Mildura

[Messenger]

In a little over 9mths Bernie Winkle has won nearly $150,000 at Mildura in a mere 25 races

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML020221#MLC02022101

[Messenger]

Why was there a $20k race on the program at Mildura tonight?!

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML050321#MLC05032101

[Messenger]

Trainers and drivers were notching up doubles (or trebles) all over the place at Mildura tonight
Leading trainer by prizemoney for the last 12mths, Andrew Vozlic must wonder about the invasion as from 7 runners, the best he could do was 1 third

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML050321

[Messenger]

R6 at Mildura tonight has me baffled
The race conditions include:
Restricted to horses which have not won any race with advertised stakemoney of $15,000 or more which have had at least 5 race starts at Mildura, Ouyen and Swan Hill since 30 March 2020 inclusive.
Now l like the idea of rewarding horses that have patronized the region but why should this race be worth $15k?
We are 'granting' a $15k win to a horse that has not been good enough to earn it under normal circumstances

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML300321#MLC30032102

[Messenger]

Once again I have been told how good the Cup Carnival was
Post Cramp days the new committee has done wonders up there
The local newspaper was full of harness racing!
It was a pity that due to Covid they were limited to 1,000 on track

[Messenger]

Harness racing never ceases to amaze and 'educate' one

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/stewards-reports/stewards-reports-detail/?mc=ML100421

If you too didn’t know what a synthetic urine kit is

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/4/11/18302400/synthetic-urine-fake-pee-drug-test-whizzinator

[Messenger]

The disadvantage of being remote
This is the best you can get for a $20k race

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML300421#MLC30042101

[Showgrounds]

The disadvantage of being remote
This is the best you can get for a $20k race

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML300421#MLC30042101

Bernie and the drencher looks a certainty. If the race was at Melton he'd by only a rough chance. Smart placement of the horse has paid handsome dividends.

[Messenger]

He is pushing up to $200k from his Mildura campaigns - surely it won't be long before the owner of a better horse places it with a Mildura trainer

[Adaptor]

He is pushing up to $200k from his Mildura campaigns - surely it won't be long before the owner of a better horse places it with a Mildura trainer

Bernie is going around again at Mildura on Friday, this time in a $12,000 NR 72-120.

There are 12 races from 11:32 to 5:37.

Bendigo is on at night, with another 12 races...24 for the day.

Believe it or not, Rod Lakey, Ryan Sanderson, Ellen Tormey and Jayden Brewin are listed to drive at Bendigo , after competing at Mildura with Rod down in the 8th at 8:47, and the others in races 11 and /or 12.
406 km from Mildura to Bendigo. Total of 812 km for the day !

[Messenger]

It is good money again for the locals today
R8 is worth $12k for NR 60 to 73
You don't see daytime races for more than $10k so I am guessing the club must be going so well that they are putting in the extra. Presumably so for when they run $20k night races too as you don't see it at other tracks other than when they are Metro races

[Messenger]

There are a few claimers going around tomorrow night which you could buy cheaply, take to Mildura and maybe win $200k ;)

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=MX150521#MXM15052106

[Messenger]

You might notice the Madness has gone from the thread title - only fair when you a club is going gangbusters
Interesting to see Adam Hamilton use Mildura as an example as to why we don't need sprint lanes

An alternative reason for the club going gangbusters which was suggested to me is
Participants have come back in droves since the cheats that were fixing the races up there were disqualified - something you should probably consider Adam

[Messenger]

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML280521#MLC28052101

Another $20k benefit for Bernie Winkle

Is Mildura club contributing $10k of this? I only remember $4,500 $7,000 and $10,000 as being HRV's non-Metro race prizemoney options

[Messenger]

Race 5 tonight, I thought I was onto a good thing
The fields had Mondooley Mach and Junior Feelgood both at $4
Looking at the trainers we find that Kate Hargreaves has an unbelievable strike rate of 41%
and Julie Douglas has an incredible 37%
Now if I back them both I have a 78% chance of winning and will double my money which ever wins ;)

Alas too good to be true - the TAB has Mondooley at $2.20

[Messenger]

