The next 2 days are abandoned so do you think they should abandon all until April 1 Breno or maybe a bit longer even to make sure it isn't spreading eg until Apr 11Quote:
Originally Posted by aussiebreno
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The next 2 days are abandoned so do you think they should abandon all until April 1 Breno or maybe a bit longer even to make sure it isn't spreading eg until Apr 11Quote:
Originally Posted by aussiebreno
I think there are 4 reasonable options. Any other options that I can think of are just not feasible in the slighest.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
A) abandon all racing up to April 1 and start with this zone theory
B) just scratch horses that are racing out of their zone over the next few days and then start zone theory (Bathurst would still to be abandoned though)
C) wait 14 days and start the zone theory
D) Cancel all racing immediately
I'm probably on the side of D but on the fence. D because of the good of the nation and the long term public image of racing its a no brainer to go with D. We are lucky hair dressers and coffee shops having been copping it past 24 hours and we have still somehow flew under the radar of the public. However I can understand the economic decisions and responsibility to industry stakeholders to not go with option D.
Which leaves A, B, and C. A&B are still a bit of a gamble with cross-zone contamination including from previous meetings if it comes out someone is infected, but nowhere as big as a gamble as racing at Bathurst. C would be ultra safe option but we lose 2 weeks now. We could come back in 2 weeks but then in 3 weeks time with the infection rates going as they are we could have people across multiple zones bring in infection from outside the harness industry anyway so multiple zones are shut down - so we could have just wasted 2 weeks of no racing for no return. But still A, B & C would seem the safest bets if trying to lock in a good (good in relative terms) economic result for stakeholders - much safer than racing at Bathurst.
The APG series
the Board resolved to seek a POSTPONEMENT of both Series 29 and Series 30 by TWELVE MONTHS.
http://www.harness.org.au/media-room...?news_id=43304
Harness Racing in NSW and VIC to resume tomorrow as Penrith Officials Coronavirus test came back Negative
No smart Regional moves from Vic - only the following
http://www.harness.org.au/media-room...?news_id=43312
IMO, an excellent suggestion from an old poster - that the prizemoney across NSW's 4 regions should be evened out a bit instead of having the Metro region the only one racing for the bigger prizemoney
So we all know that Bathurst went ahead with plenty of VicsQuote:
Originally Posted by aussiebreno
I sure wish that Victoria had a regional system in place for them to come back to, for if any of them bring back the virus - the whole state closes down again
With the public not allowed to attend surely it makes sense to use fewer tracks to cut back on expenses
Check out the field sizes at Cranbourne tomorrow BrendanQuote:
Originally Posted by aussiebreno
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...s/?mc=CR300320
Wow. Are these panic nominations in a similar vein to panic buying toilet paper! Full fields and 8 races!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
Mildura Cup postponed, Bendigo moved to Tuesday
HRV will tomorrow morning provide a more detailed view of how the racing calendar will look from Thursday onward.
https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/art...ed-to-tuesday/
LOL this home isolation must be messing with my brain, reading the above I got excited about Stawell trots on Wednesday - before remembering we cant :(
I haven't been to Mildura for nearly 36 years, having been a Cup regular for the previous decade. My wife has never been there so I booked in nice and early last month for the week. My wife started holidays last Monday knowing we wouldn't be going to the races. Since then, I have been advised I am in the "high risk" category (due to a recent hospital stay and chemotherapy) and to stay home. I can handle that.
This afternoon I rang our hotel in Mildura to cancel and the reception pre-empted the nature of my call. She said she had worked there for 15 years and had never made more cancellations than she had the past fortnight. Shortly after, I found out the three race meetings scheduled there next week have been "postponed". The economic impact to the town must be immense. We have already made a decision to spend a week there in September.
You might be high risk Trev but I hope you are in good health
In some ways the postponement of their cup may be a good thing (if they get to run it eventually) as I cannot see how running races with no crowds can help a town very much (or a club when they are paying out big prizemoney in the current times)
I live in a tourist town which is pretty much closed up and empty but I somehow suspect we are going to see the holiday houses full at Easter - I hope I am wrong because we really do not want the locals mixing with out of towners in the little supermarket which is pretty much the only thing still open
Not really a surprise. Trainers probably realised they will not have to spend however long fighting their way through the traffic like would normally happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by aussiebreno
https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/art...from-thursday/
The new racing model will see Victoria divided into six regions, with meetings conducted at nine tracks – Inner West (Melton and Ballarat), West (Terang and Stawell), East (Kilmore and Cranbourne), North West (Mildura), Central (Bendigo) and North East (Shepparton).
To see who is in what region
https://www.thetrots.com.au/racing/region-based-racing/
It will affect drivers most of all
Chris Alford does not list an address nowadays - what region will he be in?
