This made me laugh...

[Mitch]

I have no issue with club directors trying to market their carnivals and events, but this seriously has to be one of the greatest examples of 'wordsmith' nonsense I have read for some time..... some of it had me in complete hysterics!

I genuinely hope for the industry that many people do attend the carnival and that punters invest big, but this article makes it sound the like VRC Spring Carnival is about to hit Bankstown!

http://www.harness.org.au/news-article.cfm?news_id=18704
Bankstown City Council Cup of Harness Racing

02 August 2012



‘THE Bankstown City Council Cup of Harness Racing kicks off with heats races at Sydney’s harness racing home, Bankstown Paceway, from next Monday, August 6th, 2012,’ Bankstown Paceway director Megan Lavender announced today.


‘Our new expanded winter carnival both articulates and contributes to the development of the aspirations, values and beliefs of Australia’s diverse population by engaging and connecting with people of all ages and backgrounds in the spirit of what has evolved into not only a time honoured local cultural celebration, but an internationally recognised and televised sporting event,’ Ms Lavender said this afternoon.


‘Featuring an action charged series of harness racing culminating in the Bankstown City Cup Gala Race Night on Thursday, August 16th, 2012, the 2012 Carnival will also include the Inaugural Equine Art Exhibition, Our Racing Heritage, and a trackside Breakfast with the Stars of this elite sporting competition,’ Ms Lavender said.
‘The Bankstown City Cup Carnival – part of our nation’s six billion dollar equine industry – is also a major stimulant of local economic growth and development for the City of Bankstown and its harness racing businesses and families by attracting harness racing competitors to our area from across Australia and New Zealand, stimulating demand and creating jobs for hard working families,’ she said.


‘Targeting sporting and racing enthusiasts, as well as animal lovers, from across Australia, the Carnival also represents a social and cultural celebration for people of all ages, and in particular families, with this year’s event scheduled to include a range of on course activities, as well as the return of the popular ‘Fashions on the Field’ and ‘Mini Trots’ miniature pony races featuring the skills and talents of local school age children.


‘With the continued support of Bankstown City Council, the Carnival not only ensures the provision of an enjoyable, affordable and accessible activity, but contributes to promoting the positive image of Bankstown – our industries and our people – as the sporting and cultural capital of Sydney harness racing. By hosting the Bankstown City Council Cup, Bankstown ensures its place as a city of progress on the world map of harness racing.


‘Bankstown City Council Cup Heats Race Day will be held on Monday, August 6th, 2012, at Sydney’s harness racing home, Bankstown Paceway, with the first race set to start at 2.14 pm,’ Ms Lavender added.

[aussiebreno]

I don't think Ms Lavender and the Bankstown committee are all there! Every time I read a Bankstown press release I'm left bewildered at something.
I've bought it up on the forum, they had an article saying how the held a competition/lucky draw or something and the end result was a young primary school aged kid got to have a race named after him. I mean thats all great and a big thumbs up to the club. But in their press release they billed it as a world record for the youngest person to have a race named after them!!!!

[Triple V]

They should have Live Trap Shooting using real Pigeons instead of Clay versions thereof.
Fingers crossed the water truck fires up. :rolleyes:

[dizzy]

Actually VVV I've hardly seem a pidgeon for quite sometime, something to do with the foxes I'd imagine. I cross my fingers every morning that the water truck starts, that cloud of smoke certainly is a relief! I'm told the new water truck is only a couple of weeks away now.


Mitch you say that you hope people turn up and punt in droves at Bankstowns carnival and you have no issue with directors marketing their carnivals and most of all you said that it made you laugh!!!! isn't laughing a good thing? You know they say laughter is the best medicine right? So why the thumbs down icon in the title????

[Thevoiceofreason]

Actually VVV I've hardly seem a pidgeon for quite sometime, something to do with the foxes I'd imagine. I cross my fingers every morning that the water truck starts, that cloud of smoke certainly is a relief! I'm told the new water truck is only a couple of weeks away now.


Mitch you say that you hope people turn up and punt in droves at Bankstowns carnival and you have no issue with directors marketing their carnivals and most of all you said that it made you laugh!!!! isn't laughing a good thing? You know they say laughter is the best medicine right? So why the thumbs down icon in the title????

Actually Dot I think this release is a touch over the top, having said that I agree with you, here is a genuine effort to promote the sport good on you Bankstown at least you are having a go.

[Triple V]

Maybe a Fox Hunt then Dot? That'd be a hoot. Sound the horn of the water truck and shout "Release the Hounds!". Problem is they'd bugger off en masse over to Bankstown Square and savage some poor bastard's Kebab Shop.

