Breeders Crown

[geoffkel]

Went to the breeders crown today and they really have to do something to improve this day.
There is no atmosphere at this place, I was bored there today!!!
Need to move it to either a Sat night or a Saturday Afternoon meeting and they need to move it back to country tracks where it grew and propered.
Harness Racing is dying a slow death. We need to get it going again and very soon.

[ARTOFFICIAL]

Gday Geoff I went today too and have done to about the last 5 or so Breeders Crown Final's days. For starters the crowds I felt were well down,and there was something missing wasn't there? HRV's answer to merchandise- some ugly looking caps......... Having second thoughts on going next year and that is sad.

[Big Max]

Does anyone have any info on turnover for the day,that will be interesting.

[geoffkel]

Does anyone have any info on turnover for the day,that will be interesting.

No I don't but I got there 5 minutes before the 1st race and parked in the ashphalt car park out the front.

Years before that that was well and truly full at least 1/2 hour before the 1st.

Talking to some of the people I know and they are getting so disgruntled in the industry for a number of reasons including prizemoney, the stewards and management of HRV and how they are treating the smaller people so differently to the names of the industry.

They even changed the owners area into a white cold marquee yesterday. No TV's in there and one drink per owner, what a disgrace. Previously it has been a room inside where it is comfortable and had access to toilets etc.

The whole design of the place is wrong but that is and has been another issue since it was built. Need to have parade ring in a better position than where it is for god sake what were these people thinking???

[Bingo]

Geoff it definitely needs to go back to the country, Ballarat or Bendigo, for rejuvenation. But HRV will keep it as their flagship at Melton, trying to let everyone believe it is them putting in the stakemoney when it is all funded by the futurity payments. We are sinking in Victoria.

You are correct there is a lot of disenchantment in the industry. Too many restricted races, races tacked onto the end of a program to make 10-12 races, makes a long day, stakemoney stagnating, lack of consistency with the stewards.


As for the parade ring at Melton don't get me started. It is as if they are hiding the horses.

[matrightyeh]

was a great day for sure https://imageshackau.com/sports/131/b/happy.gifhttps://imageshackau.com/sports/133/b/happy.gifhttps://imageshackau.com/sports/138/b/happy.gif
https://imageshackau.com/sports/123/b/happy.gifhttps://imageshackau.com/sports/52/b/happy.gifhttps://imageshackau.com/sports/134/b/happy.gif

[gutwagon]

I have to say I agree with all the above . I think Melton can only handle about 1500 people , any more and it just too uncomfortable. The facilities are made for dry weather only. The stables are way too hot in the summer even with the new air conditioners. Who ever OKed the low roof should be shot. The track is good for racing but still 400m too short and the finish line is on a strange angle. But I would still prefer my horse to race there as opposed to Moonee Valley.

[geoffkel]

Gutwagon,
I agree that the track itself for the horses is much better but that is the only thing going for the place. Moonee Valley just had that appeal about it and atmosphere on the big days was great. I suppose as we get further on the memory of Moonee Valley will fade.
The problem s Melton. You ask anyone to go out there and they say that is way too far out of town.

[gutwagon]

I agree geoffkel the facilities were better at MV and it could hold many more people but the problem was 80% of the place would be closed on trot nights. It was hard to get a bet on and hard to find take away food.
One of Meltons big problems is the road works on the ringroad make it a nightmare to get to. They have been going on since it opened and look like they will go on for years to come ! It,s easy to get there on a sat. night but Friday night is a joke.

[Triple V]

For big races and the like HRV should periodically bring Neil Busse back and sit him somewhere in the alfresco dining style roof-less grandstand area in order that he may experience first hand the range of weather conditions endured by the race going public. That would be, after all, only fair.

[geoffkel]

Yes I agree Triple V. Yes Moonee Valley was mostly closed but still had that great feeling about it. Anyway have to move on just wish we did not have to move onto Melton.
Positives about Melton are, it is a good track for horses, HRV will actually own it once it is paid off, if they are smart they really need to develop the other land as quick as possible for income.

[Toohard]

Reckon the weather put a few off. They got same storm we did late Friday night (almost 2 inch in short space of time). Been damp underfoot there all winter and that didn't help. Me and Luke got there before first. Wife and 2 younger kids were going to follow shortly behind. Only 1 jumping castle for kids (they probably had to cancel other activities due to weather and state of the ground). Rang and told her to leave till later as our bloke was in the last. Jumping castle like WWF wrestling already and our young uns would have been mud from a-hole to breakfast time in very short amount of time. Heard other people on phones doing same.

Also this year no Sushi Sushi. Have noticed that even on normal Friday night racing he gets a few extra through the gate.

Great racing though.

And congrats to Harvey with Fly Like an Eagle

[Lucky Camilla"s Lovechild]

Reckon the weather put a few off. They got same storm we did late Friday night (almost 2 inch in short space of time). Been damp underfoot there all winter and that didn't help. Me and Luke got there before first. Wife and 2 younger kids were going to follow shortly behind. Only 1 jumping castle for kids (they probably had to cancel other activities due to weather and state of the ground). Rang and told her to leave till later as our bloke was in the last. Jumping castle like WWF wrestling already and our young uns would have been mud from a-hole to breakfast time in very short amount of time. Heard other people on phones doing same.

Also this year no Sushi Sushi. Have noticed that even on normal Friday night racing he gets a few extra through the gate.

Great racing though.

And congrats to Harvey with Fly Like an Eagle

There were actually 2 jumping castles on Sunday Paul. A big one and a small one. A couple of other activities would have been nice though. My kids had a great time! And although we couldnt pick a winner or get the bikkies, we had a great time as well. Great racing with a terrific atmosphere. I guess you cant please everyone. The only thing i'd change, is enforce some kind of dress code.

[Toohard]

There were actually 2 jumping castles on Sunday Paul. A big one and a small one. A couple of other activities would have been nice though. My kids had a great time! And although we couldnt pick a winner or get the bikkies, we had a great time as well. Great racing with a terrific atmosphere. I guess you cant please everyone. The only thing i'd change, is enforce some kind of dress code.

Gday Leigh
Didn't wander all the way down the end. Saw the big jumping castle and there was an 'all in' of sorts happening on it so quickly did a u-turn and rang the wife. As big brother Luke said "We here to watch the races not chase the little ones round".

I can understand peoples gripes with the place. I had to use the Ring (car-park) Rd on Saturday morning. Can imagine what it would be like it peak hour on a Friday night. And we were back and forward between parade ring - grandstand for each race and was a little leg weary after the last. There's not a lot of dollars around to do much about it so guess just have to put up with it and make the most of it. Staff there are great.