North Island Grass Track Meetings

[eljay 1,720]

Noms out today for the only grass meetings this season in the north.    2 meetings both of 5 races only (dual code meetings) and all races for pacers.    Yet another kick in the guts for the squaregaiters who the suits believe are only useful when they need meetings shored up due to shortage of pacers.       I also believe next seasons tentative dates have been released with no improvement in the grass track holiday race situation - e.g. Taranaki yet again NO meetings.    It's time for all interested parties to vehemently complain to these so called executives of the sport that they need to sharpen up their act or simply resign.    They are elected there to do a job and not to put contentious items in the w.p.b.     To survive the sport needs people of fortitude not a bunch of wimps.

[Nelli 434]

We could give the club the benefit of the doubt and take it that they asked the local trainers what horses they had in work  - and they didn't have enough trotters. Or perhaps they deem the track too uneven for trotters. And it is good seeing a dual code meeting. Of course, it means any North Island owners of trotters that go best on grass tracks have to consider sending them south - but who would care footing that bill when know southern fields at capacity. Sad losing the northern grass track circuit  - another nail in the coffin.

[tasman man 742]

The last Central Districts meetings at Manawatu didn't appear to have the same number of trotting races as the more Northern meetings have had of late.

A non-winners race for trotters in North  [a mobile] in past week had ONE nom.

Yet there were a few races when 20 noms were received for NW ,hence 2 x races run.

Yes trotting races in North have been attracting more noms cf pacers than would historically have been the case.

Yes trotting races have maybe 'filled a gap' but I wonder whether NW trots attract as much betting as pacing races ..hence unattractive !

Many on here used to moan their arses when NW trots included in PICK 6 for example.

As for grass track racing , up until about 1970 Ashburton , Timaru ,Oamaru , Gore etc all were grass tracks .....must have been a real good reason why change took place.Certainly some got quite heavy with rain ! 

The 'punting mecca' Australia doesn't have too many grass tracks these days !!!

Lake Hawea in Central Otago had a picnic meeting a few days ago....Balfour [Southland] another.

Remember Pirongia ,Boxing Day .

Why can't concerned Harness enthusiasts organise their own grass track meetings......start off as picnic or equilisator......and show the TAB and Harness bosses you mean business !

There used to be one at Te Awamutu which I didnt think was up to much even if our horse did win the Cup.....better if in a Tourist town

There are tracks around or some big paddocks....plenty of yellow cones !

Don't CRY.......CREATE !

[eljay 1,720]

Picnic meetings with equalisator are still under NRNZ control - stipes & all.      So to run them you need permission from the suits and quite frankly these races are of no interest to them so you pushing the proverbial uphill.      Harness racing is very much under the "do what WE want" umbrella.      

[tasman man 742]

1 hour ago, eljay said:

Picnic meetings with equalisator are still under NRNZ control - stipes & all.      So to run them you need permission from the suits and quite frankly these races are of no interest to them so you pushing the proverbial uphill.      Harness racing is very much under the "do what WE want" umbrella.      

Well eljay it didn't stop the good folk of Lake Hawea and Balfour.

Maybe the 'battlers' / hobby trainers in the South have a bit more cohesiveness / can do attitude than those in the North.

Gotta be reasons why meetings such as Thames were canned .......could they have been overcome ?

Can't blame the stipes / suits for every hiccup !

Get there early today ,your table could be under siege from the 'bouncy castle' set !