Harness Racing needs something better than Sky 1

[Messenger]

This partly duplicates some other threads but their titles did not say what I wanted.
Elsewhere Kyle (Amlin) has pointed out that we have an exclusive contract with Sky but the sooner we can renegotiate this the better.
Elsewhere I have also sung the praises of the comprehensive coverage that gallops Vic now broadcasts via its racing.com (which is duplicated on Ch68/78 and Sky 522)
We are not likely to have our own Ch like the gallops do, in the foreseeable future but if we can get out of our exclusive contract we could be streaming like racing.com as well as Sky (and who knows, maybe we might get our own Foxtel ch for it too)
Nowadays to keep you paying top $ most internet providers are giving us more data than we can use so the idea of streaming no longer raises the concerns it once had

Just watching the first from Stawell on Sky 1 (yep I piked it due to the heat, not really a big fan of crowds either) the caller was about to say that they had broken the Track Record but he got cut off mid sentence so that we could rush to Kembla gallops

This is basically BARE BONES COVERAGE. We need much better. At harness.com (or some such future domain like racing.com) we would have not only let the caller finish but would then have had an interview with the trainer or connections and the driver, followed by a replay and analysis before moving on to an extensive preview of the next with parade ring coverage and interviews etc etc

MAKE IT HAPPEN HARNESS ADMINISTRATORS

[Messenger]

It must have been a premonition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We missed more than the first half of the STAWELL CUP

for a Sunshine Coast gallops race that was running 6min late and started after Stawell's designated time

Sky offered apologies full of crap and posted the race was on Sky 2 before getting us to Stawell for the last lap

LETS SEE IF HRV HAVE ANY BALLS AND GET SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS

The very least they need to do is to have Sky 2 made part of Foxtel's basic package (not obligatory to pay for Fox Sports)

Opinions people?

[Amlin]

It must have been a premonition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We missed more than the first half of the STAWELL CUP

for a Sunshine Coast gallops race that was running 6min late and started after Stawell's designated time

Sky offered apologies full of crap and posted the race was on Sky 2 before getting us to Stawell for the last lap

LETS SEE IF HRV HAVE ANY BALLS AND GET SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS

The very least they need to do is to have Sky 2 made part of Foxtel's basic package (not obligatory to pay for Fox Sports)

Opinions people?



A lot comes down to cost. The racing.com style coverage would be well beyond the trots budget. I asked two years ago at a state forum about employing a parade ring cameraman at Melton to film the parade which could form part of an extended cover on Sky 2 running parallel with Sky 1. I was told it would cost $800 a meet and that cost was prohibitive.

Forgive my directness but I doubt too many more practical or logical ideas to increase turnover so easily would have been discussed by the board since.

[Amlin]

Slightly unrelated but the Seven network will telecast Sunday's Inter Final live from Gloucester Park on the 7mate channel (5pm Melbourne time apparently)

[Messenger]

A little birdie told me that HRV had sought a response from Sky as to the Stawell Cup debacle and that it will be made public - I wonder when we are going to hear something. Seems to me that after 10 days and Xmas fast approaching - we will be lucky to hear anything. It certainly would seem that there is no urgency - here's an idea HRV : tell Sky "We (ie you) want a reply by tomorrow!" I don't know how you can stand to be treated like crap

[hillbillydeluxe]

I totally agree 100% there needs to be a dedicated stand alone channel which could display all races, breeding news and on track parade etc. Many years ago you could watch the then Harold Park replays on I think it was the ABC (I remember it as channel 2 back then) at night around 11-30pm.
As we all know the sport is a good product if presented well and we need people to enter the industry as new owners/breeders/punters. I guess if the clubs paid a levy with the governing bodies and you had a small fee to be paid similarly to Foxtel you can subscribe. Its really imperative that the Industry does support this incentive to have a stand alone broadcast similar to its counterparts at Sky and no doubt you would have to seek advice on when current contracts expire and so forth but in all seriousness if someone really wanted to follow through with this please drop me a message as I do have minor contacts in the media and perhaps we could get the ball rolling on establishing coverage and costs and putting it out into the Industry to actually see who would support the channel.

[hillbillydeluxe]

It has taken time but on all my research speaking with the foxtel channel Aurora and editing companies that could provide audio feed etc if on average industry participants would invest as little as $10 each they could have there own independent HARNESS RACING channel which could stream live racing from all states into your homes.
Geographically it would take time to organise but there is true depth that it could happen.

[Messenger]

Of course the worry would be whether we can afford not to be part of the big dance (Sky 1) It would have to be as well as this
I am wondering when we are EVER going to hear what reply HRV got from Sky over the Stawell Cup debacle
You said it would be so Cody, you have not visited or at least posted for a while.

[Amlin]

Apparently a debacle with the telecast of race two at Cranbourne tonight.

I was out but I listened to the race instead.

Something to do with a late horse race and Sky 2 showing a pre recorded program instead.

[Messenger]

It is time for Sky 2 to become part of Foxtel's basic package. I am one of those people that only subscribe to the Sport Package during the football season.
It irks me that when they shaft a race to Sky 2 they seem to assume that everybody can just change channels. Let's not forget that for whatever reason, it is they that are not delivering on Sky 1 what they advertise.
I know to jump on the computer and get Sky 2 that way but there is not always enough warning

[aussiebreno]

It is time for Sky 2 to become part of Foxtel's basic package. I am one of those people that only subscribe to the Sport Package during the football season.
It irks me that when they shaft a race to Sky 2 they seem to assume that everybody can just change channels. Let's not forget that for whatever reason, it is they that are not delivering on Sky 1 what they advertise.
I know to jump on the computer and get Sky 2 that way but there is not always enough warning
Just playing devils advocate and I know they are far from perfect, but they can't show two races at once and they would argue race club advertised race at 2.40PM so not their fault if race is at 2.44PM.

[Messenger]

It is about time you had an avatar Breno

[Njcstables]

http://www.harnesslink.com/News/Trackside-viewers-need-to-appreciate-what-we-have

An interesting observation from across the ditch. I'm sure many would agree!

[Richard prior]

G'day Nathan, I think the Majority would, Sky Racing's coverage has been ordinary at best and what's up with the picture Quality with the replays, Very poor. I think that once the current contract is up with Sky, We need to get them on board with far better coverage and Defintley get the split screen option or give them the flick and jump into bed with Trackside, It's a far better product and under the current scenario, We will never attract new people to the game and personally speaking, I would like to see the presentations on Television as well.

