I might outlive the trots

It might be a longshot especially when you consider that I retired 10yrs ago as longevity does not run in the family
I attended the 3 biggest nights at Melton last year but Breeders Semis night is my first this year
I have done a couple of counts - there is no more than 500 here, 200 are in the bistro for a variety of family gatherings and counting all in the cafe (60/70) as watching the races, I would estimate about 250 people are watching the races on this fairly important night

There is NOBODY in the SkyBox, NOBODY in either Legends function room
As a spectator/attendee sport, tonight suggests we are done
How long can a sport survive (have enough new owners and sponsorship) without spectators

As stated in the Breeders thread - entrants are down too

I don’t think I will outlive the trots but it is no longer 1000/1
NZ cup day impressed me so maybe somebody can fix Vic

I hate messaging on my phone so I will fix any mistakes after

Well said Kev.
A least there will be plenty left to go to its funeral, but in saying that, I don't think we will bother.��

PP says the CEO zoomed back from NZ for last night - I didn't see him there
The only worker I saw that was not scheduled on was Tim O'Connor
I forgot to say in my initial post that in all the times I walked past the new members room I never saw a dozen in there and along with all the other function rooms being empty, there was no one in the two Breeders Crown rooms

I don't really think this is it but Melton would be in the mortgage belt and some might say that the repeated interest rate rises are having an effect

Being an 8/10 juvenile meeting, you wonder whether the other stables have given up competing with Stewart/Tonkin's babies

I am not the biggest 'trotting gait' fan (a carryover of a punting prejudice from my youth) but it is interesting that no stable seems to be able to dominate the trotting gait

I know attendance will influence future ownership/punting but attendance is an incredibly minor amount of our income. You don't have to be on track to punt. Punting may well have been down as well I have no idea but just saying we could have attendance of 0 and it wouldn't necessarily be the death of the trots by any stretch. The trots as they were once were is certainly dead though.

I was actually thinking about zero attendance last night Brendan. What would it be like for the participants? Maybe like the origins of harness racing (no audience) just Farmer Jones v Farmer Next Door. It might be enough for many participants but other than your Aaron Dunns, they of course mostly rely on training fees so it is essential that owner numbers do not fall further - we would still have to attract owners. I believe it is a bit harder to do this if you cannot take them to the trots and excite them with a good night out. You might think this can continue but if the numbers attending do not justify the staff required to put on a good evening, then it will probably become a thing of the past - maybe we will have to rely on couch potato variety owners?

At the same time it made me think of my football coaching days (not the main man mind you), had a little time in the Amateur ranks and after coming from a strong Metro league where we had more attend than last night's trots, I had trouble coming to terms with the amateurs negligible crowds - I could not help but think "Why/who are we putting this on for?"

I take your point - I would just rather be in the position of the gallops

The announcements we are all waiting for are going to be interesting - I fear it will indicate admins acceptance that we are destined to simply be a boutique little hobby industry

Reading this article on breeding numbers

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/the...CN4ZJKd1fCbde1

With the number of services continuing to compound down as it has been for decades (11% last season)
The title of this thread is no longer a longshot
I would not be totally surprised if this decade was even our last

Kev, we said years ago that harness is doomed.
We are surprised it is still going. I think that's only because of the sale of Harold Park in NSW.
Good luck to the other state's but when one falls they will all go.

Do they deserve anything more?

There are of course some great horse people that deserve better but it could also be said that they needed to organize themselves better and prevent some of the atrocious decisions that have been made from happening. In Victoria we have had our share of 2nd class administrators who not only lost our base but also failed miserably in enforcing integrity. There have been some despicable participants who have destroyed our reputation, mostly gone unpunished and while they have had a career they have made it highly unlikely that today's young talent will. On a national level have we seen anything resembling good leadership?
It is all too sad really

Many years ago admin decided that "turn over" was all that mattered, that is all they care about now. I have always thought that on course attendance was just as important because that's where new owners and breeders come from. Now they are starting to see they had it wrong and it may be too late to fix it. I hope it isn't .

As for integrity, we have several big trainers using legal avenues to keep training when they should be suspended. This is driving honest hard working people away.

Integrity IS the main reason for the decline in this industry. It always will be.
IMO it is beyond repair.

15 years ago I posted that unlike the galloping & greyhound industry , the huge percentage of harness racing punters have a direct connection to the industry whether it be a trainer or driver, so for everyone that leaves the industry they take between 10 & 20 punters.
I did some market research on this & it supported my thoughts.
I think that the level of participation is to low be be revived.
No defibrillator can bring this baby back .

https://harnesslink.com/usa/have-we-...-last-century/

Could this be world wide?

Worrying trends

R1 Melton on Friday night is the 2yo Fillies Breeders Crown Heat - it is the only heat (so technically not needed)
Only 12 acceptors

3yo Fillies Only 13 acceptors so just requires 2 heats to eliminate 1 filly

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...24#MXC08112405

ps Only 1 heat required for Breeders Crown 3yo Trotting Colts at Bendigo tonight

Kev

I can give you many reasons why harness is as it is ATM.
You would understand everyone one of them if I listed them.
I think its too LATE to save or fix the industry.
Just my option.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by trish

Kev

I can give you many reasons why harness is as it is ATM.
You would understand everyone one of them if I listed them.
I think its too LATE to save or fix the industry.
Just my option.

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Hi Trish and Kev, I agree I shudder to think what harness racing will look like in 10 years although probably less than 10 years. Maybe at best four tracks left Menangle, Melton? Gloucester Park even Albion Park could be in danger of disappearing. Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park last night had a good crowd in attendance in its heyday, the crowd would have been packed to the rafters. Years gone by harness racing in WA had top billing alongside the gallops now hardly any mention. Sorry greyhound fans but when the doggies exceed the trots we are in big doggy doo da. Has always been the public that keeps the interest in harness racing going in Vic with many outstanding horses being a draw card there should be thousands of people attending but these days a couple of thousand if that is considered a good crowd which is sad.

Looking at the Melton Breeders Crown heats last night: the size of the fields (and lack of heats even), the odds of the faves, the results =
Domination by one stable has been incredibly detrimental to Victorian harness racing

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...s/?mc=MX081124

I would have though many from Vic would have moved to NSW.
I am not sure VIC will improve , even with a little time??
Yes , no???