Mercury 80, new sprint series !

[gutwagon]

So what do people think of this initiative ?
Personally I think Skyracing is putting pressure on harness racing to shorten the races and make them more like the dogs. Next it will be coloured numbers and drivers like the dogs.
They are pushing horse welfare, but I wonder what effect these sprint trips will have on the horses.
I would have preferred the series be over a mile trip, as this is our sprint distance.

[Danno]

we get this push every so often from the knuckle draggers at the TAB who have no idea how to market the product we give them, just dumb ideas about more races per hour of screen time, this is what you get when corporatise a simple business, the owners pay peanuts and get monkey's with no idea running the show.

Next time I promise to be a bit more blunt.

cheers,

Danno

[Messenger]

I guess I am a traditonalist but I hardly call shortening the distance raced (again) 'innovative'
The times end up meaning nothing

Here is the link to the story

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/mercury80-to-fire-up-the-summer/

[Danno]

Geez and we are pulling out a few well worn cliche's to boot,


HRV Racing General Manager Stephen Bell said it was important harness racing moved with the times and found new ways to innovate.

“It is no secret faster racing appeals to a range of punters and we’re going to pull out all stops to ensure everyone has a great experience during the Mercury80 series,” Bell said.

I'm just wondering when the Melbourne Cup is going to be shortened to 2400 metres and the Cox Plate becomes a 1200 metre sprint in order "to innovate and keep up with the times"

[aussiebreno]

Geez and we are pulling out a few well worn cliche's to boot,



I'm just wondering when the Melbourne Cup is going to be shortened to 2400 metres and the Cox Plate becomes a 1200 metre sprint in order "to innovate and keep up with the times"

To be fair The Everest well and truly outdone the Caulfield Cup this year. Both on the same day, one with 100+ years of history and the other with 2 years of history.

If we had 2 x 1200m races at every meeting along with 2 x 2400m races at every meeting and the odd 2800m, 3200m race it would add variety to our meetings and be a POD from other racing sports while showcasing various attributes of our breed. Some people will like the hectic 1200m while some people will like the war of attrition. Beats having 8 races on the program that look pretty similar like we have now.

[aussiebreno]

Depending on the size of the track e.g. Melton should be having 2x2740m races, and god I don't even know my own tracks long distance racing length (Wagga) because we probably haven't had a race over that distance. Probably around 2700m I imagine. Menangle should have 2x3000m races each meeting.

[Messenger]

Unlike Vic, does Menangle still have predominantly mile after mile?

[gutwagon]

They say they are listening to the industry, I hear "how good are those distance races in NZ" , "those long Inter heats at Melton were great" and lets bring back stand starts". What do they give us ? The old tried and failed 1200m sprint races and less staying races. We are doomed until we can get out of the current Sky racing deal.

[gutwagon]

We often hear the term "Boat Race" for a fixed or uneven race. So they name the series after a boat motor "Mercury80". The critics will love that. Miricale80 would have made more sense.

[Danno]

To be fair The Everest well and truly outdone the Caulfield Cup this year. Both on the same day, one with 100+ years of history and the other with 2 years of history.

If we had 2 x 1200m races at every meeting along with 2 x 2400m races at every meeting and the odd 2800m, 3200m race it would add variety to our meetings and be a POD from other racing sports while showcasing various attributes of our breed. Some people will like the hectic 1200m while some people will like the war of attrition. Beats having 8 races on the program that look pretty similar like we have now.

I agree with that type of thinking Brendan, variety in race distances is something we are lacking, but they are not proposing that are they, I'd love to see some data on average race distances over the whole industry in Australia say 20 years ago compared to now......my guess would be average distance is now about 1800 metres compared to previous average of about 2200 metres, but the number of times you see a meeting has 80% of the program over the mile is frustrating.

[Messenger]

I reckon you would be right Dan so that is 30 seconds we have given Sky doggies - actually make it 40 secs as times are much faster nowadays

[Messenger]

Well I have to say that the first heat was a sensational win for Liftntorque to come from last the way he did
With them only coming home in 28.2 & 28 made it possible but to come 4wd like that was spectacular especially in comparison to the soft runs the Gath place-getters had

I wonder whether Greg Sugars will be questioned about his long looks behind and decision to leave the sprint lane to the stablemate. Sure, it could be said that going to the outside of the leader was perfectly acceptable (no waiting) but the long looks 'looked bad' IMO and using the sprint lane would have stitched up an opponent - even if it was a stablemate

I doubt he expected Liftntorque to get over them both but he would not have been really surprised as he was favourite because he was the class horse of the race

[gutwagon]

Seems NYE is a good night to have trots and a party. I doubt that the sprint races attracted any extra people .

[Messenger]

It may have attracted a few Rick, as it was the only Metro class race on the program.
I just had to admit that to my surprise it was a good viewing race

I don't know whether I am surprised or not surprised that Greg Sugars rubber-necking did not rate a mention in the Stewards Report

[Messenger]

Well the Final is tonight
Always Fast off the pole has potentially ruined things
Remembering that this is supposed to be about speed, I am not sure if there is enough incentive for him to go fast
It is $28,500 for 1st
I would have liked the incentives to double that although they have been clever in paying half the $20k incentive to the trainer and driver ($5k & $5k)
($5k to the driver is the BIG incentive IMO)

At present Fourbigmen's gross time of 82.1 is taking the $20k bonus
If tonight's winner betters that - the $20k is theirs
There is not much incentive for Chris Alford to go fast on 4big tonight as he already has his deposit slip for $5k filled out ready for banking on Tuesday

There is another $8k of bonuses if they can break 80 secs
This is where they could have been much more generous - maybe in future years if it catches the public's imagination
I have not seen any of the the 1200m races - I hope the big screen is a time clock to hype it up for the crowd
Not that there have been many 1200m races but at present Coastal's 80.6 is the fastest ever (nearly 9yrs ago)

Overall I think it would have been a much bigger deal over a distance as close to a mile as they can get and for it to be all about the MR (1200m doesn't mean much to the harness world)

Edit - just watched the heats and it is hard to see how the Fav can be beaten, his stablemate Liftntorque could finish over the top of him if ridiculous pressure was put on the Fav in the lead (but he handled plenty of pressure in his heat) and who is going to put that amount of pressure on him - not his stablemates who are 2nd and 3rd faves

[Messenger]

Kima steals the $5k driver's bonus from Chris Alford (& Jackie Barker who drove Always Fast at his last 2 wins) as the time was 81.5

The exacta paid a sensational $28.30 (I know the pools are small but still)

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=MX250120#MXM25012004