[Toohard]

G'day Nathan, I think the Majority would, Sky Racing's coverage has been ordinary at best and what's up with the picture Quality with the replays, Very poor. I think that once the current contract is up with Sky, We need to get them on board with far better coverage and Defintley get the split screen option or give them the flick and jump into bed with Trackside, It's a far better product and under the current scenario, We will never attract new people to the game and personally speaking, I would like to see the presentations on Television as well.

Watching one other night from NZ and when went to split screen couldn't see bottom one coz left all the stuff on screen re how long to next 4 races, etc. Saw some nice close ups of horse running 7th on top screen though!

Last night they had that screen cut in quarters thing. On left hand side at top had shot of 1 horse in parade ring Finland with odds underneah. On right hand side a race in progress and underneath a blue box with Racing in it. Only went to full screen for race in progress after half race over. Happen a lot recently...empty parade ring at dogs very frequent while race in progress.

Dunno how it all works but surely someone is watching what is being delivered on the screen and making sure right buttons pressed. Not just harness coverage either.

[Toohard]

Re last
As said dunno how works but maybe the bloke pushing the buttons needs some help as theres so much racing on. Believe Sky owned by Tabcorp so tipping that not going to happen. Cutting costs everywhere.

Probably not relevant to this but anyone else noticed they betting on races from Chile and Uruguay now? 8am start and guess they trying to catch punters on train to work in the morning. First of 4 from Chile just on. When looked $48 in win pool!! And quaddie pool a massive $1 !!! Surely thats costing them money and surely could be better invested elsewhere.

[Toohard]

Re last
As said dunno how works but maybe the bloke pushing the buttons needs some help as theres so much racing on. Believe Sky owned by Tabcorp so tipping that not going to happen. Cutting costs everywhere.

Probably not relevant to this but anyone else noticed they betting on races from Chile and Uruguay now? 8am start and guess they trying to catch punters on train to work in the morning. First of 4 from Chile just on. When looked $48 in win pool!! And quaddie pool a massive $1 !!! Surely thats costing them money and surely could be better invested elsewhere.

Sorry waffling on and probably on wrong thread but just notice something else.

Exacta pool on first $57.50. Thats AFTER Tabcorp takeout which believe 9.5%. No one got it. Jackpot to next. But jackpot only $52.42. So Tabcorp take another 9.5% out of pool they already taken money out of. Maybe they not loosing money on these races after all!!

[Messenger]

http://www.harnesslink.com/News/Trackside-viewers-need-to-appreciate-what-we-have

An interesting observation from across the ditch. I'm sure many would agree!

I have been harping on about this for years but officialdom do not get it!
The following quote from the NZ article should have people questioning themselves

In our view the coverage is detrimental to the image it is portraying of harness racing and is a drag on the ability of the industry to even maintain let alone grow its market share of gambling industry.

[Adaptor]

Totally agree on Sky Racings dismal coverage.
The lack of insightful commentary, or attempt to tell the story of any of the horses..ie The WA horse Sprinter or the recovery from injury of Victorian bred , NZ owned and trained Smolda, or the fact that the recent Interdom winner was not outright favourite was terrible. There's a good story behind most horses that get to the level of a Derby or Trotters Championship, let alone the Ballarat Cup. we didn't hear about them !
They missed Darren Weir supporting his local harness racing club by atttending and bringing along the Melbourne Cup. You can't cover that on the HRV's preferred media..Facebook and Twitter.
RSN Radio is as jammed as Sky 1. Digital radio with the other RSN staion ( can't' even remember what is is called ) is not obtainable in the country..so we miss out again.
Stories and people attract interest, not Tote turnover.
They reduced Adam and Gareth to soundbites...rather than sensible commentary.
Need a dedicated Sky 2 or similar.

[Richard prior]

Exactly right Noel, It was a great nights racing and a golden opportunity to attract new people to the game, Pretty well every race was a great contest and there was some amazing horse flesh on offer, I've only really touched on a small piece of the night but the 3 Derby Heat winners went excellent, A massive performance by Smolda to upset Lenny and arguably the best performance of the night, Monbet, He was just breath taking and this fellow could be the best Trotter that we have seen in these parts for years, Yes there would have been a hell of a lot of great story's behind the winners but as we see so often, As soon as the race is done, Now we are off to another venue, It's all about the almighty punting dollar but Jesus we are missing out on some real quality behind the scenes stuff, A special thank you must be mentioned with Darren Weir coming along and bringing the Melbourne Cup, That's massive.

[Mighty Atom]

http://www.harnesslink.com/News/Trackside-viewers-need-to-appreciate-what-we-have

An interesting observation from across the ditch. I'm sure many would agree!

Hi Nathan,
That article is spot on. With the reference of switching from a harness race to a dog meeting in Mandurah those incidences are far too prevalent. Sky Racing 1 seems in my opinion, more intent on Greyhound Racing coverage than Harness Racing. There should be no reason for some greyhound race or thoroughbred race at the 'Back of Burke' be given precedence over a city harness race even if it is running late and usually for a legitimate reason but it happens far too often. Even greyhound racing interviews are getting equal coverage or in some cases more than harness racing. But the major problem here is that there is a far greater number of greyhound races in comparison to harness races it just drives me crazy tuning into Sky Racing to be confronted by a multitude of dog races. I suggest Sky Channel send them all to Sky Racing 2 and keep 1 for Harness and Thoroughbred racing.

[Messenger]

Rod, we are still waiting to find out from Sky why the Stawell Cup was shafted to Sky 2 for a country gallops meeting that was 6 minutes past start time!
Cody said that HRV were seeking an explanation from Sky and that we would see the answer published. Have I missed it? Has anybody seen it?

[Messenger]

It is 2 months since the Stawell Cup shafting by Sky (First half of Cup missed for a Sunshine Coast gallops race running 6min late - see post 2 in this thread)
HRV said they were seeking an explanation and would make it public but inform me that there is still no news/response from Sky

QUESTION

If you were in business and relied on another business to distribute your product and they stuffed up big time so you sought an explanation - would you be accepting of still NO RESPONSE after 2 months!

[Messenger]

I had not read JA's latest

http://www.harnesslink.com/Australia/From-the-CEO-s-Desk---Volume-61---February-2016

(this can be found on harnesslink BEFORE it is even on the HRV site!)