Pretty sure Chris would be this Kev -Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
LGA: Macedon Ranges Shire Council
Region: East
Track/s: Cranbourne - Kilmore
So our leading driver will not be allowed to drive at Melton. I wonder whether they will do the right thing and spread the prizemoney around the regions
Interesting, when I checked the Top 20 lists to see if Chris was still leading driver, I noted that number 2 Greg Sugars is listed as SA :confused:
I will provide the link but sometimes they only take you to the home page
http://www.harness.org.au/ausbreed/r...ins?d=30032020
Pretty sure no Melton meetings, at least no metro. I'd say they have a gazillion things to work through, pat on back for them, doing a great job by the second and pretty well 24/7. Would have to look at my phone but I think I've received info updates via sms at 8 -9 o'clock at night.
So if one region shuts due to infection can horses be transferred to other trainers in the regions that are still racing ?
With high infection rates and close proximity to Melbourne I think Cranbourne and Melton should have been avoided and not used. Drastic action will prolong the racing window.
They should stick to tracks with open stable areas. Strange that Maryborough has been left out.
Just a thought, no more. Chris might appreciate a lighter load, not racing around at all hours all over the state.
At a pinch they could have given some pro drivers 2 regions while making sure they did not overlap
eg Sugars, Gath, Bellman - West and Inner West
Alford, Herbertson, Frenning - North East and Central
Of course this has the potential to take out 2 regions with 1 virus case but we do have 7 regions compared to NSW's 4
Doubt that would fly Kev. Martin and Daniel would not approve.
Besides you left out one gun driver from the north east who has run past Chrissy his last two drives :D:D:D
Only a couple of meetings just released, take it as a sample. Prize money per race 7000, 8000, 12000.
A podcast from yesterday. Paul Campbell, "Campbell's Comments" with HRV CEO Dayle Brown.
Regional racing, prospects of morning races...
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-zemai-d797e5
The drivers (enough of) might be the tricky bit
Chris Alford is listed to drive 4 horses in R3 at Kilmore at this point
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...20#KIC03042008
The driver listed with the first release of fields would be, by default, the last one who drove that horse.
I don't think it's going to be a problem, certainly not out biggest hurdle, to continuing through COVID19.
Off the top of my head Josh Duggan might have driven a couple of those previously...
A tip from me - follow the form of the horse.
I knew why Chris was listed 4 times
A tip from me - follow which one Chris goes with ;)
Although we have many accomplished drivers who might run past the likes of CA
The new regions means we are not going to see the leading drivers race against each other as much - there may only be a couple in each region
ps I wonder why David Miles isn't driving any of his
https://www.hrnsw.com.au/news/2397/1...-championships
This is what we want to see - sharing it around
Except Menangle trainers are still getting all the Metro stakes on Saturday
How long has Grant Dixon been a Menangle trainer?
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...s/?mc=PC040420
Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
From the bottom up (a hint to the HRV race programmers) David drove and won at Bathurst, has self isolated, maybe still celebrating, but his horses are racing.
Not seeing the top drivers race against each other for this period is...we shouldn't race because of that? Hmmm
A tip from the mouth of C Alford for last night - Alison had three in one race, Chris thought one he wasn't driving had the better chance. Odds went from 8's to 4's in a few mins, started 2's I think. Started badly and ran second. Form line suggested C A wasn't a bad tipster. BTW was public, RSN.
edit: and no, Chris didn't win
edit II But hey Kev, no better time to back the top drivers in the region, they should have field days. Just like the stock market now, buy in buy in buy in!
Nobody is saying that are they?Quote:
Originally Posted by arlington
One side of my brain says that the top drivers might have a picnic, the other says that without their peers there - it might be a bit more unpredictable and trickier
Yes David had to self isolate
https://www.harness.org.au/media-roo...?news_id=43329
What is the story on Grant Dixon
Has horses in at Albion Park
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...s/?mc=AP040420
And horses in at Menangle
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...s/?mc=PC040420
Tipping horses with a caretaker?Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
It is amazing that we are still racing - now they have closed golf courses!
We are relying on participants to do the right thing - to put the industry's interests before their own (stay away/fess up if anybody in their stable/circle is crook)
SCARY really - I have read too many Stewards Investigations to trust anymore than 80% of participants
Received a HRV SMS at 8:35 pm tonight. First morning meeting Shepparton next Tuesday the 7th.
What about a TAB driver challenge? I realise it could be short lived but weekly?
What is with the mornings Wayne?
We only have the punting dollar now - will they help???!!!
If you listen to the podcast , link posted a day or so ago, Dayle Brown expands on the reasoning. Had been muted at the CEO road shows.
Timeslot suits some of the northern hemisphere and the opportunity has come up to put them on at a lower risk. Hadn't been any bottom up, $4500, races programmed with low points score horses finding it hard to get a run with the new COVID programming. Suck it and see - fortune favours the brave.
edit: Poorly written, my thoughts are (not from HRV) opportunity to put lower risk 4500 races on whilst giving the low point scorers opportunity to race. The first meeting is a 4500 that's all I can say.
I must start listening to more of these podcasts but we deaf blokes like short and sweet written dot points
That is racing 2 days in a row for ShepQuote:
Originally Posted by arlington
As you know Kev, big horse population, now including Cobram Echuca Wang... pat on the back to the Shepp club for accommodating.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger