Temporary sprint lane to be installed at Ballarat for ID18 heats
https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/art...or-id18-heats/
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Temporary sprint lane to be installed at Ballarat for ID18 heats
https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/art...or-id18-heats/
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! I need to get over it but it's hard. No sprint lane = better racing. Let the drivers race!
Anyway, time to move on...
Very interested to see which horses line up
https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/art...or-id18-heats/
Rowse said the club remained firm in its resolve that its wide, long straight provided opportunities for all horses in the run to the finish line.
You only have to look at this race tonight to see that this statement is not true
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...ic#BAC25051806
It was like an old Showgrounds race = stack em up and sprint home so that despite a last quarter of 26.8 for an ordinary 1.58.4 for the mile which is way more than what the quinella pair can run
I am not necessarily an advocate for sprint lanes but either the whole state has them or the whole state does not have them
Totally agree Kev, All tracks or none at all
Kevin, that's called a good drive by the winner, not his fault that nobody made any moves. He looked to have the one on his back covered at the finish. I was more concerned that the 3 outside runners were out of position at the start ( didn't score up to the mobile) and stewards made no comment in results. Maybe it will be in the stewards report !
I agree that it is a good drive but a boring race - they were the type I loved winning on at the Showgrounds
The only way we were going to get a 'race' was if Tam Major decided not to opt for the sit but with the distance being 1609m it was going to be a big ask from the death and why ask for such an effort when it was only a minor feature race worth $8550 to the winner
The prizemoney has been announced - bordering on pathetic IMO even if grassroots harness is more important
For pacers, the prizemoney will be distributed across three rounds of three heats ($30,000 per heat), a $50,000 Consolation Final and a $500,000 Group 1 Grand Final, while for trotters there will be three rounds of two trotting heats ($20,000 a heat) and a $150,000 Group 1 Grand Final.
http://www.harnesslink.com/News/Inte...ney-until-2020
Hopefully still enough to get all the good ones there. Chicago Bull may elect to stay home and be ready for the WA races in January.
Have to be careful taking away from your showcase races. The racing spring carnival with all the feature races is what gets new throroughbred fans. Was talking to the Mrs about what race meetings we could go to at Melton in the coming 12 months and the Vic Cup meeting didnt make the shortlist due to it no longer being a top race/meeting.
Thankfully the Bull is confirmed as almost a certain starter regardless of the prizemoney but sheez it's a kick in the pants for our premier race, and more so for the trotters.
I know the finances are bad, we have issues with participants trying to make a liviing out of the sport etc etc but for mine, a 55% drop on last years Inters isn't good enough.
Anyway, that aint going to change now unless a major sponsor pops up out of the blue. We have to positively promote the race as much as we possibly can regardless to get the public focus back on the sport for the right reasons. From people that are paid to do so on Harness Racing Boards, right down to Joe the punter who loves the trots.
Spread the word, promote positively & hopefully in time, prizemoney will come... hopefully...
It is a dissapointing amount but not unexpected, Alexandra Park telegraphed a final at that level in the original press releases regarding the joint series, and I think no one is unaware now as to the state of the industries finances.
Hopefully as you say Steve a sponsor will step up but I'm wondering if the 3 club agreement poses any difficulties with that. Regardless of the prizemoney it is our premier brand event and as Steve said everyone needs to get behind it.
I've little doubt that the circumstances surrounding the prizemoney levels of the WA Inter Dominions were unique and it is unfair to draw direct comparisons between the two ID series.
Gallops would take a massive hit without sponsorship. If we cannot attract them, we had better figure out why and do something about it.
Hi everyone,
Whilst we would all like to see large amounts of prizemoney being offered for our feature events, the reality is that at the moment no harness state in Australia, nor NZ can afford to put up Inter Dominion (ID) prizemoney like that. WA couldn't afford to continue hosting the event (certainly not at that prizemoney level) and without collaboration between Vic/NSW/NZ, there would not have been a bidder at all for HRA to consider and the future of the ID would have been uncertain. As I have been talking about during recent roadshows, we're making improvements in Victoria and turning things around. We will be providing the industry and public with an ID event in 2018 that will re-engage previous Trots lovers and people who haven't been before.
Cheers, David
I thing we should be lowering the top prizemoney and increasing the bottom prizemoney . The majority of participants rely on the bottom end money to survive from week to week.
More of a spread, Good idea
The ID18 website is up and running
https://www.id18.com.au/
The second rankings are out
https://www.id18.com.au/rankings/
The third round of ranking are out.
This link takes directly to the pacers rankings
https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...s+%28v3%29.pdf
This link takes you directly to the trotters rankings
https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...s+%28v3%29.pdf
That’s a bold call Noel, well sort of anyway, do we take it if Menin Gate doesn’t handle the three heats in a week that he wasn’t right for the series rather then he just didn’t handle three heats in a week?