It contains the following:

"HRV is fully supportive of the Joint Venture between the VRI and Tabcorp, and we are committed to our relationship with Sky Racing"

JA leads with his concerns that we could be seen as part of any dispute between the VRI and Tabcorp - as we are part of the VRI (Victorian Racing Industry) but it is the gallops that are stirring things up with their 30min between races trial. If he is so scared of being seen to be making waves FAT CHANCE he is going demand any action over our pathetic treatment by Sky eg Stawell Cup

[Messenger]

DO SOMETHING HRV!!!!!!!
I am just watching the 2nd race at Horsham and they are coming around the final bend
AND we just lose the pic as they go to Warrnambool gallops
The gallops race was a 3000m event which they could have held off going to for another 30secs - good of Warrnambool to jump when they did!
At the end of this long gallops race they come back with a replay of the finish of Horsham
NO apology or anything
We are being treated like CRAP

[Beltane]

Even more degradation of the service, Optus in their wisdom removed the "red button" option, where one could go in and look at the fields, prices and the results.

Now you get just the racing and need a bit of channel surfing at times to see the races.

[Messenger]

I don't actually watch a lot of harness racing live on TV anymore but with Warragul being compulsory viewing (will that get me a free roast next visit Kyle :D), I tuned in today and could not believe how Sky kept wanting to shaft Warragul to Sky2 because Ipswich gallops continually ran late. It was at its worst for Race 3 where Ipswich was 4 minutes late, so they shafted Warragul who were ready to go and went - with Sky1 continuing to wait for Ipswich then coming back to show us the last 400m only of Warragul.

The programming was a little ridiculous with Ipswich gallops scheduled 3 mins before Warragul but nevertheless, if a race is running more than 2 minutes late THEY have to be the ones shafted regardless of the code. The gallops viewers have the option to switch to the dedicated gallops channels anyway!

I fired off some feedback to Sky but of course I will hear nothing back

[arlington]

Harness Jewels on SKY One

http://harnessnews.com.au/2016/05/nz-jewels-coup-for-harness-fans/

[Messenger]

I thought I was going to be giving Sky a wrap when they crossed to Melton 5min before the scheduled starting time for R1 on Crown day
But sadly it was not to be
First of all they hardly got back for the promised interviews after waiting for a Sunshine Coast gallops race which was running a couple of minutes late
and then I have to admit we gave them them the opportunity to do their usual shaft job on us - by having a false start
so a 3yoF maiden gallop race at Cranbourne got the priority over a $60k Gp1 at Melton


and of course house-sitting in the sticks at present, you can guess they do not have Sky 2, a quick log into Sky was hardly worth it due to the buffering (they need the NBN too)


The young trotters blew the start of R2 too but no false start this time


I have to say the SD pic is goddam awful - teach me to not make the long trek to be there

[Messenger]

They may make up for that first race major blemish before the day is out (provided they do NOT do it again) with plenty of early crosses for analysis and interviews
(early stuff has to be much more beneficial for turnover than the usual stuff just as they are about to jump)

[Messenger]

I spoke too soon (again) as we are back to 30sec crosses because some hic gallops meeting gets the same priority as a $280k Gp1 harness

[Messenger]

We got some good air time before and after the last of the Gp1's (R7) but please don't cut Dan off before we hear the Mile Rate

[Messenger]

I have foxtel but I was thinking the other day - how few harness races I watch live. (I always check the results and watch replays of races that seem interesting)
I AM a fusssy bugger and will only watch AFL in HD, and my love of HD even extends to movies - I can love movies just for being visually stunning.
I love the French trots that you can often find in HD on Youtube and lately I dont mind watching Sky Tbred (NSW gallops) just because it looks great in HD, I noticed that the bottom of their race screen now has that Hong Kong horse tracking/ whatever you call it

You can guess what is coming

When of when are we going to get with the times and show our sport in HD (you wont need coloured numbers because you will be able to read them!)
Preferably a Trots only channel (nobody can sit there and continously watch that barrage of racing that Sky 1 throws at us)
While we are at it maybe we could learn a little from the French and their fantastic close ups. For years we have been asking why we cant have the NZ split screen

I wish I had grown up loving the gallops because they have so much top TV now.

I just can't let it go

[Mark Croatto]

Hi Kevin

Perhaps it is not far off, I know the Goulburn track is having digital upgrades installed during September/October.

Cheers

Mark

[Messenger]

Mediatec have got the replay screen running on a decent TV near the TAB windows at Horsham today and seeing how good the HD pic looks compared to what Sky then telecasts is a real eye opener - I cannot wait until we at home get this too. A trots channel would be so good as some of the footage that you only see on course (on another TV which mostly carries Sky1) eg the runners returning, looks fantastic

[Amlin]

Mediatec have got the replay screen running on a decent TV near the TAB windows at Horsham today and seeing how good the HD pic looks compared to what Sky then telecasts is a real eye opener - I cannot wait until we at home get this too. A trots channel would be so good as some of the footage that you only see on course (on another TV which mostly carries Sky1) eg the runners returning, looks fantastic

Having just bought a new TV I wasn't aware of how different ordinary Sky looks compared to their HD channel

[Messenger]

Having just bought a new TV I wasn't aware of how different ordinary Sky looks compared to their HD channel

528 Sky Tbred is sensational coverage of NSW and QLD gallops Kyle

[Messenger]

I had to watch the last start of todays Vic Oaks (gallops) winner to see how she got up at 100/1 (my God, anyone that saw that would have had to have backed her)
The reason I post it here is for all to see how good replays can look if we lift our game

http://racing.racingnsw.com.au/FreeFields/Results.aspx?Key=2016Oct22,NSW,Kembla%20Grange#Rac e2

ps The YV Cup got shafted to Sky 2 today but it was our fault - sulky/gear delays are a bane of our code

[aussiebreno]

I had to watch the last start of todays Vic Oaks (gallops) winner to see how she got up at 100/1 (my God, anyone that saw that would have had to have backed her)
The reason I post it here is for all to see how good replays can look if we lift our game

http://racing.racingnsw.com.au/FreeFields/VideoResult.aspx?MeetDate=2016Oct22&VenueCode=MTk2ODEy&RaceNumber=2&MeetingCategory=Professional&VideoFileType=FullReplay

ps The YV Cup got shafted to Sky 2 today but it was our fault - sulky/gear delays are a bane of our code
Kev an absolute bottler of a run but a lowly class 1 is a lot different to a 3rd to Winx/Hartnell hence the odds.

[Messenger]

I have been watching the gallops today on foxtel's racing.com Ch 529 - which unlike the free to air equivalent Ch78/68 is NOT Hi Def
But it looked fantastic compared to Sky 1's Victoria Cup tonight - why shouldn't it be just as good? I am putting this in the Sky thread as the Mediatec boys tell me that they produce it in HD (ready for if we ever get Sky 1 HD?!)
I have a good TV of a decent size BUT the pic was fair dinkum blurry - in the home straight right under the cameras, unless they had zoomed in like they did at the bell, you could not even make out the horses numbers (I don't need the numbers but use this as an indication of how UNclear the pic quality is) and yet for Flemington today when they are a mile away in the back straight the numbers were as clear as. How can 2 standard def coverages be so different?

