Things you like the most about Harness Racing

In the spirit of the things that annoy you the most...the things I like the most are, in no particular order...

1. Family/friends participation
2. Foaling time/Breeding season
3. 2yo & 3yo racing
4. Yearling Sales
5. Watching the young horses (rising 2yrs) develop.
6. Winning a race, any race, anywhere.
7. Backing a winner
8. Harness Websites & Forums which afford the Industry & those in it unprecedented platforms of exposure and allow them the freedom to express their views & discuss the issues that concern them in real time, as it is happening or as it has just happened.
9. The positive changes that have occurred across the board here in NSW in terms of both the NSWHRC and HRNSW. It was not so long ago that both organisations left a Hell of a lot to be desired as far as their interaction with Industry Participants was concerned. The current forms of both are totally unrecogniseable as compared to their forebears and thank heavens for that.
10. The Breed.

Good idea for a thread triplev123, I love watching a foal that you have breed having its first trial and race.
I love the characters in the industry, hardworking and tough as nails.
I love the start of the new season 2yo races, seeing the new stallions progeny and whos got the good ones this year.
The Kilmore Cup is one of my favorite meetings.
Love the new bigger safer tracks. You can see much more without the rails.

Thanks triple for starting this interesting positive thread. I started the original one about "Harness Racing - Things that annoy you most" and have enjoyed reading the responses there , so looking forward to seeing the input here. I will have to go away and have a think about what I really love about harness racing.

Too busy now trying to work out a winner for Menangle tonight. After the first two races , not travelling too well :-(

The thing I like most about harness racing is my horses

Racing the horses up to 6 times a month - try doing that with thoroughbreds! Also being able to get 300+ starts out of them :) And that the good horses race more frequently than the galloping ones.

I could go on all day! :)

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Originally Posted by Flashing Red

Racing the horses up to 6 times a month - try doing that with thoroughbreds! Also being able to get 300+ starts out of them :) And that the good horses race more frequently than the galloping ones.

I could go on all day! :)

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Good Call Flashing red, never better exemplified that ond Karloo Mick at Newcastle last night sticking his head out on the line. What an old warrior. Win number 58 for the champ.

Because of their longevity, you grow to know and love the champs in Harness Racing - Blackie, Karloo Mick, BGJ, Smoken Up, Monkey King etc. Year in and Year out they're there like old friends. In the gallops they are usually retired by the time they've had 25-30 starts, to protect their stud value.

1. Seeing the same faces week in week out. (Even better seeing new faces)
2. Having a consistent avenue to sit down and watch the best on Friday/Sat nights
3. The journey of good horses progressing from first few starts to the ultimate level
4. Horses winning when they shouldn't have; eg a horse 3 wide the trip
5. Horses close to you winning; the bigger the prize the bigger the thrill (can't wait until I actually own one)
6. The best racing each other so often and for so long as other said. (Zipping, the 'grand old warrior' of thoroughbred racing only had 43 starts)
7. Passionate opinions
8. Stories like the Come On Frank win last weekend
9. The ability for Joe Blow to have a horse in against the big names like Luke McCarthy and still come out on top
10. Backing a winner
11. When a broodmare produces winner after winner after winner.
12. That the industry is currently moving forward
13. The unpredictability.
14. Aussie horses beating Kiwis :)
15. There is a track 5mins down the road from me

Not in any particular order.

The horses, the breed and the friends I have been able to make because of Harness Racing.
A lot of what has been written in posts above.

The style of racing that allows for brilliant race calls, tough horses that love winning from the chair, mobile starts, ease of access to get into the game, backing winners, not managing to get a bet on and watching it get beat (that probably relates to all codes though)

There 2 main things I love about Harness Racing. The horses and the people. Every morning, no matter how bad your nights been, the horses are there to greet me. They're my mates with no strings attached and no expectations.
The people I have met throughout the world because of harness racing is great and while come from different cultures we all share the same passion, the standardbred. Whether a person has one horse or a barn full each has the potential to have a Inter Dom or Jug winner.
There is a thousand other things I like/love about our game.

The best thing i like is Harness Racing itself anyone can have a go also having a family of horses that has been with the family since day one and trying to keep breeding winner's from them nothing better than breeding the foal,breaking it in and racing it all on your own whether it win's or not it make's you feel like you have achieved something pretty special that no one can take away from you

1. Anyone can get a good horse in this game, unlike the thoroughbreds which is dominated by the rich and famous.
2. Menangle, what a fantastic track!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The best racing full stop.
3. The rise of the NSW industry, still a huge way to go but getting there.
4. Juvenile racing, horses like Fly Like An Eagle & Sushi Sushi etc are just awesome.
5. The success of young people in the sport... McCarthy, Sugars, Hall Jnr etc.
6. The mile rate measurement, I love the fact that time actually means something (but not everything) in this sport.
7. Adam Hamilton, what a passionate, professional and complete ambassador we have for this sport. Totally astute in my opinion.
8. The Interdominion, I still love it and hope it survives in its current format forever!
9. The early start/finish times Menangle has employed during the winter months.... brilliant.
10. Trots TV... every race a trial replay for free, that is great for the punter.