Julie Douglas contested 6 races at Mildura tonight for 5 wins and a third - reminds one of Cramp days

[Messenger]

How times change OR Trainers don't need to travel nowadays

Browsing the 1971 Year Book (I do strange things like this sometimes) and I see a Mildura meet on Friday Apr 30 where they had a 2.19 class race for the equivalent of metro money ($1,100 for 1st) and they attract Reichman
Nowadays they only get Bernie Winkle

https://classicfamilies.azurewebsites.net/horsedetails.aspx?HorseID=10016567

[Showgrounds]

How times change OR Trainers don't need to travel nowadays

Browsing the 1971 Year Book (I do strange things like this sometimes) and I see a Mildura meet on Friday Apr 30 where they had a 2.19 class race for the equivalent of metro money ($1,100 for 1st) and they attract Reichman
Nowadays they only get Bernie Winkle

https://classicfamilies.azurewebsites.net/horsedetails.aspx?HorseID=10016567

Greenwald, My Gal Sal, Adios Court and Deep Court were also regular competitors in FFA's at Mildura back then. Old Bernie would be getting a bit of a lesson if he had to race against those old timers.

[Messenger]

You must be reading over my shoulder Trev, in the race I mentioned, Greenwald ran 2nd and Lord Setay another goodie ran 3rd

[thepacingman]

Greenwald, My Gal Sal, Adios Court and Deep Court were also regular competitors in FFA's at Mildura back then. Old Bernie would be getting a bit of a lesson if he had to race against those old timers.
All were top notch pacers. You get an idea of the quality of those mentioned with Deep Court finishing second in Mount Eden's Miracle Mile. No disgrace being beaten by a freak.

[thepacingman]

Just to emphasize it a bit more.

Deep Court ran in three Inter Dominion finals.
1970 Showgrounds (2 heat wins), 1971 Addington & 1972 Albion Park (2 heat wins).

Reichman ran in two Inter Dominion finals.
1972 Albion Park (1 heat win, 3rd in the final) & 1973 Harold Park (1 heat win).

Adios Court ran in the 1969 Inter Dominion final at Wayville (1 heat win & 2nd in the final).

My Gal Sal ran in the 1972 Inter Dominion final at Albion Park.

[Showgrounds]

Adios Court also ran in the 1971 final in Melbourne as favourite. Deep Court beat Reichman at the Showgrounds in the 1972 Race of the Century, a special 5 horse invitational mile. First prize was the choice of cash - or a new Mercedes Benz!

[Messenger]

Bernie Winkle has had 31 starts at Mildura in the last 12 months for 19 wins 10 placings and 2 other

[Messenger]

At his 54th start a fortnight ago Eddee finally won his first race for new trainer Aaron Bain at 10/1
What do the punters do today - they send him out as virtual equal favourite at $2.60
He ran last

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML180621#MLC18062109

[Messenger]

You would think it is another $20k benefit race for Bernie tomorrow
He has won 4 of his last 5 starts, the opposition have won 1 of their last 35 starts

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML250621#MLC25062101

Why isn't any new blood coming to take him on especially when it's a $20k race?????

[Messenger]

And another Bernie Winkle $12k benefit today
La Puddie was fancied by some but we were talking about a NR 78 V a NR 120

[Messenger]

Having to move the meet to Swan Hill has decimated the meet with 32 scratchings
only 1 of the 12 races will be paying 3 place dividends
there are 3 races with 4 starters and 2 races with 5 starters

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=QA220721

(I know which is the bigger priority but you have to wonder whether there weren't alternative covid testing sites)

ps I notice that 3 trainers account for half those scratchings

[Messenger]

One of our knowledgeable posters has pointed out to me that it would have to do with things like floating and industry part-time/Mildura locals finding Swan Hill a stretch

[Messenger]

Why you don't want 3 of the 5 runners from the same stable in a $12k up to 120 NR race
Q1 34.3 Q2 31.6 MR 2.03.5

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=QA220721#MLC22072101

Pathetic

[Messenger]