I seem to recall San Carlo handling the three heats in a week pretty good in Perth last year, including winning one and making the final. Drew poorly in the final and raced at the rear of the field pulling hard which does your chances no good in that company. Cant see why that experience won’t hold him and connections in good stead this time around.
As an aside the SBSW stock so far have been at their best as juveniles more so then as aged horses here and in the states, Menin Gate would need to buck that trend.
It was a bold call ( with the benefit of hindsight).
It was a shock to see Menin Gate fade quickly in the mile on Saturday night after racing in the death after Mick battled to hold him
Need to rethink.
The stewards said:
Michael Stanley, trainer/driver of Menin Gate, was questioned regarding the performance of the gelding which finished in 8th and last placing beaten 31m. Mr Stanley explained that Menin Gate was racing very keenly during the early stages and as a result he was unable to restrain the gelding to obtain a position with cover. Mr Stanley further explained as a result he elected to improve forward three wide, however upon improving three wide and thereafter Menin Gate failed to race keenly and in his opinion in a genuine manner. Mr Stanley explained that Menin Gate appeared to pull up well following the event and it would be his intention to employ gear changes to ensure that Menin Gate races more keenly in future, particularly when unable to lead. Post-race veterinary examination of Menin Gate, inclusive of an endoscopic examination, failed to reveal any obvious abnormalities. Mr Stanley will be contacted in the coming days relative to the progress of Menin Gate subsequent to the event.
Yes bit of a body blow for MG supporters I think Noel and looks as if Micheal Stanley has a challenge on his hands to get MG both racing tractably and trying in all circumstances in the series. Could have his fans chewing their fingernails I’d think, but he may not be the only one to have to get it all right for the three runs in a week.
One doing his credentials no harm that may be flying under the radar for you southerners is Joes Star Of Mia. He too will have to handle the three heats and presently his connections space his runs but he looks on the improve at the right time could be one to spring a surprise
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mgmHhVR7aiQ
I know Noel for one is rethinking his position on Menin Gate but I think San Carlo was sending Menin Gate a message on how it’s done in today’s Yarra Valley cup! Restrain from wide draw, saunter up 3 wide as required, oh there’s the death seat now and see you later!
So
While San Carlo cruises to 2 cup wins, Menin Gate recovers;
Michael Stanley, trainer of Menin Gate, advised that blood tests taken from the gelding revealed it to be suffering from a virus. Mr Stanley added that other horses within his care, which have been tested, are also showing signs of a similar virus. Menin Gate and other horses within the care of Mr Stanley will treated prior to racing again.
I think tomorrow would have been a better time to release this.......
Tuesday 13 November, 2018
It is an exciting time in harness racing with the 2018 TAB Inter Dominion almost upon us.
As has been well documented, this is the first time since 2008 that Australasia’s greatest harness racing series has been held in Victoria and everybody involved is determined to make it the best ever.
I wanted to take this opportunity to update the industry on ID18 progress because in coming days you will hear and see our new advertising promotion across a wide range of channels and formats.
We have worked closely with a number of market leading agencies to conduct bespoke market research. This research has delivered insights, which have formed the basis of our communications strategy and creative ID18 consumer campaigns.
All good campaigns need a theme and, for the 2018 TAB Inter Dominion, our campaign is titled Lap it Up! I won’t go into any more detail, but from Wednesday you’ll see ID18 billboards up in prominent locations across Melbourne and surrounding areas – including on the major arterials such as the Westgate Freeway in South Melbourne.
We have actually created a multimedia communications approach, focusing on reaching identified audience segments in Victoria utilising a mix of Metro & Regional Free to Air & Pay TV, Press & Radio, Out of Home (Large Format Highway Billboards, Buses & Shopping Centres) and Digital channels.
We’ll have ID18 mobile billboards in and around Cranbourne and Ballarat, with both clubs hosting heat nights, and prominent advertising will be displayed at shopping centres around all three host clubs including Woodgrove, Stockland Wendouree, Cranbourne Park and Cranbourne Homemaker Centre.
We have the full back of five buses operating throughout Ballarat and Cranbourne, as well as 20 city-side bus portraits throughout Melbourne CBD through to the western suburbs.
We’ve developed a modern and colourful television commercial, which will be aired prominently on metro and regional free-to-air television and Sky Racing, as well as digitally via HRV’s social media channels. The ad will also play in the lead-up to all races on both Trackside Big Screens and Trots Vision at thetrots.com.au as well as embedded into YouTube Trueview.
Our advertising presence on radio will be stronger than ever before and we’ve pushed into non-racing markets via Melbourne’s most popular AM station 3AW and its sports affiliate station Macquarie Sports Radio, as well as SEN and throughout regional Victoria via our media partner Crocmedia. We’re also targeting the important FM listenership via airspace on Triple M and Nova100.
We’ll be unveiling our most extensive editorial and advertising push ever across our radio broadcast partner RSN, which will feature interviews on the breakfast show and Racing Pulse, as well as our regular weekly features such as Gait Speed and One Out, One Back. You’ll also hear the ID18 message spruiked prior to every Victorian trots race broadcast on RSN.