[dizzy]

Bill promotions speak on anabolic steroids I think! But really whats the harm. Credit where credit due and Megan should be congratulated and applauded on the effort that she puts in for the club and the sport. Has certainly been more politicians taking an interest of late, and love or hate them they do control the public purse strings. Had it on very good advice that a certain other club CEO was also in attendance at the last Bankstown meeting, hmmm probably something to do with the politicians and I guess the catering really cant be as bad as VVV would have people believe!

[dizzy]

I've actually been fox hunting VVV and yes it was a hoot. Definately need a few hounds though, the cheeky buggers sit in the middle of the track and watch the horses go by. Don't have to go as far as Bankstown square not for a kebab VVV, theres a great kebab shop on the corner of Eldridge and Edgar street!

[Triple V]

Would like to go on a Fox Hunt just as long as I didn't have to jump any fences. I'd fall off, no risk.

[dizzy]

But VVV thats what makes it exciting!!!!!!

[Triple V]

Nah, I'll pass. Only ever had one bad fall, it was my fault, going flat out down a hill that very quickly flattened out at the bottom and the horse knuckled over and fell. Horse got up again and was ok. I got off light, just some scrapes and bruises and picking the spines from three cornered jacks out of my person for months. Weird how when you fall everything goes into slow motion. I could see the ground coming and I remember thinking it was going to hurt. Never again. Haven't ridden since. Had a few misadventures in a track work cart but nothing quite so bad as that. LOVE getting a chance to hop in the bike however, that's terrific. Maybe we could work out a way to combine Fox Hunting and Harness Racing? Hitch up some of Jim Walsh's super jog bikes with suspension and away we go. I'd better stop there. I wonder how long before some tool down at Ultimo tosses that idea up at a Monthly Meeting?

[dizzy]

So why not a bit of bute for you VVV and keep going? Its what you expect your horse to do isn't it. Or perhaps some one should give you a drench with a little water and cement!

[Greg Hando]

A few thing's in the article may have been over the top but at least they are having a go at promoting our sport maybe some other club's could have a go at it as well, it might work . All in all i think they are trying to do a good job at getting bum's on seat's.

[Mitch]

Mitch you say that you hope people turn up and punt in droves at Bankstowns carnival and you have no issue with directors marketing their carnivals and most of all you said that it made you laugh!!!! isn't laughing a good thing? You know they say laughter is the best medicine right? So why the thumbs down icon in the title????

Because I was laughing (in disbelief) at how misleading the article is and I think our industry deserves better than the load of tripe written in the release.

[dizzy]

Because I was laughing (in disbelief) at how misleading the article is and I think our industry deserves better than the load of tripe written in the release.

I'm sorry for you Mitch that you see it that way

[Mitch]

I'm sorry for you Mitch that you see it that way

Really Dot...

I think if people in this sport continue to praise mediocrity or accept anything less than a higher standard then this sport will never move forward. I don't think this media release helps our sport in any way. The Bankstown City Cup is a restricted M1 race on a Thurdsday night.... The media release put out makes it sound like something profoundly different.

[dizzy]

Maybe Mitch but only people in the industry would know what a restricted M1 race is. The only intent is to try to get people to the track to experience harness racing, and Mitch if you've never been before the grade of race or the time they run really isn't relevant.

Many times I took people to see show jumping for the first time and they marvelled at how big a 1.40m track in an Australian Grand Prix was. I let then find out for themselves as they became more interested that at the top level overseas the fences are a 1.60m high and very frequently 2m wide as well.

[aussiebreno]

Maybe Mitch but only people in the industry would know what a restricted M1 race is. The only intent is to try to get people to the track to experience harness racing, and Mitch if you've never been before the grade of race or the time they run really isn't relevant.
.
Yeah, because people that have never been before and don't know what an M1 is would be looking at the articles on the harness.org website

[Mitch]

Maybe Mitch but only people in the industry would know what a restricted M1 race is. The only intent is to try to get people to the track to experience harness racing, and Mitch if you've never been before the grade of race or the time they run really isn't relevant.

Many times I took people to see show jumping for the first time and they marvelled at how big a 1.40m track in an Australian Grand Prix was. I let then find out for themselves as they became more interested that at the top level overseas the fences are a 1.60m high and very frequently 2m wide as well.

Yes I agree but people who don't know about harness racing also do not know about the harness.org website. We both know this release wasn't released with the intendtion of attracting new people to Bankstown....

I've had my say and don't want to engage in a back & forth... As I said in my original post I wish Bankstown all the best with their carnival. Let's hope future releases more accurately portray the scope and appeal of such events.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend Dot.

[dizzy]

Mitch, Brenno you may view the press releases on harness.org.au as that is obviously a site you would visit but why is it you presume that that is the only place it is released?

[aussiebreno]

Well it was printed in English so I'm also guessing it didn't go in the Bankstown newspaper!

[Triple V]

So why not a bit of bute for you VVV and keep going? Its what you expect your horse to do isn't it. Or perhaps some one should give you a drench with a little water and cement!

