Bendigo is happening (late news I know but no power in HG for 6hrs)
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Bendigo is happening (late news I know but no power in HG for 6hrs)
I wish I wasn't in Melbourne today, I reckon the pokies would be open at Stawell Harness Club and so one would be able to watch the trots from the smokers room
Come on HRV - it is time to jump up and down
The general public should be able to go to the Vicbred Super meets even if only outdoors - how is it any different from people going to the beach. We are talking regional meets - the country which has been near back to normal for yonks now and yet people can go to Melbourne shopping centres in their thousands
Ridiculous
ps We will however not accept any fresh of an overseas airplane! (sheez who can believe this is happening and yet country folk cannot wander around the wide open spaces of a racecourse)
I don't think it is that easy Kevin. Its government regulations, not HRV.
Its my understanding the seated arrangements remains in place until early January
Agree it is the bloody Government but it all appears too hard for HRV to accept responsibility for its stakeholders and be proactive in getting the public back to the races.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yabbie
Putting the onus on individual clubs to come up with plans is just buck-passing of the highest order. The trots in Victoria is looking a basket case through my eyes, watching the big crowd at Gloucester Park last Friday night just drove that point home.
Where is the leadership?
I am not saying it isn't the government Carol - what I want to see is HRV putting some pressure on the government.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yabbie
Maybe they are through communication with the Minister but if that is so, then tell us
If that is getting them nowhere then see if they cannot get a racing journalist to pose the question as to how a small number at open space racecourses in country Victoria are more dangerous than huge numbers in metro shopping complexes.
This is getting beyond ridiculous
I am pretty sure that everybody has been in a supermarket lately and seen that everything is pretty normal albeit with masks (mind you only half the people are 'really' wearing them correctly) or into a small shop like a bakers delight where the staff may not even be wearing masks
Even Melbourne has had 6 weeks of zero cases
and yet here is Warragul's excuse for no crowd (not saying it is their doing)
"due to social distancing protocols at present, the raceday stewards panel require a larger space to conduct their work, and will have to make use of the clubroom facility as they did last month.
This necessitates participants moving through what would otherwise be general public areas, which is not possible at the moment."
https://www.facebook.com/warragulharnessracing/
ps I hope only every second horse stall is being used and that there is a fully protected cleaner cleaning the toilets every time a participant uses the toilets, .......
pps Even the Warragul excuse could be overcome by having a temporary fence erected to form a corridor from the stables to the partitioned off stewards area OR have general public attend with the knowledge that it is outdoor only
I had an email from a city worker who is being asked their thoughts on returning to the office (the Government worried about the CBD being dead)
LOL the government is suggesting it is safe to return to the office but it is not safe to go to the races!
Owners have received an email from HRV which includes:
The protocols currently in place for owners and public are race meetings include:
• Owners/public are to be separate from essential personnel (participants/staff) (i.e. owners are not permitted in racing areas such as stalls)
• Public / owners must remain in their designated area, i.e., if they go to the bar, TAB, or restroom, they must return to their designated area (not free roaming).
We understand how patient owners have had to be this year, and while we are heading in the right direction, it is still crucial we always observe protocols.
Please contact the club at which your horse is racing for specific details and offerings for owners.
It is strongly recommended that owners and members of the public register their intention to attend race meetings with the club.
This emphasis on keeping participants apart from the Covid free public (6 weeks of zero now) is prima donna stuff in my book
After all they are mixing with friends, family and the public in their daily lives
The Gallops are looking attractive
https://www.racingvictoria.com.au/ne...=&utm_content=
Racing Victoria (RV) is pleased to advise that it has received official confirmation today that the maximum number of spectators permitted to attend Victorian race meetings under COVIDSafe protocols can increase from 500 to 1,000.
This will take effect for race meetings from this Friday, 11 December 2020 where a Club is seeking to welcome spectators having considered their ability to satisfy the necessary COVIDSafe requirements.