Melbourne’s favourite daily paper the Herald Sun has committed to providing coverage leading up to the event this year in the sports pages, as well as the popular form guide the lift-outs we have booked in the weeks of the ID18 series.
The Age has also expressed interest in the event, while HRV and Tabcorp Park have aligned with the Moorabool News and Star Weekly to deliver the ID18 message into those important local, community markets through colourful and informative storytelling.
Currently the ID18 trophy is touring New Zealand to promote the event during NZ Cup Week, with a number of top-class Kiwi horses, trainers and drivers to target the series.
On the track our fourth and final rankings update will be unveiled on Wednesday November 21, where the top 36 pacers to contest the ID18 pacing series and the top 24 trotters to contest the ID18 trotting series will be revealed.
Importantly, it is fitting that the return of the pinnacle of Australasian harness racing to Victoria after a 10-year hiatus will have a national television audience with the Seven Network having signed on to provide a 1.5-hour live coverage of the Inter Dominion Pacing and Trotting finals across five capital cities Australia wide and right throughout regional Victoria.
We have also entered into an Event Partnership with EQUITANA Melbourne 2018, which is the largest equine showcase in the southern hemisphere, expected to attract 50,000 spectators at the Melbourne Showgrounds (November 15-18) making it the perfect lead-up event to ID18.
Finally, the launch first of our official ID18 events, the Welcome Cocktail Party at the Woolstore & Co in North Melbourne is just over a fortnight away. Details on all the ID18 events can be found at ID18.com.au
Dale Monteith, HRV Chairman
It sounds good
(however I will believe the bit about The Age when I see it)
Wondering if we might add a little pomp and ceremony to the ID heats. More particularly the competitors, the horses.
Some feedback from friends (a family unit) who attended the Cranbourne Cup. Whilst on-course, children's entertainment, was good, they thought the focus on the horse was lacking.
Whether it might be too time consuming and repetitive during the heats, but each heat/venue is likely to have a big percentage of one heat attendees, the horses individually announced as they enter the track?
Perhaps a couple of HERO mounted buglers strut on to the track at the winning post as the horses are about to come out. Something that let's the crowd know the main attraction's about to commence.
These friends are located in the south east and most likely going to head to the Cranbourne heats. Probably not entirely a coincidence but the adult male competed in the pony trot on Preux Chevalier's ID night. Has pretty well been lost to the sport since.
Something not relevant to the ID but would making the cost of admission redeemable at the dining room be an avenue to attract people and families? Was mentioned in the conversation, instead of going to a family hotel for dinner, why not pop out to the trots for dinner and a look.
Something I'd love to see and hear for a big event like this is, the connections of each horse pick a song to head out on to the track to. No doubt there would be royalties involved...may not be ceremonial but revs it up a bit.
Have fantasised over the years which song we would pick, changes with time and horse, but these days it would have to be some Emerson, Lake & Palmer. :)
"Wondering if we might add a little pomp and ceremony to the ID heats. More particularly the competitors, the horses."
Wayne, as I have said before - we could learn plenty from the French
I guess most would know by now that the draws were done on Monday but if you missed it
https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/art...opening-night/
Or for the full fields
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...s/?mc=MX011218
I am going all jingoistic and barracking for the only All Aussie bred (immediate family anyway)
Conviction = For A Reason x Safely Grattan
Len Baker's preview
https://www.harness.org.au/media-roo...?news_id=38897
Great to see the first 2 pacing heats were interesting keenly contested affairs
Great work to see the jog track at Ballarat being put to good use to provide some camera angles we don’t usually see. Pat on the back for whoever came up with that!!
The Cranbourne heats got progressively quicker but the last half of each one were nearly all the same
54.8 54.8 55.0
A pity ID19 won't be in Vic, would be looking forward to Shepparton defending the pacing title next year.
Massive run San Carlo, I reckon his prep has included the possibility of a run like last night's. Might have to take what's on offer before the barrier draw falls in his favour :)
They surely would be giving the wooden spoon to you rather than the last placegetter
Draw for the final is out.
So Galactic Star leads (surely Mach Doro and Maximan understand there place?), and should hand up. Who gets to him first, Pats Delight or Spankem? Pats Delight was only fair out when he drew #2 in heat 2 but wasnt pushed, Spankem wasn't bustled out when he drew the front in one heat either. Who of those two will cross first? Gav did show aggression night one so hoping he does here too.
Tiger Tara should go across to the death and the way he went in the Vic Cup and NZ Cup the $7.50 available absolutely astounds me. If Cruz Bromac comes knocking keep him posted.
San Carlo only hope is if Galactic Star holds the lead and then he is a big hope but I dont think that will happen.
Cruz Bromac is every bit as good as the 4yos and Tiger Tara but I think will be found out a bit from this draw.
1. Tiger Tara
2. Pats Delight
3. Galactic Star
4. Spankem
5. San Carlo
6. Cruz Bromac