[Messenger]

A poster sent me a link to a Shep trial - the youtube pic quality is way better than what Sky telecasts - you have to wonder when a club can do a better job of distributing their trials than Sky can of 'supposedly' showcasing our product

[Messenger]

No wonder we gave away stand starts in Vic.
Fairfield on their last day had a slight false start in their last big race - the JD Watts Memorial
Sky 1 immediately shafts them to Sky 2
In the time that it took to run the race all Sky 1 showed was an 18 second dog race - surely they could have simply cut away for 18 seconds (I would never suggest a split screen as that would be way beyond there capabilites!)

[Mighty Atom]

Sky Racing 1 is the pits, about six weeks ago they shunted the first four races at Gloucester Park over to Sky Racing 2 to make way for some obscure dog races, I was absolutely livid. City harness racing gives way to country greyhound racing, it seems they are prioritizing greyhound racing ahead of harness racing. I refuse to pay an extra 15 dollars a month fo SR2 and have been threatening for ages to get rid of it if I do continue it will only be for the forthcoming ID series and then it will be gone in a flash.

[Big K]

Not a full bottle on it Rod but I think you can get a HDMI cable from your phone to the tv..then you can watch both sky 1 or 2 on your tv using one of the betting agencies that stream live racing....so I was told!!

[aussiebreno]

Not a full bottle on it Rod but I think you can get a HDMI cable from your phone to the tv..then you can watch both sky 1 or 2 on your tv using one of the betting agencies that stream live racing....so I was told!!
Yep - not sure if phones have HDMI outlets but laptops certainly do.
TAB members can get love streaming from Sky.

[Njcstables]

Yep - not sure if phones have HDMI outlets but laptops certainly do.
TAB members can get love streaming from Sky.

Love Streaming! I think you must have been watching a different channel Brenno!

[aussiebreno]

Love Streaming! I think you must have been watching a different channel Brenno!

Lol. I can get a bit excited backing a winner at times!

[Messenger]

I think the pic quality of Sky1 is getting worse - it looks like we are viewing through a stocking - it may be acceptable for a tiny phone screen but not for a TV.
Move up two channels to 528 Tbred HD to see what racing should look like

[Messenger]

It is time the Harness Racing authorities demanded that Sky 2 become free or at the very least obtainable without having to purchase the Sport Pack too.
Most of us only want Sky 2 for when they shaft a race from Sky 1 and from the casual way that they announce it you would think that everybody has Sky 2 as part as their package
It is like Australia Post saying they will deliver to my home but then saying sorry but we are going to deliver it to a similar address in England!

I think that Sky Racing + is only Sky2 so they could begin by simply calling it that.
It is bad enough that they want an extra $60 a year for it (when like I said, most only want it when they do not deliver as promised on Sky1) but you have to subscribe to the Sports Pack for $348 a yr for the privilege of paying the $60

Sky have never once replied to any inquiry that I have made so I want the authorities to go into bat for us.
It is most relevant to Harness because we are the ones that get shafted all the time.
I have family that work in the gallops industry that do not have Sky2 as they know that the main gallops races will never be shafted

I hope we get to see all 12 Vicbreds from Melton on Sky1 tonight

I know there are ways of getting it for free online but I have a nice big TV in my lounge which should be getting it

[Messenger]

Greg Hayes must have done this just to wind me up
He is introducing himself and the nights program at 5pm today/Friday and he finishes with the line:

"as we get ready for a big afternoon of racing on Saturday"

Forget the bloody gallops Greg - this is Friday night 'Trots night'

[Fan of Jate]

Sky wasn't too bad tonight . I had a look at sky 1 and 2. I supposed I am just used to what they throw up at me.

[Messenger]

The coverage was pretty good tonight (only Singapore gallops to potentially trump us) but the pic quality is still woeful - we are so used to watching sport (just about everything in fact) in HD nowadays. Gotta love Foxtel 528 Thoroughbred ch

[Messenger]

Miserable day in the Gap and my foxtel came to rest on Sky Thoroughbred. This is what I would dream of for a Trots channel
Apart from the fantastic HD pic, I was amazed that there were no Betting ads - I will never watch Racing.com again (which feels like 50% betting promotion)
A Syndey-sider I am meant to be

[Messenger]

I know I have to reconcile myself with us being small fry but when Sky 1 say 'we are sticking with our thoroughbred venue' when they are running 4min late at Northam and we are ready to go on time at Swan Hill - it really irks

[Danno]

That's how it works with Sky Kev, the gallopers come first for whatever reason suits the occasion.....every single time, and its a fact that every time the trots get the shunt it just ever so slightly chokes our game a little bit more.

[Messenger]

and the ridiculous part of it Dan, is that even though they elect to shunt - it is to a channel that is an Extra to their package and which you have to pay extra for (in other words not everybody has it and can just swap channels to see the shunted race)

[Messenger]

and if you are not interested in the whole Sports package - too bad as you have to add that first so effectively the cost of getting Sky2 is $34 more not $5 more

[Messenger]

Geelong gallops running 4 minutes late but they shaft Charlton R7 to Sky 2

[Messenger]

I'll have to give the shafting a rest after our Melton R9 was running late (ambo required for a patron) and the Geelong dogs got shafted to Sky 2. Fact is that if they put Sky 2 in the basics package, it would not be a problem

[Mighty Atom]

Yeah, blasted the crap out of foxtel last week for dumping harness races over to sky racing 2 in preference for some back end of nowhere greyhound race. Unfortunately like water off a ducks back, hit them where it hurts cancelled my main Foxtel account but kept it open on a mini-pack $10 dollars a month. I'll reinstate the sports package during the interdominions then after that, it's Adios muchachos.

[Fan of Jate]

Probably the only way to do it Atom, I might do that myself if they don't lift their game. What they dont appear to be aware of is that sooner or later that water starts leaking through the feathers on the ducks back.

[Messenger]

I am half expecting a Crown race to be shafted for the boxing - so much talk about it - I thought I was on a racing channel!

[Messenger]

I'll have to give the shafting a rest after our Melton R9 was running late (ambo required for a patron) and the Geelong dogs got shafted to Sky 2. Fact is that if they put Sky 2 in the basics package, it would not be a problem

I LIED. I am never going to put up with the crap they dish out to us.
They just shafted Stawell R6 to Sky2 FOR NO REASON as we were on schedule and had finished our race before Moree gallops were due to run BUT not only that they were covering Kalgoorlie races on Sky 2 so we only got the last lap of Stawell
If they really thought Moree was that important they should have set the times differently and at the VERY LEAST they could have shown Stawell without audio (even on half the screen) while they talked about Moree

I will be seeking answers from HRV as to whether they are just going to accept this RUBBISH

[Fan of Jate]

sky 2 had the split screen happening again on Saturday night, plus ads of some sort. Very annoying.

