Victoria to only have 11 tracks

[Messenger]

That is the rumour for July 1

Obviously
Melton
Ballarat
Bendigo
Shep
Mildura
Cranbourne

Probably
Maryborough
Terang (lucky IMO)
Charlton (training facility had to help its cause)
Kilmore
One out of Ararat, Stawell or Hamilton

Likely gone
Geelong!
Horsham!
Warragul!
Cobram
Echuca
Yarra Valley
Swan Hill
(some of these will join our existing once a year tracks)

The 'one of' is interesting in that Ararat has lights, Stawell has facilities, Hamilton has the biggest track
I cannot justify Hamilton and Terang
Terang over Geelong with its population seems strange

They have to make bold decisions but without consultation they are taking a massive risk (even pretend consultation eases the blow)
Whether it is an answer is another question as I cannot see how it makes us 'more relevant'

Bolder solutions than track closures are needed but have we the best brains working on the problem!

[gutwagon]

I would keep Geelong and dump Cranbourne. Though it's more likely that they will keep the ones at gallop tracks as they share expenses. This is purely cost cutting and would also cut participants and punters.

[Messenger]

A gallops track is not saving Horsham or Yarra Valley if the rumours are correct. Cranbourne has a training centre helping their cause

The state needs to have a reasonably fair spread of tracks to try and keep participants AND because this is purely economic - the saving/return cases for each closure has to be clear compared to those which are being spared

It should all be based on a clear plan and rationale that takes into consideration attendances, punting turnover etc etc

I still need someone to prove to me that attendances is not important in terms of ownership - show me some figures on how many owners have never attended a harness meeting before becoming an owner

[Messenger]

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/hrv-ceo-matt-isaacs-talks-change-at-mildura-celebration/

The above interview with the CEO between races on Saturday night mentions further interviews involving these two which have already been filmed (to break the news in the coming weeks)

[Messenger]

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6vlDmKyUysABWctD3K1WAe?si=M3R9Q65ERsi-UmrxNvL8qA&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A08kmAX7WMIC3Vx6vYlA7yt&nd=1&dlsi=3c99cbee429243bb

Anthony Butt talking to Gareth Hall, suggesting that none of the 28 tracks are going to close but rather lose meetings to the tracks that are popular with punters

We are definitely being 'prepared' for coming announcements - they are going to have to come clean soon as there is no racing calendar up for July and it is only 44 days away

[Messenger]

The Victorian July calendar is out and you can see for yourself that it is pretty revealing

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/meeting-calendar/?month=7&year=2024&state=vic

[Messenger]

I am not sure why so few Mondays unless they lose on Monday meets.
They must know that 2 meets on Wednesdays and Fridays is better financially
Whether the Mildura scene will be happy if they do as many day meets as night meets is problematic
I like the idea of set days for tracks if they use it to promote and get some regular attendees

We will have to see what August brings but at this stage there would appear to be just 9 main tracks - Maryborough and Charlton pretty much it for the whole of the West

[gutwagon]

It would be a low act to just not give clubs meetings and not tell them they are shut ! But that would be their style .

[Messenger]

The Shep on every Tuesday night will need to be better prizemoney than what is on offer tomorrow night if they expect to continue to attract starters from far and wide

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=SP300524

[gutwagon]

I have heard that Stawell, Ararat, Horsham and Hamilton are only getting 6 meetings each for the new season. Last season it was 11 at Stawell. And that's not for sure until the calendar comes out. All the clubs mentioned are getting big reductions.
Barely enough to keep them alive.

[gutwagon]

Charlton seems to be a big winner with the new schedule. I hope they have fixed the flooding issues there !
With all the extra traveling trainers will have to do and the new taxes on large towing vehicles the future looks rosey !

[Messenger]

Here is the link to the CEO talking on RSN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wluwM7lWTAI

I noticed he mentioned Geelong as a key track - they have no July meetings
Nothing much else that we didn't already know

EDIT: Have now listened to Paul Campbell's interview with the CEO and it is mentioned that Geelong is undergoing Lighting works

https://www.facebook.com/vege07/videos/767780048862284/

[gutwagon]

When Paul Campbell said it was great news at the start of the interview , I nearly vomited. It was just a puff piece for HRV. No hard questions. Just sad.

[Messenger]

Ryan Phelan, Steve Cleve, Adam Hamilton - I would understand the comment, I didn't think Paul Campbell was a HRV employee - what does he do for a crust?

When you look at what they are racing for at Menangle and GP, how is it that none of our big Vic stables have made a move?

[gutwagon]

I don't know who Campbell works for but he seems to be a big supporter of HRV.

[Messenger]

I have a memory of some other issue where he fell into the camp that "any negative talk is bad for the industry" It can certainly be true but I also believe that honesty is the best policy so while not everybody believes in discussing sensitive issues, we don't want to be told how wonderful everything is when it isn't

[gutwagon]

I would have started the interview with- Well Matt, after many years of mismanagement, poor decisions and a carousel of unsuitable CEO's it's come time to make some cuts to the budget. Could you take us through them thanks....