The Race NZ 2022

[Messenger]

The NZ$900,000 invite-only feature on April 14 will be simply called, The Race.

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/inaugural-new-zealand-slot-race-locked-in-for-april-2022/

[Showgrounds]

The Race. No headaches for overworking the imagination. Fancy running "a race" like this at Cambridge where you need to be up on the pace. Run it at Ashburton and owners of all the top horses might pay up. Not so at Cambridge. Perhaps this track was selected to prop up the ailing North Island scene. Alexandra Park is a financial basket case.

[Messenger]

$75k a year but even last gets $37,500 so for owners like the Butterworths it could appeal

[Showgrounds]

$75k a year but even last gets $37,500 so for owners like the Butterworths it could appeal

It would, but who else? The Harness Jewels is kaput. It was a great format, invitational only and rewarded owners. How "progressive" is dumping the Jewels and expecting a crush of owners to stump up 75 grand per horse, only to see their chance of recuperating that cost vaporise when it draws the second row. It's not even a free for all with the barrier draw biased towards younger horses and mares.

[Messenger]

It will be diabolical if they don't get enough slot takers
To me the slots are only really attractive to owners because if it is not your horse you start negotiating prize percentage. An owner needs a strong stable and good bank balance to want a slot for 3yrs (and have a bit of a gambler's mindset)

[Messenger]

The Race - news

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/the-race-gathers-momentum-with-applications-now-taken/

[Showgrounds]

The Race - news

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/the-race-gathers-momentum-with-applications-now-taken/

A race for gamblers.

[Messenger]

They have extended bids for another week as only 8 of the 10 slots have been sold but regardless The Race will go ahead on April 14

https://harnesslink.com/new-zealand/its-all-go-for-slot-race/

[Showgrounds]

They have extended bids for another week as only 8 of the 10 slots have been sold but regardless The Race will go ahead on April 14

https://harnesslink.com/new-zealand/its-all-go-for-slot-race/

I believe all slots were filled by today with an announcement to be made Wednesday. It will be interesting to see who has bought slots and what horses are entered. I noticed that the Spankem, who I thought had been retired, is going around at Rangiora trials tomorrow, he is owned by the Kennards, Breckon Farms and others who may have had a change of heart. Spirit of St Louis was said to be a certain runner and I believe there has been very good interest from Australia.

I expect a surprise announcement by a media player might trump them all and create enormous interest and exposure for the race in Australia. Watch this space.

[Messenger]

I believe all slots were filled by today with an announcement to be made Wednesday. It will be interesting to see who has bought slots and what horses are entered. I noticed that the Spankem, who I thought had been retired, is going around at Rangiora trials tomorrow, he is owned by the Kennards, Breckon Farms and others who may have had a change of heart. Spirit of St Louis was said to be a certain runner and I believe there has been very good interest from Australia.

I expect a surprise announcement by a media player might trump them all and create enormous interest and exposure for the race in Australia. Watch this space.

Ladbrokes have an 'Aussie Lads' slot

https://twitter.com/AdamHSport

[Showgrounds]

Ladbrokes have an 'Aussie Lads' slot

https://twitter.com/AdamHSport

It will be more interesting to see which horse SENZ (Kiwi arm of the Australian broadcaster) selects.

[Messenger]

The race got its first official contestant today when Dunstan Feeds signed up Southland pacer Pembrook Playboy for the new concept race.

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/the-forum/guerin/guerin-super-mare-set-to-twist-again-amid-big-nz-weekend/

[Showgrounds]

SENZ has secured Self Assured as its runner, already $2.40 favourite with only two confirmed runners to date


That ensures there will be plenty of public interest and publicity both sides of the Tasman. Great move!

[Messenger]

PP has a problem with the naming sponsor of The Race as he believes they are a contributor to a major problem in NZ - kids and alcohol
Grins make Ready To Drink cans of fizzy pop and spirits with 5% alcohol content

https://harnesslink.com/new-zealand/grins-get-naming-right-to-the-race/

[aussiebreno]

PP has a problem with the naming sponsor of The Race as he believes they are a contributor to a major problem in NZ - kids and alcohol
Grins make Ready To Drink cans of fizzy pop and spirits with 5% alcohol content

https://harnesslink.com/new-zealand/grins-get-naming-right-to-the-race/

Is drinking addiction any different to gambling addiction? How many trots/racing fans learnt maths as kids from betting odds. Don't think the racing industry can go on a moral high ground against alcohol.

[Messenger]

The Race (on Thursday)

[Messenger]

Does anybody know if there are any options other than Sky/TAB for watching The Race on Thursday

[aussiebreno]

Does anybody know if there are any options other than Sky/TAB for watching The Race on Thursday

On course :cool:

[Messenger]

We're not all jetsetters like you Brendan :D

[Bonnie]

We are renting a house close to the Essendon Airport. The number of Private Jets arriving and leaving Essendon from Thursday to Monday over the Grand Prix weekend was mind boggling.

