fields running for massive stakes is great. He then goes on to point out how many Aussie trainers send horses over these days.

He seems to have no idea how stakes are funded. And it doesn't occur to him that the Aussies come over because of the easy money that they would never be able to race for at home.

Well I guess if you're trying to discredi the sport , you try and discredit myself or knowledge as well? I put many hard yards into it over a long period of time in both countries in some top stables , with all sorts of horses and owners.  I'm equally supportive of their harness racing and participants Aus or NZ. 

Stakes are funded in 8 ways . I know quite well how they're funded.  The Sires Stakes Final for 3 year old Fillies is on this week worth $200,000 . Sires Stakes are one of the ways that great racing occurs  . Do you know the other 7 ? or just trying to whack me for some reason ? at least I enjoy the sport. Or are you going to discredit me on that as well. ?  No idea how everything works?  . well more Idea than some . Im just trying to help with some enthusiasm Doomed . No need to get so Therapist with me. What's the solution ?

Pure Steel ran in a 2 horse race once that drew 20,000 to the track .  they completely circled the entire track.  nothing wrong with small fields mate . Paid $2.20 when he won too. That's what we need these days is more MATCH races to grab the Public attention .

Show off. the Superstars  .Slot races are doing that well anyway . Been excellent for the sport ( and are one of the ways of raising funding/stake money for races as well these days ) excellent stuff. No wonder Addington copied Cambridge . Absolute 'top draw' racing 

[Charlie E]

8 minutes ago, Pure Steel said:

Well I guess if you're trying to discredi the sport , you try and discredit myself or knowledge as well? I put many hard yards into it over a long period of time in both countries in some top stables , with all sorts of horses and owners.  I'm equally supportive of their harness racing and participants Aus or NZ. 

Stakes are funded in 8 ways . I know quite well how they're funded.  The Sires Stakes Final for 3 year old Fillies is on this week worth $200,000 . Sires Stakes are one of the ways that great racing occurs  . Do you know the other 7 ? or just trying to whack me for some reason ? at least I enjoy the sport. Or are you going to discredit me on that as well. ?  No idea how everything works?  . well more Idea than some . Im just trying to help with some enthusiasm Doomed . No need to get so Therapist with me. What's the solution ?

Pure Steel ran in a 2 horse race once that drew 20,000 to the track .  they completely circled the entire track.  nothing wrong with small fields mate . Paid $2.20 when he won too. That's what we need these days is more MATCH races to grab the Public attention .

Show off. the Superstars  .Slot races are doing that well anyway . Been excellent for the sport ( and are one of the ways of raising funding/stake money for races as well these days ) excellent stuff. No wonder Addington copied Cambridge . Absolute 'top draw' racing 

I dont think we are being negative PS but Alex Park and Cambridge are at deaths door .

Its great they have raised the stakes but things are still heading downhill .

I have always loved Harness racing and its sad its come to this 

[Nelli]

6 hours ago, CeeMeNow said:

MG on the Messenger;

" HRNZ were understandably reluctant to run the Group 1 with only 4 starters as that would have meant no place betting and almost undoubtably a small turnover with the race running at a huge loss"

Well, they will get 3 dividends, provided there are no scratching's, but with the addition of 2 R43's, a R41 and a R54 it is hardly going to add value to the race, and I suspect it will still end up with a huge loss.

Programming a G2 race for Cup class pacers on the same night at Addington certainly doesn't help. We all know there are limited numbers of R90+ horses currently racing so why incentivise the southerners to stay home. It may have been better for our industry to have travel subsidies than two Group races for top pacers on the same night.

[Iraklis]

Yeh but hang on Pure mate, didn't HRNZ have to stump up the Cambridge Slot race several times, and from what ChrisW was sayin Cambridge Club is in the red even after this years edition.....hey the Slot Race did bring the Champions to town, which is great watchin, but if the Club is left in debt then that aint so great, these races need to be standin on their own, not reliant on this or that to get em home.....

 

Cheers Iraklis

PS. by the way I don't think there is anythin poor about the mighty OscarB  in trotters terms he's in his prime, as is his master trainer mighty MarkP

[Dynamite]

21 minutes ago, Iraklis said:

Yeh but hang on Pure mate, didn't HRNZ have to stump up the Cambridge Slot race several times, and from what ChrisW was sayin Cambridge Club is in the red even after this years edition.....hey the Slot Race did bring the Champions to town, which is great watchin, but if the Club is left in debt then that aint so great, these races need to be standin on their own, not reliant on this or that to get em home.....

 

Cheers Iraklis

PS. by the way I don't think there is anythin poor about the mighty OscarB  in trotters terms he's in his prime, as is his master trainer mighty MarkP

May get good horses there….. But small crowd…. Obviously low T/O…. Lose money….