The Flying (boring) K

[tyson]

I watched a couple of the flying K races on monday while sitting in the cold down at the Pinjarra trots. They were very boring races and half the horses weren't even competitve over the 1000M. One thing i thought would of came out of the races being over that distance would be close finishes, but horses were struggling up the straight...... Plus the dog numbers looked crap!!!!

[David Summers]

Yes I agree. The whole ill-thought series was a blight and an embarrassment to the NSW harness industry.

The sooner this whole stupid concept is flushed down the toilet , where it belongs , the better. I have not heard even one positive comment from those I have spoken to. Over the last few weeks while this rubbish was taking place on Mondays I have not come across one person who has waged even a dollar or bothered wasting their time with this crap :-(


Certain persons close to the industry are more than a little bothered that this nonesense ever saw the light of day.


BTW did you get it that I am against this totally :-)

[Triple V]

The one & only thing I thought was a significant improvement were the larger saddle cloth numbers. MUCH BETTER. If anything they should take a crack at making them even bigger again if possible.
As for the Dishlicker colour scheme with another large number on the driver's back...that was nothing more than plagiarism being passed off as innovation and perpetrated by some brain dead tosser or group thereof down at Ultimo upon who's list/s of key objectives for the year was 'come up with innovative ideas'. For mine, it merely serves to underline just how totally bereft of ideas & talent they are down there.
HOWEVER if they were to extend the colour scheme to the saddle cloth along with the large numbers and leave it at that, I can live with it.
Racing over 1000m is also a double fisted wank carried out in a savage fashion because, as I mentioned in a related thread, if as opposed to the 1:08-9-10 it requires to go the 1000m....the extra 48-49-50 seconds it takes them to pace out a mile is the difference between maintaining the casual Punter's interest and not doing so...then we may as well all pack up and go home now. I don't believe it...as Rosario noted a day or two back and I totally agree with him...I have rarely if ever heard anyone in any TAB anywhere complain about the distance of a race. Form or lackthereof, yes. Other aspects, not much if ever.

On that score THE NSW TAB DOES AN ABSOLUTELY APPALLING JOB OF SEEING TO IT THAT THE FORM FOR EVERY SINGLE HARNESS RACING MEETING IS PROPERLY AND EXTENSIVELY AND PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED IN EACH AND EVERY VENUE THAT OFFERS THEIR SERVICES AS A TAB, PUBTAB OR CLUBTAB.
If I had a dollar for every time I've walked into any one of the above venues and found 4/5ths of sweet FA on offer by way of Harness Racing Form I'd be living in Monaco next door to Mick Doohan.

Instead of aiming up on that which you perceive to be the shortcomings of Harness Racing as a wagering product...HOW ABOUT TAKING A LOOK AT YOURSELVES FELLAS?
I know full well that you blokes read this stuff.

You have reapeatedly failed this Industry at every step of the way& for more years than I care to remember and yet you blokes have the astonishing hide to turn around and complain about lessening turnover...which by way of your long-term apathy re: the availability of form, is that to which you extensively contribute.

How about getting some Reps together and getting them off their arses and out there into the real world, get them into the TAB and the PUBTAB and CLUBTAB outlets and get them to prevail upon those places to actually PUT THE FORM UP and then make sure they do so and monitor same on an ongoing basis.

That'd be a start...don't you think?

[Big Max]

i'm also pretty sure i read somewhere that Michael Radley over in Perth (which is my favorite racing by the way) said that he thought it was a good idea and the colours looked nice,COLOURS LOOKED NICE.......geez give me a break please!!!

[Triple V]

The colours...looked nice? Jesus wept profusely. A likeable fella is M. Radley but having been a Catching Pen talking head there for a while, in my book he will always be under some level of suspicion as Dishlicker stooge. :confused: Spare us the interior decorating angle Mick, please. It is already enough of an affront.
Incidentally, it should also be noted that right on cue there @ Menangle on Monday arvo Hayes duly went the Big ol' Pork Chop about how good it was, how the Trainers all liked the concept, how the absence of Owners colours generally weren't a big issue etc. Yeh right. That's an absolute leading by open lengths and rolling front runner for the Joseph Goebbels Best Propoganda Award for 2012. :eek:
To be fair, I suspect Hayes is just getting his ducks in a row & is set to make a play for a NSW based TAB Sportsbet Official Spruiker slot alongside his VIC based counterpart, TAB Sportsbet Official Spruiker & long-time Official Party Line regurgitator, Minty Man Number 1.

