Surprise, surprise - look who won
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...23#MEC09052301
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Surprise, surprise - look who won
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...23#MEC09052301
PP appears to have been spot on with his article this morning, well done.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
But here is the real scandal. The stewards had nothing at all to say after this horse won today but cop a load of the puerile rubbish the put in the stewards' report from 2 May. Kindergarten level stewarding, read race 7:Quote:
Originally Posted by Showgrounds
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/st...l/?mc=ME020523
This is what Trevor is referring to
Don't you love how she does the little kid 2 excuses line just in case they don't believe the first one - pathetic
ps If they do not believe she was trying then they should be questioning the trainer too - in my book stewards should be feared!
Popular Alm won the Italian Cup worth $10k in 1984 and the median house price was $68,200
10/06/2023 the Italian Cup is worth $24k and the median house price is $836,800 (down from $900k in 2022)
Admittedly we are talking about 'more house' but in 1984 the $7k 1st Prize was worth more than 10% of a house
In 2023 the $13,680 1st is worth a bit over 1.5% of a house
HRV programmes run of the mill races and, these days, passes them off as time-honoured feature races. All smoke and mirrors.
House prices unfair indicator though given the very same house despite being 23 years older have gone from around 3x median wage in 2000 to 7-8x median wage in 2023. Using median wage as the indicator:
1984 median wage $25k
2022 median wage $65k
1984 1st prizemoney 28% of median wage
2023 1st prizemoney 21% of median wage
Did anybody know the Truer Memorial was on Monday?
WOW we missed it
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...23#BKC12062301
I see this was posted on the day (but I did not see it then)
https://www.harness.org.au/media-roo...?news_id=61326
Was once a race we would NEVER EVER forget and it IS still worth $50k (Half what it used to be but still significant and a Gp3)
I haven't looked but let me guess. The Treuer Memorial at Bankstown.
Run on a 7 race card on a public holiday Monday afternoon. Another wonderful marketing and publicity failure.
The last at Kilmore on Sunday resembles a Tassie Ben Yole benefit
It irks me that we have several good size fields racing for $4,500 on the program
While this race which could easily end up a field of 3 is for $10,000
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...23#KIC25062304
All of those horses are overpriced. $50,000 for Bernie Winkle would have been good buying before he won 20 races at Mildura. But now, seriously?
On the other hand there are plenty of other overvalued horses that should be running in $10,000 claimers but connections believe they are far more valuable.
And here we have a stable throwing in a couple of extra runners to make it 4/6 so that a race stands up
All 6 are racing but it is the Douglas stable - they do not believe in resting/spelling their horsesQuote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
Some of you may have noticed Gavelhouse's recent auction updates for broodmare Carla's Pixel (in foal to Captaintreacherous) front and centre on the HRA homepage
She ended up going for $300k
https://www.harnessbred.com/300000-c...million-years/
Shannon Nixon getting out of breeding may be the bigger story
Or getting them off the floor. Both Rick Reilly and Bernie Winkle raced at Mildura on Friday, a long round trip before fronting up at Kilmore just 48 hours later.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
No animal welfare concerns there, obviously.
USA Harness Racing seems to be going in the right direction
Total wagering on U.S. harness races during the second quarter of 2023 from April 1 through June 30 increased by $17,429,145 (4.20 percent) with $432,816,519 bet this year compared to $415,387,374 during the same three months in 2022.
Purses during the second quarter showed an increase of 6.35 percent. From April through June, $123,886,570 was distributed in purses compared to $116,494,120 last year, an increase of $7,392,450.
Average wagering per race increased by 0.55 percent from $43,762 to $44,003. Wagering per betting interest was down slightly during the second quarter by 1.00 percent at $5,659 compared to $5,716 in 2022.
The number of race days increased by 17 (2.00 percent) with 868 this year compared to 851 last year.
https://ustrottingnews.com/u-s-harne...econd-quarter/
I am thinking they must also be running more races because 2% more race days and an increase of 0.5% betting per race would normally suggest a 2.5% increase in wagering (not 4%) to my simple little brain
"USA Harness Racing seems to be going in the right direction" (see above) but maybe NOT as we have John Mane writing 'Hello? Is there anybody listening?'
Looking at the results from the five racing days leading up to our July 4 celebration (Wednesday, June 28, through Sunday, July 2), there were 21 pari-mutuel racing harness racing establishments in action.
A total of 576 races were contested with 4,451 horses going back of the starting gates. There were also a couple of cancellations and shortened racing programs during the period depriving a couple of hundred more horses of earning power for their owners, trainers and drivers…although the expenses kept on…
Of those 21 tracks, only two could muster enough entries to average nine starters a race—Scioto Downs and The Meadowlands.