[VVV] :confused: Hey Dot. I've just about had enough of your nonsense. I'll give myself a dose of Bute and drench myself with cement.... when you stop wearing Men's jeans and thinking you're a bloke. Shop around, you won't beat that deal.

[Mitch]

Dot, I truly hope in this particular case that harness.org was the only place this was released.

[dizzy]

Well it was printed in English so I'm also guessing it didn't go in the Bankstown newspaper!

Brenno you may be surprised but we still do have 2 weekly local papers, the Torch and the Express printed in english but I don't know who actually reads them, I certainly don't. As for other language papers well I'm sure our Mayor offered to translate!

[dizzy]

[VVV] :confused: Hey Dot. I've just about had enough of your nonsense. I'll give myself a dose of Bute and drench myself with cement.... when you stop wearing Men's jeans and thinking you're a bloke. Shop around, you won't beat that deal.

Funny how things are nonsense or silly when you don't agree. But honestly VVV is that the best you've got? I wear mens jeans and think I'm a bloke?

[Triple V]

Funny how things are nonsense or silly when you don't agree. But honestly VVV is that the best you've got? I wear mens jeans and think I'm a bloke?

[VVV] Merely returning serve Dot. I related a story to you of how I had a bad fall from a horse under saddle & that it was my fault & it was the reason I have never ridden since (on top of being unable to find a horse big enough and strong enough in order to humanely cart me around) and all you can muster is that half-arsed give yourself some Bute like you would your horse or get some water & cement into you routine. You opened the door, Counsellor. There's plenty more if you want to keep it rolling...or we can just leave it here. Your choice.

[dizzy]

Sorry VVV scrapes and bruises doesn't cut it as a bad fall in my world, just par for the course.

[Triple V]

No need to be sorry Dot. In your world, yes, I've no doubt that is indeed the case. I take it that you have no doubt landed upon your head on a number of occasions then?...you know, way back before Pony Clubbers instituted a mandatory wearing of Skull Caps. The reason I ask is not to intrude but rather in an effort to somehow reconcile that bit where you linked women getting the vote, aparthied & so on with a change in the rules which govern steroid use in race horses. To the casual observer it strongly suggests previous episodes of cranial trauma.

[Greg Hando]

Well it was printed in English so I'm also guessing it didn't go in the Bankstown newspaper!

Being a bit racist their Brenno aren't you ?

[aussiebreno]

Being a bit racist their Brenno aren't you ?
I wouldn't have thought so.
Bankstown is one of the most multicultural regions in Australia. Although not the best source, Wikipedia says over 50% of Bankstown locals were born overseas and that 60 different languages are spoken in the suburb. So while English is the main language there is a lot of different languages, even most preferred/native/first languages, flowing throughout Bankstown. I don't think alluding to this is racist. A generalisation based on a minority yes, but racist no.
But I guess racism and discrimination is in the eye of who the comments 'target' and not the person making the comment. To be honest I couldn't care what language people speak, I read the jibberish on this forum don't I! I don't think that being able to speak English makes one superior and another inferior but I guess if somebody seen it like that they might think its racist - but I'm comfortable that my comment wasn't degrading to those who live in Bankstown that don't speak/read English. I mean its only fact - just like I can't speak French or Italian unless I'm blind drunk.

[dizzy]

No need to be sorry Dot. In your world, yes, I've no doubt that is indeed the case. I take it that you have no doubt landed upon your head on a number of occasions then?...you know, way back before Pony Clubbers instituted a mandatory wearing of Skull Caps. The reason I ask is not to intrude but rather in an effort to somehow reconcile that bit where you linked women getting the vote, aparthied & so on with a change in the rules which govern steroid use in race horses. To the casual observer it strongly suggests previous episodes of cranial trauma.

I hate to dissappoint you VVV but whilst I hit the ground on many an occasion I was always very good at protecting my head, with or without helmet, never so much as a concussion let alone any worse head injury. My thoughts are clear, its a shame the same cannot be said for yours.

[Mitch]

Dot & Jaimie,

Your personal tirades on each other have hijacked many a topic on here, please don't let mine be other. The topic here is Bankstowns media release. Take your bravado stories and tit for tat rubbish elsewhere!! :o

[Triple V]

Fair call. Mitch, in light of recent events I fear I must henceforth resign as Super Moderator 1st Class with Honours & Bells & Whistles. Moments of private reflection have revealed that the power to edit and to delete is all corrupting & it may well soon get the better of me thus justifying Lee's sense of moral outrage...and that I simply could not abide. I must also confess to currently entertaining rather dastardly thoughts of abusing my position. You see, I'd dearly like to quietly edit a great many of Dot's posts so that they make more sense but no doubt posts with coherent lines of thought eminating from that particular source would be spotted as ring ins almost immediately. Jules, please... if you will, return me to the trenches whereupon I may commence to sling shit with total abandon. My time at HQ is at an end.