[Frano1982]

They said the participants liked the concept....
The only people that were interviewed on trotstv in relation to it were people that won races???
Of course they're going to like the bloody thing!!!
Why not interview old mate that ran last and see what he reckons, or better still, the bloke that never nominated his horse for it at all???

[clumsy]

Wagga trots have been using the dog colours on their saddlecloths for a lot of years.Never heard anyone complain, I don't that many punters would even be aware of the colour of the saddlecloth numbers.

[gutwagon]

VVV you are spot on about the lack of form for trots in TAB's . It's just as bad here in Vic, it's either not up, sitting on the bench somewhere or in the worst possible spot .

[broncobrad]

Wagga trots have been using the dog colours on their saddlecloths for a lot of years.Never heard anyone complain, I don't that many punters would even be aware of the colour of the saddlecloth numbers.

Hey Brenno, sorry off topic, whats the go tonight for ya now Wagga is a bit too damp?

Wagga isn't the only club to use the coloured saddlecloths with success (IMO), but triple is (as usual) close to the mark. Bigger cloths with larger numbers and as colourful as you like gets my thumbs up. The only thing that REALLY irked me was the numbers on the drivers, that was just crap bordering on just plain bad taste. Have we got any betting figures yet that will support its continuation or demise in comparison to other Monday afternoon meetings?

[aussiebreno]

Hey Brad,

That was clumsy that posted that! But too answer your questions, yes it's a bit wet here in Wagga today. The mobile has a history of not being able to get away from the field safely and I daresay they tested it this arvo and made the decision to postpone until Monday night.

[gutwagon]

The hrv site is having a poll on which driving colours people prefer so please vote and let them know that greyhound colours are not wanted.

[Greg Hando]

Had a bloke tell me today that his horse went 1.53 in the Flying K heats this is the sort of bullshit people believe. Why is a mile rate given when the race isn't over a mile ?. These people believe the time is right and it is nothing but total bullshit.

[mark diegutis]

Had a bloke tell me today that his horse went 1.53 in the Flying K heats this is the sort of bullshit people believe. Why is a mile rate given when the race isn't over a mile ?. These people believe the time is right and it is nothing but total bullshit.


If his horse had to run the extra 609 mtrs its mile rate would have been around the 2.10 mark. Can not understand that they think they ran that time. Agree putting the mile rate is brainless. The flying k is brainless. The colour concept is brainless. Do they really wonder why we're dropping below the dishlickers in turnover.
Trish

[mango]

Hi Trish

How would you get a mark of 2.10, if they run a 1000m and went 1.08 you would add 45sec's for the 609 mtrs which would give you a mark of 1:53. Either way there shouldn't be a mile rate and the Flying K was Flying B.

[mark diegutis]

Trish was just having a go at the stupidity of it all Dallas . Nothing serious She's so over the rubbish she'd rather watch Gilligans Island . HRNSW keeps shooting itself in the foot . They run a joke like the Flying Flop and then they destroy one of the truely unique traditions in harness racing , the Interdominion . It was such a fantastic race series and now it has no resemblance to its original design . When I first came into harness racing the Interdominion was truely fascinating . I compared it to the Melbourne Cup . Its now about as captivating as a re run of The Golden Girls and that show is utter crap IMO.

[Lethal]

Mark, I always thought that Trish had a lot of 'Ginger' in her.

[mango]

Trish was just having a go at the stupidity of it all Dallas . Nothing serious She's so over the rubbish she'd rather watch Gilligans Island . HRNSW keeps shooting itself in the foot . They run a joke like the Flying Flop and then they destroy one of the truely unique traditions in harness racing , the Interdominion . It was such a fantastic race series and now it has no resemblance to its original design . When I first came into harness racing the Interdominion was truely fascinating . I compared it to the Melbourne Cup . Its now about as captivating as a re run of The Golden Girls and that show is utter crap IMO.