This is not conducive for the future growth of our sport as it is a spectator sport and now, many tracks are unable to stand alone without the help of casinos and/or legislative help—something that is far from guaranteed in the future—leaving the patrons uncared and unappreciated.
Any time a track has less than eight starters in a race, the pari-mutuel prices get smaller, and the betting pools shrink right along with the number of starters…and the number of bettors.
https://harnesslink.com/usa/hello-is...ody-listening/
US inflation was up around 8% for a lot of last year so a 4.2% increase is still a loss of 3.8% in real terms.
Probably better using that inflation figure for prizemoney which was only up 6.35% (wouldn't we love to say prizemoney was up 6.35%)
The more relevant figure for wagering comparison might be wage increases as this somewhat equates to spending power - were they up more than 4.2%?
If wages weren't up 8% to match inflation, then a 4.2% increase in wagering would be very good as the average home would have been experiencing a spending squeeze to offset the increase in all their essential spending
Would still compare for both. Current wagering will reflect future prizemoney.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
Quick search says US wage growth 5%. So guess through that market share type lense its only a very minor downturn however the wage growth is irrelevant when looking through the lense of expenses of the industry. If costs are rising 8% and wagering only up 4% thats still a chunk of higher expenses without the income to match.
No, what I was meaning in regards to wage growth is in terms of household income. If peoples' expenses are increasing by 8% but their wages are not, then it is unlikely they are going to wager as much. If inflation is +8% (cost of living) and wage growth +5% then I think the US industry should probably be reasonably happy with an increase in turnover of 4.2%
Yes I get that hence the viewing from lense of market share comment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
However for raceclubs and associations future survival they are still down 3% real inflated adjusted income and up 8% expenses.
You can take some positive out of wagering staying consistent with wage growth and being better with disposable income, but at the end of the day hanging your hat on that wont pay the bills.
Inflation not the fault of the sport, but its not good reading for financial viability of the sport.
Sure it is not a 'metro' meet and there is even another meet on at Mildura
BUT
$4,500 races at our metro track (Melton is that) on a Friday night
FEELS WRONG
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...s/?mc=MX140723
(only 2 of 10 races But it still feels wrong)
These races, along with stakemoney for unplaced horses, just reward mediocrity and diminish returns for the better performed horses. In turn, that diminishes the punting pool. I confess to be just shooting from the hip with the last statement as I haven't researched it. i guess if a well-proven horse snuck its way into a $4,500 race it might attract some big wagers but it would also shrink the size of the pool due to nobody wanting to punt on its opponents.
I think I have said it before, but these lesser races were once the domain of non-TAB picnic clubs. They were a good thing for advancing horses, educating young stock while paying for some feed and a good, social occasion. All of this was flushed down the river when HRV, in its unquestionable wisdom, determined all its races would be TAB-covered events. The minimum stake for these has risen from $3,000 to $4,500 over the years but, seemingly to the detriment of the minimum country stakes.
How many years have we been racing for $7,000 now in Victoria? Seven or eight is my rough guess.
If you are wondering why we are behind the other codes for turnover
Tomorrow in Australia there are
15 Thoroughbred tote meetings
8 Greyhound tote meetings
3 Harness tote meetings
We are clearly a 'boutique' industry
Most of us rusted on harness people still know the champions going around in the gallops
My 30's son-in-law makes his living out the gallops, he used to work for a big betting agency but has gone out on his own - so he is a serious racing person.
I brought up Leap To Fame (going to talk about his brother beat him ...) - He has never heard of Leap To Fame
Far out - we have to throw heaps of money at regaining a profile if we are to be anything other than 'boutique' and irrelevant to anybody other than rusted ons
Shocking if it is true, according to PP this is why NZ standardbred mares (especially in foal) are being sold to China
28 horses, ALL fillies and mares, exported to China in the past month according to the Exported Horses report from the HRNZ website.
It is true, why else would they be air- freighting standardbred mares into China? And broodmares, when there is no racing?
Edit: I see you posted elsewhere about this Kev. Ill keep this post up but will keep my conversation to the other thread
Not sure where to put this but I was looking up my colt's full sister on HRNZ having decided to reach out to the owners to buy her. Noticed she's been exported... to China. 27 in total were exported to China in July (ALL were mares 3yo-11yo), in comparison 29 were exported to Australia with just 1 to the USA. I'm a little concerned about this - have read that it's a scam and the horses are put in foal and foals aborted so they can harvest the placenta for face creams. Surely... surely that can't be right. also been told that they race them there under saddle but wouldn't explain why theyre buying older broodmares. Any insights?