Great post Triple, focused on the positives!!

Probably the greatest thrill in Harness Racing is owning,training or driving your first winner - no matter where it may be. For as long as you are in Harness Racing very few people forget that first win. Another for me was attending my very first ID and seeing those magnificent horses in competition representing each state and NZ. It was the Interdominion that got me into Harness Racing.The pure spectacle and colour of night racing is something else although I don't think daytime racing has the same feel. Breeding a 2 yr old from a mare that you have raced is another great thrill,particularly if it's a winner. Trotting/pacing still is, to me, a most spectacular night out;if only we could return to the patronage of the past.

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Originally Posted by Zipper

7. Adam Hamilton, what a passionate, professional and complete ambassador we have for this sport. Totally astute in my opinion.

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Thanks Adam. :rolleyes:

The way harness racing people help each other out. It's not strange to see a trainer or driver lend the competition some gear.
The way you can talk to many of the top drivers and trainers, they are mostly down to earth great people.

Zipper,
7. Adam Hamilton, what a passionate, professional and complete ambassador we have for this sport. Totally astute in my opinion.

WANT A BET. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Justdoit....why the need to put flogger next to my name in brackets?

My understanding is that this forum is here for people to express their opinion not for people like you to make a personal comment about someone? Poor form!!!

Thanks Admin!!

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Originally Posted by triplev123

Thanks Adam. :rolleyes:

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Triple.... are you not a fan of Adam's?

In a sport that generally lacks professionalism and people who can articulate themselves, I find Adam very refreshing and good at what he does. I have also met him on 2 occasions and spoken to him on the phone re getting some help with a horse and on each occasion he was extremely polite and very genuine.

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Originally Posted by Zipper

Triple.... are you not a fan of Adam's?

In a sport that generally lacks professionalism and people who can articulate themselves, I find Adam very refreshing and good at what he does. I have also met him on 2 occasions and spoken to him on the phone re getting some help with a horse and on each occasion he was extremely polite and very genuine.

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Some days I really like what he has to say...and other days he makes me want to take my boots off and throw them at the TV... although quite interestly of late & especially since he hasn't been so often teamed up with that damned Mick Guerin I've not felt that urge.
When they were together...'The Minty Men' as I long ago Christened them would always be spruiking a horse through their pockets. You could tell what they'd backed in a couple of minutes just by what they had to say & what was worse still was that they were a way bigger and more effective Kiss Of Death than either the front page of Trotguide or Mango & myself. :rolleyes: Those guys could stop a Japanese Bullet Train.

Yes, following the tips from either of them longterm will lead you rapidly to the poor house. I thought I was a rotten tipster , but these two leave me for dead :-)

I can put up with Adam in short bursts , but that Mick Guerin makes me want to spit!

Sorry , now let's get back to some more of the positive comments about harness racing in this thread :-)

I had some fun picking out feet and moving mares & yearlings around today. :D

We tried the hawk bird scarer things. Tried the spinning shiny ball and tried the scarecrow with the Super Mario mask. Blank spinning CDs, even went bought couple of cats. Birds still got at me wifes veggies and fruit trees. Until today... printed out life size pic of Adam and Mick and stuck 1 one each scarecrow. Birds?? What birds? Cats disappeared too!!

Seriously... anyone pushing Harness Racing in media (even if their tips are crap) deserves huge pat on back!

Don't often take note of Adam's tips but went down to a Victoria meeting a few weeks ago and purchased myself a Herald Sun as reading material.
They had Craig Rail; Bill Glover and Mick Polster to go along with Hamilton's tips. We noticed in our race the only one not to tip us was Adam. I said that was a good thing. It was, at $1.20 the horse galloped out, went three wide to the death and won running away from them. So fair enough he went for an outsider, but theres some races you just pick the fave, maybe have a multi, and go to the next race. Later in the day there was one other race where Adam had gone out on a limb against the other three.
I backed the horse the other three tipped and it won at $2.70.


That didn't have much to do with the original comment of zipper. Which calling him a tosser for is totally unfounded; everyone is entitled an opinion without personal insults.
I believe he still is a positive for the industry and is probably a great guy. But it's his job to do what he does. For his job I think he only does an average job.

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Originally Posted by triplev123

I had some fun picking out feet and moving mares & yearlings around today. :D

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Hehehe. Classic :)

No, seriously, I did. Got a hoof pick and cleaned out the yearlings feet, moved a couple of rather pushy colts into another paddock, moved the dry mares and the in-foal mares around. It was a good day. I'd rather be around horses than most people I know.

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Originally Posted by triplev123

I'd rather be around horses than most people I know.

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Me too :)

Sorry Zipper,
Please take my comment to you as one that was given on an open public forum, by someone that is not using their real name.