Hi Mark

I liked the Golden Girls and Betty was my fav lmao just joking, yes the flying K should be put to bed and layed to rest and never to be seen again. I agree with you on the Inter, it's quite strange really when horses have to come to Menangle for the lead up race's for the Miracle Mile as they wanted to showcase the Menangle track but then change the format to the Inter and give away heats WORK THAT OUT.

[aussiebreno]

What are you guys on about? Changed the format to the Interdom???

The final Interdominion earlier this year. What Menangle is running for the next three years is the Ben Hur Invitational.

[mango]

What are you guys on about? Changed the format to the Interdom???

The final Interdominion earlier this year. What Menangle is running for the next three years is the Ben Hur Invitational.

LMAO good call

[2minuteman]

What are you guys on about? Changed the format to the Interdom???

The final Interdominion earlier this year. What Menangle is running for the next three years is the Ben Hur Invitational.
Don't worry,with the usual marketing whiz kids doing the promotion,no one will know anything about it anyway.

[mark diegutis]

Don't worry,with the usual marketing whiz kids doing the promotion,no one will know anything about it anyway.

They need to run it over 1000 meters and call it the Special K

[Triple V]

...with the 'K' standing for Ketamine.

[mark diegutis]

...with the 'K' standing for Ketamine.

They must already be on Ketamine or maybe they actually believed that LSD wouldn't hurt them

[Greg Hando]

This is the sort of bullshit that people believe about the flying k

5 YEAR OLD GELDING
R2 - C2
WINNER 2 STARTS AGO AT MENANAGLE GOING
1:53.2
HAS GATE SPEED
SOUND & CURRENTLY RACING NSW

[dizzy]

IMO a very pertinant article in the harness racing update regarding trying to be what your not and the Hambletonian. I think its relevant to the future of harness racing here, the flying K and the Inter Dominion. Unfortunately I don't know how to do links and perhaps Harnesslink wouldn't like that anyway cause its not their story so those who are interested will have to find it for themselves!

[aussiebreno]

A massive well done and congratulations is in order to whomever selected the timeslots for the races at Wagga tomorrow. They have scheduled the two dog races to be ran first, followed by the 5 pacing races. This means I don't have to get on course until the real racing starts. So, thankyou!

[Loz1502]

If only the bloke calling the first 2 stopped at that too! Hard to believe they booted Alan Hull.

[Triple V]

From what I hear, the Club was responsible for that. Seems a very odd move. Maybe it's an economy drive thing? Let's replace Allan Hull with the dishlicker bloke. Nice.
How long it will be before we see the second coming of Billy Anderson's Butcher Shop and the disappointing last start 9th's beaten 50m start replacing steak in the steak sandwiches? It is essentially the same. :(
Doesn't help the cause of the Industry one bit insofar as projecting professionalism over the Sky Channel coverage. Race Callers are very much part of the public image of the Industry & old mate not having a clue of the Harness Racing terminology and starting to feel the pinch in the breath department after the horses exceed the dishlicker staying distance of 600m...well, it's not too flash for mine.

[Greg Hando]

Total waste of time and money is what i think. The money could be spent elsewhere or at least race them over the 1755 metres so at least the time count's as something for the Broodmare and Sire or have a bonus for the fastest mile rate for each class programmed or if any horse breaks the class or track record i think would be better imo.

[Loz1502]

Triple V any insight into the Bathurst economy drive to have the Wagga bloke calling the Bathurst races tonight. After enduring the Wagga replays from Wednesday night (because they were way to confusing to listen to on radio) low and behold put Bathurst on tonight and here he is again! With the favourite, in a pocket, out well, taking the lead, in the one one, with 2 laps to go. Needless to say I penciled the Melton and elsewhere timeslots down and gave Bathurst a miss.
Think the Wagga thing was a bit of a flop, 2 races is a whole lot different to the Menangle idea. From an owners point of view didn't take to much notice of the "dog" colours, pretty much same horses, same drivers, week in week out at Wagga.

