Where is the money?

[Messenger]

How well is HRV travelling? We have the Kilmore Cup feature meeting on Sunday with 3 good stakes races BUT hrv cancels it out by having no metro stakes races tonight at Melton. As it is, our Friday programs are only a little over half metro stakes. Counting the 3 on Sunday (and the Nyah cup) we will have only had 49 metro races for the 2 months of Sep & Oct. Maybe I am being picky but with an average of only 6 a week, I don't see enough to feed owners horses much less their dreams.

[gutwagon]

They spent 40+ million on Melton, so now owners and trainers suffer !

[Messenger]

I don't know what $40m should buy but you have made me feel better Gutwagon as I am pretty impressed with Melton.

[Messenger]

Vic is surely falling a long way behind NSW - NOT A SINGLE METRO STAKES RACE for the entire week/weekend

[The Escape Club]

One of the reasons that my horses are now in NSW.

[Messenger]

What is going on! Victoria must be broke. It is Monday, a traditional day for a good day meeting in Vic and what have we got - 7 Races at Charlton with a total prize pool of $21k. NSW may have corruption problems but at least they still seem to have a harness industry

[Messenger]

HRV are at it again (no doubt all partying up in NSW) - no Metro races over the weekend in Vic

[Messenger]

Good to see 9 metro races on the card at Melton last night

[Messenger]

I agree with all you say Chris except wanting a 1400 track. I like small tracks (properly banked of course) as I think being able to see the horses the whole way with the naked eye is something we have over the gallops - otherwise you may as well stay home and watch it on TV (not that our coverage is up to scratch - why they use the zoom lens in the home str instead of the back has me beat)

[Messenger]

The third at Melton tonight is a Group 3 Trot with prize money of only $20,505. How can a Group race in Victoria be worth only $505 more than an M0 at Menangle!

[The Escape Club]

The third at Melton tonight is a Group 3 Trot with prize money of only $20,505. How can a Group race in Victoria be worth only $505 more than an M0 at Menangle!


Was one of the reasons that we moved our horse to NSW.

[Maorisidol]

The third at Melton tonight is a Group 3 Trot with prize money of only $20,505. How can a Group race in Victoria be worth only $505 more than an M0 at Menangle!

The sale of Harold Park Kevin...

[Messenger]

But Ash, if they cannot come up with the stakes commensurate to a group race then you cannot be calling it a Gp3

[aussiebreno]

I reckon $20k for trotters is still a fair stake for group 3 racing. Menangle prizemoney is great, lets look at that as a bonus, rather than the stakes in Vic as not up to scratch. We wouldnt know any different if it wasnt for a once in a lifetime oppurtunity.

[Gtrain]

You'd know different Brendan if you ever watched those horses with the little blokes on the back of them go round between the daytime trots meetings! They get fed the same that we feed standards too. Just work them less and charge triple the raining fees. You'd also know different if you can remember that sires stakes races in nsw were worth 15k in the country in 1990. We have only taken a small step forward after decades of neglect.

[aussiebreno]

You'd know different Brendan if you ever watched those horses with the little blokes on the back of them go round between the daytime trots meetings! They get fed the same that we feed standards too. Just work them less and charge triple the raining fees. You'd also know different if you can remember that sires stakes races in nsw were worth 15k in the country in 1990. We have only taken a small step forward after decades of neglect.I'd love for prizemoney to be double, triple, quadriple current levels but I'm talking relative figures and allowing G3 status.

[aussiebreno]

By relative figures Im talking $30k gp2s and $50k gp1s for trotters.

[Messenger]

I notice (tonight) when NSW skint on Metro stakes at least their country class races at Menangle are worth $12k

[aussiebreno]

Trotters Gp3 at Menangle this week worth $25K so not a massive difference from the $20K Melton G3.

[Messenger]

Sort of Brenno. 25% is a fair raise

[aussiebreno]

Sort of Brenno. 25% is a fair raise
$40K Gp 1 trot as well.

The $20K Gp3 trot at Melton isn't an issue with where is the money as such, just a matter that trot races have much less prize-money. Last week at Albion Park Gp2 pacing races for $75K. This weeks a Gp1 trot race at Menangle for $40K.

[Messenger]

Victoria are going to have to do something now. With M0's going to $25k and open race for $30k each week at Menangle, if you have a Metro class horse you are diddling yourself not to go to NSW

http://www.harnesslink.com/International/Stakes-rise-for-Tabcorp-Park-Menangle