Greg Sugars making an impression again today
4 wins, 2 seconds, 3 thirds, 1 last from 10 drives

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML300721

[Messenger]

I know he is already the age of Bernie Winkle but he has only had 20% as many starts
I am talking about Emma Stewarts $12k claimer Ample Power
You would think he might make a buck in Mildura too

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=MX230921#MXC23092104

[Messenger]

Our Luke (we like to think of him as ours) will have to be careful with Mildura going into lockdown with covid cases going from 1 to 37 in a week

[Messenger]

Thomas Heights has reached them
He is a horse that has pretty much raced exclusively at Mildura and until this year changing stables to the Mercieca stable had had 3 wins at the track from 46 lifetime starts with his last win having been nearly a year ago
Now this year he has won 7 straight for Frank

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML130422#MLC13042202

[Messenger]

I always assumed they got a good crowd at Mildura
Is this just a bad angle?

[Yabbie]

Bad angle - that is looking from the finish line to the turn into the straight. Most patrons would be at the opposite end of the 'open' stand (left of picture) or in the two storey stand where the dining area is
Although I can't really say about crowd sizes at regular meetings as I only go to Cup week

[thepacingman]

13 April. Last race.
Does anyone know if the Ashwood & Hill adjourned enquiry has been completed? Have not seen anything.

[Messenger]

I dont read enough Stewards Reports Stephen but I am sure the stewards once promised me that results of adjourned inquiries would be added to the original when they were completed. I am not sure whether that happens.
We have all seen them attached to a different meetings stewards report ie the meet where the follow up has happened and I checked the Mildura reports since April 13 as I thought that was the most likely venue that both drivers would be in attendance but found nothing so maybe it has not been completed although you would have thought it should have been after a month.
If it hasn't been, it might be hard to catch up with the two as Danielle started a suspension this week which still has a couple of weeks to run

[Messenger]

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/ellen-gives-the-inside-word-on-massive-book-of-mildura-drives/

How good would it have been for the punters if instead of doing the above story on Ellen Tormey (who has been disqualified for a couple of years now but driving on a Stay)
They had chosen Jordan Leedham who has driven 4 winners and 4 placing from his 11 drives
Tormey got 1 placing (an odds on pop) from her 10 drives

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML030622#MLC03062202

[Messenger]

Jordan Leedham is the new MAN at Mildura
3 winners last week
4 the week before
and 2 from the first 3 races tonight

[Messenger]

Aaron Dunn gets beaten on his own Mykorona at $1.35 in R7
so he butters up and comes out in R8 and beats $1.33 fav Bernie Winkle, driving Kate Attard's Rocknroll Ronnie at $101 (although it was only $41 on tote)

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML080722

[Messenger]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1547851860220211200

Sheez that was a shocker of a fall in Mildura R2
Assured that everybody is pretty good considering

[Messenger]

Excluding the Abandoned race, Jack Laugher has won 5 out of the 7 races at Mildura so far tonight, with placings in the other 2

[Messenger]

JL has now driven 7 out of 10 with a second, a third and a fourth, with one race to come (he was also on the favourite in the Abandoned race so who knows)

[Messenger]

Four committee members came up trumps as winning owners of four different horses at Friday’s races

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/milduras-committee-members-soaking-up-the-success/

[Messenger]

Mildura's Monday meet has been transferred to Swan Hill

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/mildura-monday-meeting-transferred-to-swan-hill/

I wonder what is amiss. Like most places Mildura had a fair dump of rain a week ago but it may not be the track itself
Geelong has had 50% more rain - half of it last night so tracks can handle quite a deal of rain

[Messenger]

It is not the track

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/mildura-nov-1-meeting-transferred-due-to-water-damage-at-club/

[Messenger]

12 races tonight. It is a Tuesday and you have to wonder why there needs to be 35 minutes between races (no doubt the Dogs!)
The first race before 5pm and the last after 11pm
If you are travelling - how long a day is it?
Wayne Hill from SA had a drive in R1 and has one in R12 AND every race in between!
No doubt a good earner for him (4 wins so far) but I hope he isn't driving himself home tonight

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML100123

[Messenger]

A great effort by Luke to call the dead heat in R6 last night
and top run by the 3rd horse and Eq Fav to only be beaten a metre after being attacked the whole way by the stablemate (and owned by the same connections) of one of the winners
An INQADJ

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML140223#MLC14022301

[Messenger]

Who do you think James Herbertson is looking for even before he crosses the line

What future has our industry got when even the young are dodgy

[Theoldfox]

Michelle Phillips apparently looking for cheap flights to Bali for her holiday...