[Messenger]

I LIED. I am never going to put up with the crap they dish out to us.
They just shafted Stawell R6 to Sky2 FOR NO REASON as we were on schedule and had finished our race before Moree gallops were due to run BUT not only that they were covering Kalgoorlie races on Sky 2 so we only got the last lap of Stawell
If they really thought Moree was that important they should have set the times differently and at the VERY LEAST they could have shown Stawell without audio (even on half the screen) while they talked about Moree

I will be seeking answers from HRV as to whether they are just going to accept this RUBBISH

CEO David Martin emailed that he knows what response he will get from Sky, "That said, we are working on a way to improve punters’ access to live vision of Vic trots…"

[Amlin]

Sky 2 will be unlocked and free for all customers this Sunday evening 10th to showcase the Sandown "Speed Star" greyhounds series. From 5pm, have a look and see what a dedicated, comprehensive coverage can look like

[Messenger]

What the ...... , they can do that!
I will watch the dogs when more than 10% of greyhounds reach old age

[Messenger]

Harness CAN look bloody good on TV (well HD computer screen in this case)
With a great setting (countryside beats advertising panels any day) and the field quickly reduced to 4 thus allowing a fairly tight camera all the way - the 1st at Gunbower is a joy to behold
Forget your little iphones and watch this on a bigger screen

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=GU191117&ms=vic#GUC19111708

[Fan of Jate]

Jeez, how long since it has rained out that way Kev?

[Messenger]

Jeez, how long since it has rained out that way Kev?

Echuca is nearby and the best I can do Pat :D

They actually had 37mm on the Thursday and Friday before this meet but the countryside has browned up after virtually no rain for the 3 months prior to that

[arlington]

Jeez, how long since it has rained out that way Kev?


Looked like a pretty good crop of round hay rolls in the background, although it may have been irrigated. The bit of dry ground coming out of the bottom bend might be a bit of salty ground.

Pretty sure access to the Gunbower track was the scenic route this year, around the footy ground, via lovers lane ;)

[aussiebreno]

Most Saturday nights the secondary NSW meet will be on Sky 2 and often clash race times with Victorias main meeting. Not ideal but not as bad as this weekend. Wagga is the primary NSW Saturday night meeting and I would assume be on Sky 1. Some of the race time clashes with Cranbourne are ordinary at best. 2500m Group trot race from Cranbourne and 3 minutes later is Wagga Cup. 2100m race at 8.58 at Wagga followed by Cranbourne at 9.00. Either Wagga is being shafted to Sky 2 or there is no lead in time coverage for Group 3 races like the Wagga Cup or Caduceus Club.

[Beltane]

Quite underwhelmed with "In The Gig" this week as the recent NSW Oaks, Derby, Ladyship Mile, Bohemia Crystal Group 1's hardly got a mention, and there were no replay excerpts. Worst of all, the Trotters Mile, which was run in an Australasian record time was ignored.

[Messenger]

No wonder Gordon Banks describes Sky 1 as having "no soul"

I remember to turn to the Soul-less channel a couple of minutes before the first of the Vic Oaks heats, thinking I may have missed the lead in.

It is 1 minute until they jump but a race from Globe Derby is still in progress, it finishes BUT we still have a greyhound race from the Meadows to squeeze in.
We don't actually start any commentary on the Oaks heat until 5 secs until it is due to jump. No wonder they (deliberately?) jump 1 minute late to get a minutes worth of lead in (mind you we cop a split screen with gallopers going to the start at Toowoomba until the mobile lets them go).
After the race we get 1 minute of placings commentary before going to Toowoomba - probably only because it was not clear who finished 4th.

[alphastud]

This is some of what the Sky commentator said at around 9am this morning on Sky1 on the back of a Harness race in NA. Have to commend him for his honesty however it wasn't getting anyone excited about HR.
Maybe Sky can help us out and hire someone who is a "harness racing fan"

------------------

funny action aren't they these horses... just a funny shape of animal as well. very different from thoroughbreds.

anyway, different breeds of horses look a little different I suppose

they're a strange looking animal some of these harness horses

they are tough, they race week in week out, they don't lack the toughness that's forsure some have huge ability...

we'll talk about the elitlopp as the week goes on

I'm first to admit that I'm not a harness racing fan as such.. I did watch the miracle mile.. I might tune into the elitlopp.

[Richard prior]

Makes you wonder what type of qualifications are required to get a job in this field, Maybe good looks, A big mouth and zero knowledge of horse flesh helps( Looks not required for Radio lol)

[Messenger]

After all my protestations, I relented and paid for Sky 2 to watch the jewels today

[Amlin]

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/id18-media-seven-network-to-broadcast-final/

Good news for the upcoming Inter Final

[Messenger]

That is BIG news

[JanellePeter]

We have always had Sky 2 through Foxtel. It used to be $5/month extra until about 3-4 years ago when it was made part of the Sports extra pack (around $30/month extra).
Argued with them for some time that we don't want sport - We just want Sky 2. We have just given in and paid the money.
I want to pay for the 2 channel I want and I would prefer to do this directly with Sky.
Sky is available live on the internet with a TAB account to login but its not TV. I would like to see Sky setup a subscription TV app for their channels. Imagine how many people would sign up to that.
Split screens annoy me a bit on Sky 1 and 2. Often they will have a harness race on 1/2 the screen while showing horses parading behind barriers or dog handlers standing around on the other half.

[Messenger]

Being a Vic, I hardly watch Sky anymore (if I did it would be HD Sydney gallops Ch) as Trots Vision on my computer is much better

Ps You're right about it being absurd that you have to pay $30 for Sport before they will take a further $5 off you for Sky2

[gutwagon]

Sky/TAB will have an app for mobile phones soon that lets you pick which races you watch. Will cost around $9 per month. Makes me wonder if they have been doing split screens and shifting to sky 2 deliberately just to make the app more appealing . Wont be getting any of my money.

[Dot]

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/id18-media-seven-network-to-broadcast-final/

Good news for the upcoming Inter Final

Follows straight on from the cricket I understand. Would be great is this helps secure a major sponsor

[Toohard]

May already have a sponsor?

