Different Aspects to Programming

[Yabbie]

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...24#MXM27042401

The best race on Saturday night's Melton program is in slot 1
Many of the same horses were also placed in the R1 slot last week but due to the Nutrien Finals they may not have considered the best race of the night by many (although they were the best performed horses)

It is obviously all about the punt and with a 5.30 start time - trying to piggyback onto the gallops

I guess admin would know if it pays off. I wonder whether 5.30 still attracts the same amount of 'harness punters'.

Attendances no longer seem to be a consideration or else you are not going schedule it this way for although I always get there very early when I go (I have a long way to come, so it is not just a night out event when I do), I am thinking getting there at 5.15 is not what many 'rusted ons' are used to

It is definitely trying to get punters immediately following gallops
They are not interested in on track attendance. I am a timekeeper in local footy and have absolutely no chance of being at Melton for a 5.30 start. Often it’s at least an hours drive direct from the game.

[Messenger]

And so it continues - the main Saturday Melton race is R1 at 5.24 - we are totally beholding to the punt - we are making ourselves mere adjuncts and vassals to the gallops

[Messenger]

4.55 start at Melton on Saturday night.
Maybe we should go the whole hog and see if we can't race at Flemington straight after their last race - damn, they don't have any lights

[Messenger]

Yeah, the average time between races for Terang tomorrow night is <30mins
R1 is at 5.07 and R.8 is at 8.30 - in Summer it would be called a twilight meeting

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...s/?mc=TE210524

[Messenger]

I have just finished my lunch and it is only 2½ hours until Melton R1 (4.54) !

[gutwagon]

Yes they are trying to get the gallop punters to stay on the punt a bit longer. The figures show the the first 2 races have the biggest pools so they think that putting the best races in those positions will increase turnover.
My opinion is if the first 2 races are already getting the good pools why waste the good races in that position ? Try them at race 4 and 5 , maybe the punters will hang on a bit for them. The gallop punters don't know if they are good horses or not so save the good ones for the Harness punters.
If the Harness punters miss the first few races and tune in to see the best horses have already ran they may just tune out and skip the meeting.
Only time will tell. But how much of that do we have ?

[Messenger]

How things change. I have just realized it is 5.40 and had better check out tonight's Melton - I have missed 2 races already!

[Messenger]

Bring back Mondays! They were one of my favourites
Another consequence of pretending Monday does not exist is that you cannot click on Sunday and get any results

https://www.thetrots.com.au/

[Messenger]

I know the reasoning behind it BUT it just doesn't feel right

[Yabbie]

Get used to it not likely to change. Turnover is supporting the early starts
PS I don’t like it either