Who do you think James Herbertson is looking for even before he crosses the line

What future has our industry got when even the young are dodgy

[Messenger]

It won't happen. She will trot out any number of excuses and they will accept anything she gives them

[Messenger]

What are the odds

There were 12 races at Mildura tonight but only 4 drivers had winners

Ryan Sanderson, Wayne Hill, Michelle Phillips and Ellen Tormey all drove trebles

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML220223

[Messenger]

You would think Cant Top This should have the Mildura Cup at his mercy but there is some talent to test him

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML180423

[Showgrounds]

Great to see full fields for the Mildura Cup heats, which hasn't been the case in recent years. In my eyes, Mildura is Victoria's premier club. Lots of local trainers and plenty of others willing to travel. It should be a terrific carnival.

[Messenger]

Vastly different heats for the Cup last night

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/top-chances-move-through-to-mildura-pacing-cup-final/

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML180423

[Messenger]

Worst possible draw for fav in Cup but that just gives the others some little hope

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML220423#MLC22042301

[Messenger]

Tay Tay has blown out to $21
That seems excessive unless there is a problem

[Messenger]

A fantastic drive by young Ryan Sanderson (the next Gavin Lang)
Hindsight is a wonderful thing but you would have to think the fav may have been a fair chance if it had just kept it simple and Kerryn had driven for luck
As Luke and others suggested, you had to put the fav on top but you did not want to back him on this little track
Sahara has now won 8 from 12 at Mildura
$113.50 the tote ($126 fixed)

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML220423#MLC22042301

[aussiebreno]

$213 on NSW TAB! Good to see a local win a Cup against some bigger name raiders.

[Mytwobobsworth]

How close do you have to live to be a local? Maybe a regular.

[aussiebreno]

How close do you have to live to be a local? Maybe a regular.

Yep, regular better wording.

[Messenger]

Looking at the pic

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/special-win-as-roughie-tiger-claims-cup-after-ryans-ripper/

and seeing a D.G.Monteith listed in the owners, I am thinking the Chairman is a winner

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML220423#MLC22042301

[Adaptor]

Looking at the pic

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/special-win-as-roughie-tiger-claims-cup-after-ryans-ripper/

and seeing a D.G.Monteith listed in the owners, I am thinking the Chairman is a winner

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML220423#MLC22042301

Correct, and fellow HRV Board member Peter Watkinson.

[Messenger]

Bernie Winkle is in a winnable race tonight but it is 7 months since he won (and he has had 18 starts in that period)
Tonight is his 291st start - horse lovers might consider providing him with a nice retirement paddock after 300 but maybe not the Douglas/Anderson camp
He is in fair form running places at his last three and earning $1,000+ each time

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML240523#MLC24052301

[Messenger]

Wins easily

[Messenger]

What happened at Mildura today?
I wasn't tuned in
The track must have very different weather compared to where the BOM have their weather station
If you look at the results you will see by R.8 at 4.18 the Track was already Rain Affected while the BOM suggests <1mm had fallen

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML040823

By R.11 at 5.53 they Abandoned while the BOM are saying Mildura had only had 4.6mm by then

[Showgrounds]

My only bet would be on a power outage brought about by high winds.

[Yabbie]

My only bet would be on a power outage brought about by high winds.

Rain/surface water - HRV Integrity tweeted that the track was determined to be unsuitable for racing due to surface water

[Messenger]

Rain/surface water - HRV Integrity tweeted that the track was determined to be unsuitable for racing due to surface water

I heard from a reliable source that a bit of human error was involved too. Strange that the BOM station had so little rain

[Messenger]

Stewards report says

Prior to the commencement of this event, the mobile barrier was tested due to continual rainfall and deterioration of the track surface. The testing of the HRV and Club mobile barrier was not considered suitable and after consulting with a deputation of trainers and drivers and Club personnel, Races 11 and 12 were abandoned at 6:05pm due to the state of the track and associated safety concerns.

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/stewards-reports/stewards-reports-detail/?mc=ML040823

[Messenger]

One 2yo taking on the 3yo's in R2 today and he might be favourite

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML110823#MLC11082309

[Messenger]

A VERY long day at Mildura today
If there was a ½ hr between every race the day would be over around 5.50 not 6.45

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML180823#MLC18082305

Imagine if it was 20 mins between races - the day would be over at 4pm

[Messenger]

Mildura's meeting tomorrow is a lonnnggggggggg one

R.1 at 12.42
R.12 at 7.10

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML080923#MLC08092309

[Toohard]

Great to see the Mildura club celebrating Bernie Winkles 300th race start today. Named his race after him.

90 starts there before today's for an amazing 40 wins and 33 placings.

Just did some rough calculations accounting for the fact he lived up there during covid...

60,000 kms + up and back. So about 700 hours on the float which equates to almost a month!!

If he can make it 100 starts at Mildura maybe they'll a build a statue of him!!

[Messenger]

Especially incredible when you consider he did not have a start at Mildura until he was a late 5yo and even if we convert to Dec 31 being the season end, he only had 3 starts there as a 5yo
So 88 of the 91 starts have come as a 6 - 10yo and even then only 6 as a 6yo so 82 starts as a 7 - 10yo. That is well over 20 starts a year (and still going) - pretty much half their meetings

[Toohard]

And wins!! 41 wins now at one track. He passed the record 35? a while back and now setting record that will never be broken. What a marvel he is.

FFA races at Mildura are always the best races to watch. Not the best horses but the best races.

They're digging the foundations for the statue as I type.....

[Messenger]

12 races today spread over the best part of 7 hours.
R1 12.12
R12 6.54

No wonder it has to be a day meeting, otherwise a night meeting even starting at 5.12 would not finish until midnight

Life is too precious to waste. If they had 30 mins between all races (which is Very ample) with the first at 12.12 the last would be at 5.42 - that gives you back 72 mins

[Messenger]

They must have some weather forecasting talent at HRV
Mildura was abandoned at 12.42 today
At that point Mildura had only received 5.2mm in the previous hour (in the previous 72hrs actually so the track should have started out pretty dry)
Their decision proved correct as in the next 3hrs they received another 12mm

It did stop an hour ago. Once upon a time you would have hoped that a track could take ¾" of rain

[Messenger]

I don't follow Mildura so there is probably an explanation for the following
It is just that I find the turn around in Pet Kitty incredible
No doubt she has gone to a better stable and has a better driver
but apart from becoming a winner (she had had 50 starts prior to the table below, for one 2yo win three years before)
the confidence that saw her go from a $151 pop to a $4.20 pop in 6 days and now a $1.40 pop in a month
It seems unbelievable
I have only viewed a couple of her races like the recent $151 race and I concede she had mostly been finishing with the field

Apologies for the blurry table, a consequence of having to reduce its size - click the link for better clarity

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/horse-search/?horseId=811975

[Messenger]

How big a class drop is R12 for Blitzern today. Since getting a start this morning, he has come in from $2.70 to $2.15 - short enough now as Mildura 2nd line is no easy gig

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML170524#MLC17052401

[Messenger]

Won and paid $2.30 - the two class horses simply had to fight this one out

[Messenger]

Emma Stewart had 4 in at Mildura today - not something that happens very often.
All were Odds On (3 very much so) but only 2 were winners

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=ML160824

[Messenger]

We might just about need the Heat Policy for Mildura on Friday - it is expecting 29° (lucky they are not racing on Thursday as they are expecting 32°)
You have to be a Victorian from further south, to appreciate how unfathomable these predictions are :o

[Messenger]

Here you can see why Mildura seems very appealing
This is 1pm not 1am