[Dot]

That looks to be confirmed now Paul

[Messenger]

That looks to be confirmed now Paul

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/tab-id18-tabcorp-backs-inter-dominion/

I cannot help but think that it is a bit of a default sponsorship - Tabcorp have a vested interest and maybe nobody else was putting their hand up

[Adaptor]

Being a Vic, I hardly watch Sky anymore (if I did it would be HD Sydney gallops Ch) as Trots Vision on my computer is much better

Ps You're right about it being absurd that you have to pay $30 for Sport before they will take a further $5 off you for Sky2

What a fiasco at St Arnaud.
Race Three
Long delay with a flat tyre and the attention needed:

1 pump no good, so the track ute had to go and get another one
2 that pump was no good
3 Change the cart. Thank goodness it wasn't a pacer with the associated chords for hopple shorteners etc.

BUMPED to Sky2
Might be best to scratch at the barrier rather than being bumped yet again.

Lachie did a great job of filling the long space on Trotvision. Thank goodness we have that.

[Messenger]

Trotsvision is the only way I watch Vic harness racing nowadays

[Dot]

That’s sounds more like a problem in the contingency planning for a flat tyre then a vision problem.

[JanellePeter]

Can someone explain to me what happened in Race 4 at Redcliffe last night (21/11/2018)?
I watched the race and I am sure the first four was 6-10-8-3. I waited for the result to come up on NSWTAB and waited... 20 minutes pasted without any result. I checked UniTAB after another 2 minutes they had a result of 6-10-8-7 but interim div still there - I couldn't believe it. Another 5 minutes passed and still nothing on NSW but then UniTAB changed the result to 6-10-8-3 but still interim. No message of protest.

30 minutes after the race NSW finally put the result up 6-10-8-3 but interim div. Another 5 minutes passed and the result on both UniTAB and NSWTAB changed to 6-10-8-7 and correct weight was declared shortly after. I have never seen anything like it.

I was on the first four 6-10-8-3 so I am talking out of my pocket but I feel ripped off. I have a recording of the race and watched it plenty of times. I have been done in photos hundreds of times before and I can cope that - I know this track very well - I watch every replay to get the sectionals. I don't think 7 has run fourth. I have seen the photo finish that was posted which shows 7 a nose ahead but I can't believe it. How can the TAB post a result after 30 minutes of deliberation and then change it?

[gutwagon]

Can someone explain why Sky racing show full screen of harness horses just circling before the start but as soon as they start to score up they switch to split screen so that punters can't see what their horse is doing ! Often the other half of the screen just shows an empty track or dogs or gallopers walking to the boxes.

I want to see the score up and first 20 meters of the race in full screen as I'm sure most people do. I wonder if David Martin could get some answers from Sky about this policy.
I know watching on trots vision will avoid this problem but my internet and phone have problems with freezing on their site.

[Messenger]

I was told that our treatment on Sky1 was pretty shabby yesterday and I was sent a copy of a post by David Martin that states the (lousy) agreement the previous administration locked us into runs for another 5yrs while other codes have separate agreements that keep them on Sky1 even if they are running late

[Dot]

Yep it’s pretty sad Kev, well a disgrace really, how on earth did the previous administration think we would ever be a chance of increasing our market share when we don’t have equal billing with the other codes on Sky.

[Messenger]

There is a new 'Sky Racing Active' app that you can get for your phone or tablet for free for 2 months if you have a TAB account (who knows after that) which allows you to choose what code you want to watch - harness, dogs, gallops (not Vic and SA for gallops) without swapping around between Sky 1 and 2. It has other features, alerts etc

[gutwagon]

Sky Racing Active will be free for the first few months but after that I think it will be somewhere between $2 and $5 per month. I wonder if we will still be able to get sky2 on our phones and computers for free once the fee starts. I suspect they will try and force people over to the paid service. The same service needs to be available to foxtell subscribers.

[Messenger]

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/breeders-crown-sky-racing-actives-trots-takeover/

This story says:

There will be uninterrupted live coverage from Melton from 15 minutes before the first race until 10 minutes after the last. It gives us the chance to take all the action and atmosphere of a really special race night to all those fans who can’t be trackside.

I have got the App on my phone and I can get continuous trots vision of trots races around the country but I am not getting Hamilton and co (which I can see on Trots Vision)

Am I doing something wrong?

FOUND IT - have to select Active not Harness

[pards]

midweek EVERY gallop race runs late, and sky channel encourage this by refusing to put running late gallop races over to sky 2 , eg a gallop race midweek normally 2 to 4 minutes late EVERY RACE, and trot and greyhound races which are on time are put to sky 2 for running on time, trots and dogs are going to have to find another channel and piss sky off and let them have there running late gallops to themselves

[Messenger]

Ararat Cup SHAFTED by Sky to Sky2 because it was 4 minutes until the next gallops race at Canterbury. That race jumped a minute after the Cup was all over
Sky/TAB set it up for this to happen

[arlington]

"We are happy to notify you that from 26 March you will no longer have to pay $5 per month to view Sky Racing 2 (channel 527)," Foxtel said.

[Messenger]

Great to have you back Wayne and with such news!
I have been wondering what you have been up to :)
Maybe Foxtel realized that taking away channels all the time (latest Eurosport) requires giving something back
For those who could not justify the rip off for Sky 2 - No more cursing when something gets bumped
I just renewed my Foxtel and it always takes some negotiating - they will always make a deal but you always have to push to get what they are offering new customers (always better)
And it is hard to find a simple webpage that explains their (forever changing) package costs

[Yabbie]

"we are happy to notify you that from 26 march you will no longer have to pay $5 per month to view sky racing 2 (channel 527)," foxtel said.



hooray!!!!

[hugdon]

I refused to pay the $5/month for SR2 ages ago. Like you Kev I recently renegotiated the package but they would not give me SR2 as an incentive to stay (coming up 15 years as a customer) However happy with the outcome but happier after March 26

[Showgrounds]

I only subscribed to Sky 2 in December and found you get a better coverage as it is less crowded most days. Coverage of trots from NZ, in particular, is much better.

[Messenger]

I think I got it back for the last Jewels but I cannot say that I use it much but after your info on Amazing Dream (in the Oaks thread) Trev, I might have to start watching more

[Messenger]

"We are happy to notify you that from 26 March you will no longer have to pay $5 per month to view Sky Racing 2 (channel 527)," Foxtel said.

Due to unprecedented circumstances the planned tier change for Sky Racing 2 (channel 527) will no longer be taking place on Thursday 26 March. The channel will continue to be available as a Specialty Channel and we will communicate to Sky Racing 2 customers as soon as possible.

[aussiebreno]

Due to unprecedented circumstances the planned tier change for Sky Racing 2 (channel 527) will no longer be taking place on Thursday 26 March. The channel will continue to be available as a Specialty Channel and we will communicate to Sky Racing 2 customers as soon as possible.

Lol racing about to be brought to a standstill so no need for the blue channel and they reverse this decision?

I'm actually thinking about cancelling altogether with no footy and races so this has pushed me one step closer.

[Messenger]

Cancelled Sport today myself Breno

ps Be prepared for a long wait on the Foxtel line as they are being inundated and what with working with half staff (social distancing?) it took over 50mins to be answered by the lovely lady in South Africa

[aussiebreno]

Cancelled Sport today myself Breno

ps Be prepared for a long wait on the Foxtel line as they are being inundated and what with working with half staff (social distancing?) it took over 50mins to be answered by the lovely lady in South Africa
I spent 1.5hrs today on hold and it didn't change from telling me I was still over an hour away from being served

[Messenger]

Sheez that is poor.
I put in the survey that they email you following your phone call that 50mins was not good enough and that with reduced staff, they have to make it possible for you to change your package online (they will always let you add stuff but never reduce - they want to talk you out of it)

The most recent posts were moved from the Positives only thread as Foxtel reversed their decision and made it a negative :(

[Halwes]

I decided to read stuff in these posts.. I must confess, there is a lot of knowledge here.. I got giddy so forgive me.
It seems Sky has the rights ( for how long) , their parent is not Foxtel is it. I assume not. If not I saw somewhere that Foxtel were on their knees. Is there any hope Foxtel could take on harness racing. The problem
m to me it seems is not having much larger purses at Melton for say Saturday night quality events . Then again when I went to Moonee Valley ( or was it Melton) just to see if Blacks a Fake could 'do a Makybe Diva' and win 3 inters in a row..in 2008.. I only went to see him for this special event.. I think he was 6 to 4 .. I backed him then went home.. but what amazed me was there was hardly anyone there .. it mattered .. I felt flat .. It was the first time I had gone to the trots since the mid 70s . The atmosphere at the Melb Showgrounds was pretty good.. I think the elevation of the stands and being close to the circuit added excitement.. I actually part owned Padomatic .. a horse that would lose 100 metres at the start in a mobile .. You probably would not have heard of him .. Ray Searby trained and drove him.. he's 78 now. You may have heard of other owners , Ken Brown and my brother John. I suspect not though . So, can we get crowds at the Trots .. fear not ... even if we had another Halwes. ��

oops I just read about Foxtel phone delay omg but do they televise anything now?

[Messenger]

He was an amazing animal, not only did he do it but he finished 2nd, 1st, 2nd in the next three series

[Halwes]

He was an amazing animal, not only did he do it but he finished 2nd, 1st, 2nd in the next three series

Such a diminutive horse, you’d probably look away from him at sales event. Reminds me of the ‘ugly ducking’ who you’d definitely dismiss, Manaroa. But boy was he a hard horse to beat.

[thepacingman]

Such a diminutive horse, you’d probably look away from him at sales event. Reminds me of the ‘ugly ducking’ who you’d definitely dismiss, Manaroa. But boy was he a hard horse to beat.
You're sure right about Manaroa. Would never win a beauty contest but he was as tough as they come.

Here he is in action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok1lUpRdg0I

[Showgrounds]

I decided to read stuff in these posts.. I must confess, there is a lot of knowledge here.. I got giddy so forgive me.
It seems Sky has the rights ( for how long) , their parent is not Foxtel is it. I assume not. If not I saw somewhere that Foxtel were on their knees. Is there any hope Foxtel could take on harness racing. The problem
m to me it seems is not having much larger purses at Melton for say Saturday night quality events . Then again when I went to Moonee Valley ( or was it Melton) just to see if Blacks a Fake could 'do a Makybe Diva' and win 3 inters in a row..in 2008.. I only went to see him for this special event.. I think he was 6 to 4 .. I backed him then went home.. but what amazed me was there was hardly anyone there .. it mattered .. I felt flat .. It was the first time I had gone to the trots since the mid 70s . The atmosphere at the Melb Showgrounds was pretty good.. I think the elevation of the stands and being close to the circuit added excitement.. I actually part owned Padomatic .. a horse that would lose 100 metres at the start in a mobile .. You probably would not have heard of him .. Ray Searby trained and drove him.. he's 78 now. You may have heard of other owners , Ken Brown and my brother John. I suspect not though . So, can we get crowds at the Trots .. fear not ... even if we had another Halwes. ��

oops I just read about Foxtel phone delay omg but do they televise anything now?

I knew Padomatic Terry. He was bred by, and did his early racing for, my old mate Paddy Dunne. Paddy was a pioneer of the trots in Mildura and was a great mentor to me in my youth. I also remember Ray Searby from when he trained on the Melbourne Showgrounds. He later made Tulla Downs at the back of the airport his base. Good to hear he is still ticking along.

[Halwes]

I decided to read stuff in these posts.. I must confess, there is a lot of knowledge here.. I got giddy so forgive me.
It seems Sky has the rights ( for how long) , their parent is not Foxtel is it. I assume not. If not I saw somewhere that Foxtel were on their knees. Is there any hope Foxtel could take on harness racing. The problem
m to me it seems is not having much larger purses at Melton for say Saturday night quality events . Then again when I went to Moonee Valley ( or was it Melton) just to see if Blacks a Fake could 'do a Makybe Diva' and win 3 inters in a row..in 2008.. I only went to see him for this special event.. I think he was 6 to 4 .. I backed him then went home.. but what amazed me was there was hardly anyone there .. it mattered .. I felt flat .. It was the first time I had gone to the trots since the mid 70s . The atmosphere at the Melb Showgrounds was pretty good.. I think the elevation of the stands and being close to the circuit added excitement.. I actually part owned Padomatic .. a horse that would lose 100 metres at the start in a mobile .. You probably would not have heard of him .. Ray Searby trained and drove him.. he's 78 now. You may have heard of other owners , Ken Brown and my brother John. I suspect not though . So, can we get crowds at the Trots .. fear not ... even if we had another Halwes. ��

oops I just read about Foxtel phone delay omg but do they televise anything now?

Glad to hear you knew of Padomatic and Ray Searby.. I can't believe you have heard of Padomatic.. didn't think anyone would have heard of him. You certainly are well read. You sound like you went to the Showgrounds every week. My brother was a member but I had just entered the workforce so couldn't afford it . It was sort of exclusive then. But when I went to Melton many many years later, everything had changed for the worse, except parking which was easy. I hated Melton, missed the row of bookies you saw at the Showgrounds, you saw the plunges, and the race to get the better odds . Melton had nothing to excite me. I prefer country meetings particularly chose the Pacing Cup meetings. I retired to NE Vic and haven't gone to a meeting up here yet. And after hearing the Tazzy govt announce today that greyhound, harness have been stopped today ( including the gallops) ???????? It will happen here to I expect by this weekend. I need to get more knowledge about form otherwise In am unlikely to go much.
When you get some time , could you give say 10 or 12 horses that are good, and if you can the names of a few that are going well or show promise, but are not rated yet by others.

[aussiebreno]

SKy1 has been the most popular channel on Foxtel this month!

[Messenger]

Of course it is the gallops (NSW and Qld) that are going to see Sky Racing (Thoroughbred Central) on free to air for the duration of the virus isolation

http://www.harnesslink.com/Australia/Sky-racing-set-for-free-to-air

[Messenger]

Sky relegating last night's Gp1 Melton meeting to Sky 2 marks a new low in their disregard for harness racing

HRV have already issued a statement

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/hrv-statement-tabcorp-park-group-1-meeting-broadcast/

[Mighty Atom]

Sky relegating last night's Gp1 Melton meeting to Sky 2 marks a new low in their disregard for harness racing

HRV have already issued a statement

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/hrv-statement-tabcorp-park-group-1-meeting-broadcast/

That is an insult transferring a G1 race no matter where it may be to a lesser channel. It infuriates me when Sky1 relegates a city GP race for some ''back of Burke" greyhound race. I avoid all Foxtel sky racing as much as possible it's Trots Vision for me in Vic that is fantastic wish we had that in WA.

[Showgrounds]

Payback for giving Racing.com free to air coverage of Hunter Cup night, perhaps? Certainly set a record for HRV issuing a media release, keep up the good work.

[Messenger]

That is an insult transferring a G1 race no matter where it may be to a lesser channel. It infuriates me when Sky1 relegates a city GP race for some ''back of Burke" greyhound race. I avoid all Foxtel sky racing as much as possible it's Trots Vision for me in Vic that is fantastic wish we had that in WA.

I was watching on TrotsVision too Rod, what I believe may have happened is that it wasn't shafted to Sky 2 - it was always scheduled for Sky 2 :eek:

[thepacingman]

That is an insult transferring a G1 race no matter where it may be to a lesser channel.

Why is Sky 2 a lesser channel? Is it an ego trip to have the races on Sky 1? Doesn't matter if it's on 1 or 2. Whatever channel any race is on if you want to watch it you do. What's so hard about changing the channel? Sky 2 is free now. Surely you're not saying that people won't bet on a race because it's on Sky 2. :confused:

But a bigger insult is actually calling that trot a Group 1 race. Ridiculous. Just the standard of a normal FFA. Way too many group races these days which should be quality not quantity.

[Messenger]

You have a point Stephen. I think people think that the casual punter is more likely to be tuned into Sky 1 and not flicking between channels. I think it would be interesting to know what % of the pools are $100+ bets because I suspect that stable bets and pro punter bets are the vast majority of the pools and that they will be placing their bets no matter what platform the races are on

[Messenger]

One industry source said the racing bodies in contract negotiations with Sky felt they had a “gun to their head”. If they didn’t give Sky all rights to their content – including international and digital - they would be punished domestically by being dropped from channel Sky 1 to Sky 2, they said.

Racing authorities want out of Sky Channel broadcast deals

https://amp.smh.com.au/business/companies/racing-authorities-want-out-of-sky-channel-broadcast-deals-20220220-p59y1w.html

[Showgrounds]

...and Harness Racing needs something better than Sky 2!

Tonight we had the ludicrous situation of:

* a NR64-68 Ben Yole benefit (8 of 10 starters) at Launceston, programmed to start at 6:54, ran two minutes late but got full screen coverage. You would assume;

* the Group One 2700m New Zealand Messenger, which was due to stat in Auckland at 6:58 EST, may also have been running behind schedule, and

* a Class 1 gallops race at Geraldton in up country WA was scheduled to jump at 7:00.

What eventuated? We saw the grand spectacle of the Ben Yole Benefit in all its glory.

We missed the first 500m of the NZ Messenger, then had the indignity of the screen being shared with static vision of gallopers being loaded into the barrier at Geraldton. Both races ran simultaneously until Geraldton finished and we briefly got full screen vision at Alexandra Park after the horses crossed the line. But vision was chopped off a hundred metres later. Oh, which venue got the race commentary? Alexandra Park had it briefly until Geraldton jumped. Class 1 bush gallops are greater importance than Group 1 pacers it seems. No further commentary from NZ.

Appropriately, when the plug was pulled on Alexandra Park we got lovely images of a Greyhound taking a dump on the way to the boxes for the first at Angle Park. That, my friends, accurately describes how Sky Channel treats harness racing.

[Messenger]

Sky Racing reschedules six of today's Hamilton trots races

No surprise there

If you listen to the sound bite, Dayle Brown talks about TrotsVision here as being a viable alternative BUT as much as I love TrotsVision
What we really have to address here is the fact that we are virtually irrelevant
Wont ever be for me but to survive we have to turn around our decline in the market

[Big K]

What a disgrace Sky Channel can be at times.. was thinking to have a bet on the first at Kellerberrin on Sunday.. was watching Sky 2 and there was nothing on screen about the first race, just vision of empty boxes at a dog meet coming up in five minutes.I went to check my betting app when suddenly vision came bursting onto the screen of the race 80mts after the start.. the CBF attitude is unbelievable.. not one mention about the upcoming race before hand. Then Pinjarra trots the following day.. if you were on Sky 1 you would not know they were racing on Sky 2 in the early races.. no mention and nothing on screen.. what a unprofessional disgrace they can be.

[Messenger]

Yes Kev, I bet it doesn't happen to the gallops very often.
I am pretty happy having TrotsVision for Vic trots

[Showgrounds]

What a disgrace Sky Channel can be at times.. was thinking to have a bet on the first at Kellerberrin on Sunday.. was watching Sky 2 and there was nothing on screen about the first race, just vision of empty boxes at a dog meet coming up in five minutes.I went to check my betting app when suddenly vision came bursting onto the screen of the race 80mts after the start.. the CBF attitude is unbelievable.. not one mention about the upcoming race before hand. Then Pinjarra trots the following day.. if you were on Sky 1 you would not know they were racing on Sky 2 in the early races.. no mention and nothing on screen.. what a unprofessional disgrace they can be.

Yep, I had been watching the NZ feature meeting from Ashburton on Sky 2. It had full TAB coverage here and I was waiting for race 8 when I noticed they were televising Mt Gambier Greyhounds. Somebody at Sky had decided that nobody would be interested in watching the Group 2 NZ Sapling Stakes for 2 year old colts and geldings.

An absolute disgrace.