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I don't think anyone, Ray included, is saying Ray's work is a new concept but God bless him for still trying Stu.
The racing journos have always been spruikers for the gallopers first and foremost.
I do not for one minute think they are any cleaner than us.
Yep lets build from basics and get interest but although we are playing in 2nd division now, I don't think we can afford to go back to 3rd division.
No inner city tracks in Melbourne and Sydney seems to be a mind boggling handicap if you are considering entertainment revenue.
But we just have to be smarter. Maybe we can get old mate Dennis to build a railway out to the growth corridor Melton and we will run Trots trains - like going to the Showies :D
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http://www.harnesslink.com/New-Zeala...t-for-breeders
One of the most pressing issues for people involved in the harness racing industry in New Zealand is what are we going to do to address the continuing decline in the number of mares bred.
Many participants in the industry have a various rationale for the reasons for the decline which has seen the number of mares bred last breeding season drop back to levels last experienced in the late 1960s.
On the racing side of the industry a lot of time and effort has gone into getting better utilization of our racing stock and progress has been made.
Our two major clubs have made great strides in recent times with regards to stake levels and returns to the industry.
However on the breeding side of the industry the core issue for breeders of affordability continues to languish in the too hard basket.
The chances of the average New Zealand breeder returning a profit on their foal/foals has continued to decline over the last 20 years as costs have risen far quicker than returns.
The commercial side of the breeding industry has held up reasonably well to a point but the hobby breeder who sends one or two mares to stud each year are starting to resemble 21st century moas.
The reason that it is so important to keep numbers up overall is the position of harness racing in the New Zealand gambling market
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http://www.harnesslink.com/New-Zeala...t-for-breeders
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I wonder whether the small numbers we are seeing in 3yo races of late, is relevant to this discussion?
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You just might be right Kev, Have spoken to a couple of proprietor's at insemination stations in the last week or so and one particular person mentioned that Alabar's numbers were down by 30% and they had only inseminated 1 mare with Bettor's Delight, The other place has a heap of mares running around , Maybe 30 or 40 and 98% were trotting mares and only 2 mares had been served by Pacing stallions.
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Rich, I too had someone tell me how breeding in their region had dried up. Studmasters would have to been contacting HRA, HRV, HRNSW surely. I was also told that foal numbers was not on the agenda of an 'industry issues' presentation to country clubs - maybe it is on another agenda
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This may be appropriate to here or the MM thread but an excellent article on betting and coverage of last night's Mile by Matt Nicholls - melbourneracing.com.au
http://melbourneracing.com.au/articl...e=6694&force=Y
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http://melbourneracing.com.au/articl...e=6694&force=Y
Some quotes:
Another feature harness racing event, another disappointing effort from Sky Racing.
That is a disgrace and there should be an investigation as to why the tote turnover dropped by such a large per cent.
Sky Racing, which is controlled by Tabcorp, must step in and boost its coverage of harness racing if it wants the trots to survive.
Or maybe, just maybe, the reason why its coverage of harness racing is so pathetic is because the head honchos don't actually want it to survive.
Wouldn't you love to hear from someone in authority on this article
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I am thinking that 110 people at the Victorian Breeders Awards night does not sound like boom times
http://www.harness.org.au/news-artic...?news_id=25083