[aussiebreno]

We're not all jetsetters like you Brendan :D

I wish

[Messenger]

We are renting a house close to the Essendon Airport. The number of Private Jets arriving and leaving Essendon from Thursday to Monday over the Grand Prix weekend was mind boggling.

Interesting Anne, it might be debatable which sport has more horsepower but there is no doubt which sport has the most money

[Toohard]

Interesting Anne, it might be debatable which sport has more horsepower but there is no doubt which sport has the most money

2 different sports of course but for years we've been told that people want short races and get as many races in as you can. That's what we've been told 'we want'. Or they want?

Reckon a bit harder to prepare a horse and steer it round a track than an F1 car (haven't done either) but we're led to believe shorter races and gaps is better. We're governed by punting, they're not.

Lot's been done telling stories recently and hopefully it continues. From personal experience absolutely nothing better than watching one you bred run after all the work that goes into it. But we're pushed the other way....

Grand Prix took what ... hour and half? But we're told people want short, snappy stuff?

And was also a Standing Start...

[Messenger]

Spot on Paul. It is just the Bet Takers that want short and frequent.
Look at how they dissect cricket and football into things like 'how many runs off the first over' or 'how many goals will Buddy kick', Quarter by Quarter etc etc
I know the gallops is sacrosanct but you never hear any talk about the Melbourne Cup being too long

[aussiebreno]

Fully agree. We cant compete with 5 seconds dog races or the speed of 1000m gallop races. Don't try and copycat something the other race codes have the advantage over us. Use a point of difference being the toughness and stamina of the breed.

[Messenger]

Back on topic
Peterprofit.com has quite a lot on The Race today including the attached which is his take on what might be the cycle racing is in. Earlier in this piece he had explained the origins of harness racing, I won't try to explain his references to number 8 wire

I think under his something borrowed Archie might have given a little more credit to the Australian Turf Club and whoever came up with slots racing first than David Branch CEO of Cambridge

It is a subscription only blog but I am sure Archie will not mind me lifting this piece/promoting him on here (I know Breno will but one must acknowledge one's sources)
Be warned that the blog is a very mixed bag of topics, not just racing and can vary from eye-opening, interesting, to crazy, outrageous and defamatory

[Messenger]

The Race 6.55pm Australian East Coast time today
$900k ($1m would have had a much better ring to it)

[Showgrounds]

The best horse is an even better horse now. Self Assured worked to sit outside South Coast Arden at the bell and ran past him on straightening then held off a game Majestic Cruiser with Spankem a couple of lengths third. 1:55.1 mile rate, the winner's record is one of amazing consistency. 39 starts, 24 wins 11 seconds and three thirds for $1,487,000 with three Group Ones in the $100k Taylor Mile, $100k Messenger and $400k Auckland Cup in the next six weeks.

Just following Nigel Armstrong's wandering video on Facebook shows a huge crowd and I reckon Cambridge could show every harness racing body how to put on a great show.

[Showgrounds]

Here is the race results and replay. No prisoners taken here.

https://harness.hrnz.co.nz/gws/ws/r/infohorsews/wsd06x?Arg=hrnzg-Ptype&Arg=RaceVideo&Arg=hrnzg-RacehdrID&Arg=295754&Arg=hrnzg-rSite&Arg=TRUE

[Messenger]

Majestic Cruiser was unbelievable
For a better view of the race the replay on HRNZ is already up

https://harness.hrnz.co.nz/gws/ws/r/infohorsews/wsd06x?Arg=hrnzg-Ptype&Arg=RaceVideo&Arg=hrnzg-RacehdrID&Arg=295754&Arg=hrnzg-rSite&Arg=TRUE

[Messenger]

Too quick for me Trev LOL

[Messenger]

Looking at some of The Race slot holders, I was wondering if anyone knows who/what a couple of them are
Aussie Lads?
Hole In The Wall Gang? (An ownership group?)

[Showgrounds]

Aussie Lads is Ladbrokes. Not sure about the Hole in the Wall Gang, early word was it was a group of Canterbury NZ locals.

[aussiebreno]

'All time' The Race. 10 slots are all yours. Who you choosing?

Not necessarily in perfect order

1 Im Themightyquinn
2 Blacks A Fake
3 Lazarus
4 Christian Cullen
5 Popular Alm
6 Gammalite
7 Courage Under Fire
8 Melpark Major
9 Our Sir Vancelot
10 Tailamade Lombo

[Messenger]

Very nice field Brendan
I had a couple of long periods away from the sport so I would not put myself on the selection committee but a few other names that could be emergencies
Smoken Up, Paleface Adios, Reichman, Hondo Grattan, King Of Swing, Royal Gaze, Monara, Pure Steel, Blossom Lady (but I may just be listing favourites)

[Showgrounds]

Depends on whether there a pre-race and post-race swabs and who does the testing.

[Showgrounds]

Preaux Chevalier and Village Kid would smack most of them. Right now I'd settle for Self Assured.