[Greg Hando]

He was a late call up apparently and he did apologise for his lack of calling experience on trotting races .

[Gtrain]

Paul Francis will be calling at Wagga for the next twelve months.

[Triple V]

How the standards have fallen away Mel.
Macca must burst into tears whenever he hears the races from Bathurst these days.

[Greg Hando]

And Michael Dumesny (Wanting to be a racecaller )has been told he's not up to sky channel standard and go and do non tab calls , ha ha up here we have probably no more than half a dozen meetings a year that are non tab and at the trials only 3 or 4 horses in them at a time how are you supposed to learn ?. He would do a better job than the dog caller does at the moment.

[Loz1502]

If the Wagga decision was based on the almighty dollar it's purely just a bad call. The tweeters were on it last night, even the mighty Sushi Sushi was questioning it!!

[broncobrad]

Will certainly miss some of those 'Hullisms' that am accustomed to hearing. Just watched a couple of the Wagga replays and the 'new' chap certainly is a novice as to how to portray a pacing event. Horses positions, fractions etc. Needs to listen to some of Dan Milieckis calls to add a bit of excitement and clarity to his calls.

[aussiebreno]

The new caller obviously doesn't have the pacing background. He really struggles with the fillers and describing the event. When push comes to shove and he is just calling the horses rather than searching for fillers he is quite good at that (my guess is the dogs background is why that is his strength). I'm sure he will improve with time, good luck too him.
However, I think the Wagga club made the wrong decision giving Hull the chop.
One thing Paul Francis did do well was find The Odd One in race four on Wed night. He was still a couple of lengths off them and the furtherst horse from the leader who looked like winning. That's one thing he has over Hull at the moment, who I doubt would have spotted The Odd One as quickly as Francis did.
I've actually called a few trials and races (races just too myself obviously) at Wagga and the fillers are sometimes a hard thing too do, I've listened back to my calls a few times and asked myself why the hell did I say that. As Greg mentioned there was only a handful of horses in the trials and after a few weeks I didn't really progress as a caller because of this. Then when on track you have the pro caller in the background while on TV if you turn it too mute you can't always see the whole race...so no place to really hone the craft - which is why we see such long and distinguished careers from race callers.

[aussiebreno]

Some of you have got your wish, Alan Hull will be back calling on Sky.

[Triple V]

...along with a note of sincere apology as well I hope.

[aussiebreno]

...along with a note of sincere apology as well I hope.
Francis will still be calling on track as decided by the WHRC. Sky called in Hull. Must have been a fair few complaints I'm guessing.

[Loz1502]

Atleast the people at home and in pubs and clubs will reap the benefits. Being on track is going to be an arduous task, I may even volunteer to wash one! Haven't heard a single positive coming from the change, Paul's terrible gaff last week of calling the Leeton fires "terrific" rather than "horrific" would have caused a collective gasp. Welcome back A Hull, will be a "glooooorious Wagga day as they return to the railway side and hiiiiiit the line"

[Gtrain]

"Sizzling Maxwell, hes been left alone in front" this said after holding out three separate attempts to cross it by two different horses in less than a mile. Hhhhmmmmm......

[Greg Hando]

And the rot has started again this form of racing is a blight on our industry and a total waste of money. If they want to spend prizemoney put it toward something useful so at least the winner,sire and dam can be credited with a time on the board.

[broncobrad]

It didn't end up on the scrap heap Greg, HRNSW sees a place for this type of racing and its firmly ensconced. Purists such as yourself are going to have to find something else to do on Monday afternoons.

http://www.hrnsw.com.au/hrnsw-media-release705.html

[Triple V]

The Flying K is an annual, double fisted death grip, turning the head of it purple and making the veins pop out WANK!
Those who sanction this appalling debasing of our Industry should hang their individual and collective heads in shame.

[Triple V]

Seeing as how you've opened the door and all Ron...mate, seriously, let he who is without sin. I've read a lot of your posts on here. If you haven't got a Pop Eye forearm and bad eyesight I'll eat my old lawn mowing shoes.