Note: This post was moved by Moderator Messenger
Sorry, I was too slow and didn't see you two commenting this (I made a post elsewhere). It is very concerning - I was hoping to buy one of the horses on the export list. Stupid me, didn't think they'd be interested in selling her so put my thoughts aside until tonight. Surely they wouldn't just be giving these broodmares away? How would it be worth it for China, they'd have horses there already no?Quote:
Originally Posted by Showgrounds
Katie, we are only 2nd hand reporting what Peter Profit has been writing
There is no suggestion that the horses are being given away as the Rejuvenating Cream is VERY expensive and PP is suggesting that one placenta can be worth millions as the creams contain a miniscule amount
PP even suggested that one sire/stud farm was taking advantage of the demand for impregnated mares
I think there was also a suggestion that Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds were preferred for some reason
The Age has a shocking leading story today that the 3M company has contaminated all of our bloodstreams with forever chemicals
Why I include it here, is the mention of the chemist who discovered the extent of the contamination (back in the 1990's!)
Overwhelmed by his workload, Bacon outsourced some sampling to Dr Jack Henion at New York’s Cornell University, nicknamed by those acquainted with the case as “Horse Track Jack”.
“Jack was from Cornell but he ran a private little side business where he analysed racehorse blood serum in New York state for dopers and cheaters; is that fair to say?” Douglas asked Bacon during his deposition.
“That was his claim to fame,” Bacon said.
Sometimes I feel dirty for loving horse racing
We are 10 months into the season = to 83.3% over
I think most would consider Aaron Dunn a fairly high achieving trainer (and owner/driver)
How many of his horses do you think have won $100k this season?
How many of his horses do you think have won $50k this season?
How many of his horses do you think have won $20k this season?
This post HAS TO BE READ AFTER THE ABOVE POST as it is the answers to the above post
DON'T LOOK DOWN YET
DON'T LOOK DOWN YET
DON'T LOOK DOWN YET
The answers are one, one and just the above two
Yes, Aaron's stable have only had two horses earn over twenty thousand this season so far
As far as indicators of how our industry is going - this is bad
Horses 3-10 of his on $$ this year have only had 76 starts and won $100k between them. 5 of those 8 have had 10 or less starts.
Most meeting have around 80 starters and $60k prizemoney so his stats actually read good in that sense. There would have to be plenty worse off trainers to get the point about prizemoney across.
You don't get it Brendan - I chose him because Everybody knows that there are Mostly worse. (I said he would be considered a fairly high achiever)
Aaron is not only the trainer/driver/owner of his horses (so it all goes into his coffers), he is a successful businessman so he can afford harness to be non-profitable
You need to tone down the warrior - stop thinking you have to rebut what others write
If a trainer is not on the National Top 20 list, they are probably struggling to justify their training fees based on owner returns only - I say only because not everybody expects ownership to be a 'free' interest/hobby
I just don't think it is in anyway noteworthy. Just the 76 starts between those 8 horses is <10 starts each. It doesn't matter how good you are if you have bugger all starters. If you dig deeper a couple of the better horses have only had very limited starts so no chance of cracking $20K. Its hardly surprising if you have bugger all starters you have bugger all prizemoney. He's had 5 horses have over 10 starts, 2 of those cracked the $20K and one is awfully close.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
I let most posts go through to the keeper but only rebut when I see appropriate. If you can criticise Maryborough race videos, Trotsvision audio, Melton scheduling just in the past 3 days etc I think you can take some rebuttals!
Fair enough
Do you think Mary, TrotsV and Scheduling all deserve a free pass?
I didn't put a lot of work into researching the Dunn example (this is only a forum after all) but I think the point I am making - that it is a bad industry to try and earn a living from, is still clear
Another example. Adam Hamilton's latest article is about how Wave and Ravishing are going to clash in a $40k race. To attract a couple of top horses in the gallops you would at least need a 2 in front of that sum. Watching the $5m Cox Plate on Saturday, you could not help but notice Adam front and centre in the winner's stall - I wonder how he rationalizes the difference in the codes
What I would really like is for more people to post (esp initiate topics) I feel the forum is too reliant on me (yourself and a couple of others sometimes) to keep it ticking over.
If a forum does not have something new on it pretty much daily - it will die. It can become a chore for me sometimes - harness is not even my number 1 hobby
If I did not post for a week or two, I think this forum would be dead. Sometimes I am scratching to post something so you can see how rebuttals might get on my goat
For my first interest, I can go to one forum and find 20 new posts every day for me to read and enjoy
- Maryborough you would think by now would have been sorted
- Trotsvision not great with their hiccups sometimes but I can understand occasional wtf moments given low budget production
- The scheduling Sat night was great. If that suits TAB turnover and personally/selfihsly it also suits me more to have the better races at that time.
Appreciate you keep the forum ticking. Tbh I use forum/you as my important news filter knowing I dont need to spend 15mins trawling harness.org every day because if something important comes up you would have posted about it!
I think the need to show real names, twitter and facebok have worked against this forums activity levels.