Harness venues with seating that has a view of the track are in short supply - some have virtually none. If you are only allowed to move for food and toilets such tracks are the only viable spectator option
I cannot really understand why people have to be seated when they can walk around shopping centres willy nilly
Ballarat would be good while Stawell has very little unless they bring in more park benches
The same with local gallops but some may be glad they have not knocked down their old grandstands
Why is it that harness attendees have to stay in a seat again?
From The Age's article celebrating the nightclubs reopening
https://todayspaper.smedia.com.au/theage/default.aspx
Dayle Brown has been off duty having a knee replacement
Now that he is back on deck (couldn't resist the pun) we should hear more about crowds this week
Good luck with that knee Captain
I think the crowd situation is all about how much political pressure you can put on Dictator Dan. Gallops owners would include people that give or can influence political donations , that's why they are getting a better deal. There is no difference between trotting venues and gallop venues, many are even at the same venue. I see no other reason for the discrimination towards harness racing.
It's all politics , there is no medical reason for the discrimination !
I am just as interested in why we are disadvantaged compared to bloody nightclubs!
NSW are just about there
http://www.harnesslink.com/Australia...otocols-update
Owners are now allowed at all Vic meetings including the stables - owners being normal human beings (well sort of), it makes the exclusion of the general public an even bigger nonsense. We just have to keep NSW under control
The gallops are a mile ahead of us, this is what they sent me
Tis the season to get back to the track!
It's another big week of country racing as we continue to welcome spectators back to the track to celebrate the festive season trackside.
Remember to check the calendar for all upcoming race meetings and book your tickets as spots are limited and pre-booking is now essential.
Should be a great night New Year's Eve at Melton for the Vicbred finals. Perhaps HRV could put all the owners on a bus and go through a Macca's drive though to save on catering staff.
A suitably miserable end to a miserable year, courtesy of a miserable organisation demonstrating its lack of concern for the stakeholders it is supposed to serve.
I am coming around to your way of thinking Trevor - there can only be one reason that we have not progressed as far as the gallops - our administration
You've got it. That's why I get more enjoyment these days following the racing across the ditch and following the footy. Ellen Tormey's five winners just pours more fuel on the fire. It is seriously farcical in Victoria (anybody got an update on Ride High's "minor" suspensory injury?) and the extremely lazy and compliant media just swallows an regurgitates what it is told.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
If you missed out on free entry for Melton on New Year's Eve
you can go to Ararat tomorrow night (Wed) for free
You can register here for your ticket
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/arar...s-131559023581
It should be a good night with the daytime temp expected to be 26 at kickoff at 5.45
The general public are restricted to the grandstand area. You can get up and get a drink or food, go the TAB or toilet etc but must go back to your allocated seat.
Sitting in the Ararat grandstand is about the closest you will come to a Melbourne Showgrounds experience
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...s/?mc=AR301220
Take any opportunity to go to the trots now because looking at the latest list of Covid exposure sites it will be a miracle if we avoid lockdown again (unless they shut off the Western half of the state now ie lockdown the Eastern half)
I had an interesting report from one of our members who had a good night at Mildura last night
Of course he had to book a ticket and do the online declaration
The problem for the clubs is that they have to fence off the public from the participants
You could have an owner travel to the meet with his trainer but once on course they have to be separated
We are only talking a small crowd but the club has to have 2 catering areas - one for participants and one for the public
Sounds like Paul had it good at Mildura
I am at Ararat gallops
Teach me to be a traitor!
The public are only allowed on the lawn
Lucky there is cloud cover as there is no shelter
You can still burn big time on these days so yours truly is half way down the straight under a pine tree next to his car - I knew those little stools I keep in the boot, would come in handy one day
An omen to go home - fav in R3 broke down on bend and has had to be euthanized
The Nazis kick you out of Halls Gap?
https://www.news.com.au/national/vic...16bedcb965f02c
I missed the Nazis as I was in Melbourne, they must have heard the VP of the Residents and Ratepayers Association was coming home and hightailed it out of town :D
While on Halls Gap, at the races my wife quipped "I've paid $10 to come and sit under a tree when I live in a forest at Halls Gap!" (I must explain that my darling wife joins me on my trips to the racing codes but doesn't actually watch the races)
While there are no cases in the community, it is a complete joke that clubs like Horsham cannot admit the public because they cannot afford the expense of the required protocols
Prediction - 5 day lockdown extended by a couple of days for Melbourne while they roll out the ring of steel to allow the rest of Vic to get back to normal
I understand that the statewide lockdown was a clever way of discouraging people from leaving Melbourne (nothing open in country anyway) and much quicker than assembling 'the ring' for 5 days but I fear that from todays news, Melbourne will need a longer lockdown
Although the numbers seem small, it is where the infected have visited plus the wastewater results from a couple of areas in Melbourne (unless the South Melbourne result proves to be nothing)
But fingers crossed the 5 days does it
My prediction: Dipstick Dan has openly lied to us all, will blame someone else and you will be right on the money, Kev.Quote:
Originally Posted by Messenger
The distinction between Melbourne and Regional Vic, makes me wonder whether metro based drivers, which includes Melton, should be visiting Regional Vic but then again essential workers are allowed to - Are we essential?
The delineation between Melbourne and Regional has its inconsistencies. Up woop woop Reefton (past Warburton) is Melbourne and yet Bacchus Marsh which just about connects to Melton nowadays is Regional
I suppose the bigger question should be if a regional driver goes to Melton on Saturday night, is he allowed to go to his local regional pub for lunch the next day?
(The acting premier answered the reverse - that an authorized worker from metro who is in regional Vic cannot go to the regional cafe etc for lunch)
HRSA are being very careful with border hoppers
Persons that have attended a Victorian race meeting, or licensed training facility in that State, on or after Friday 27 May 2021 are not permitted to attend a South Australian racecourse or registered training venues for 14 days (from the date of the latest exit from Victoria) and must provide Harness Racing SA with the results of a negative COVID-19 test taken on day 13 before attending either a race meeting or licensed premises.
http://www.harness.org.au/media-room...?news_id=48389
I wonder whether we don't need to be careful with metro-regional hoppers
At the very least, we should have 4 drivers rooms for M/F x Metro/Reg and Regional trainers stalls should be distanced from Metro trainers stalls
A return to regional racing (as it would seem it is going to be at least a fortnight before Melbourne people are going to be allowed into the regions) would not be that hard as we have the template from last time
A Regional trainer or driver who has been to Melbourne/Melton and brings Covid home to his region would severely diminish the standing of the Harness Industry
There are stories going around about whether state hopping drivers are observing Covid requirements
eg driving at Mildura and then Globe Derby next night - was there time to have been tested and cleared?
eg going to Tassie from Vic on Friday and driving that night without doing 2 wks quarantine
Nommed a horse 3 times for Bathurst and Wagga and balloted out each time. I think it's time to go back to ensuring starts based on length of time between starts or introduce some bottom up racing. Either was the system isnt working if you cant get a run in your designated grade.
Thoughts?
There has to be a system Arjuna. Maybe balloted out horses need to be asterisked and at the very least any horse with 2 consecutive asterisks must be the first selected next nom
Thats would be a common sense approach. Ended up putting him in a race 7 ratings points higher to get a start.
Wonder what the best mechanism is to get the message out there that during times where travel is difficult that there needs to be greater equity in the process.
Have you emailed them Arjuna, I find Chief Stewards, CEO's - everyone I email in harness racing, very responsive
(The only person I never got a response from was the Victorian Trainers Association)
It might not happen right away but feedback is important
eg. 4yrs ago I made contact with VicRoads about what I/we felt was a serious anomaly
Last week, I revisted the ruling as our town is still upset by it and found out it had been changed 2yrs ago!
Far call Kevin. Lets see how I feel after his performance on Friday. Suprise result at odds out of grade and complaining would be unwise
LOL we should all be rolling in the $$$$$ tonight as Arjuna's big fella got up in the last at Wagga today and paid $16
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...21#EYC23072106
Arjuna tells me he didn't have anything on him either :eek: