Reply With QuoteDitto the aboveOriginally Posted by little fish
Get discussion going and ideas follow! Those in the ivory tower please take note.Wha...Wha...was that an airborne porker going by?
Ditto the above
Interdominion should definitely be involved. Get the best horses in Australasia out there at least a couple times and perhaps a third re my format idea.
I'm going to get a couple of other things off my chest too.
The signage for people driving to Menangle is a joke. They have proposals in with the council to have them but why wasn't this done years ago ?
Menangle in conjunction with Sky should be getting the fractions up on TV ASAP. They have someone sitting on a PC telling the folks at home what horses are in the first four in the run. It should be a cinch to get the times up. Be the first.
Menangle in conjunction with Sky should be getting the fractions up on TV ASAP. They have someone sitting on a PC telling the folks at home what horses are in the first four in the run. It should be a cinch to get the times up. Be the first. Hi Rob, I know not everyone views with audio but I do give the splits during the calls......Always quarters, try to be clever enough to give the first half..... I would love to see a three quarter split somewhere on the semaphore board as I am definately not clever enough to add the three quarters together to give three quarter split whilst concentrating on the race......
IMO the new format for ID should be called the interstate challenge plus one out of our backside and throw in a couple of placegetters we deem fit to grace our presence. It is no more than a bastardisation of the National Sprint or Distance Championships the greyhound fraternity run, with a great deal of pride, pomp and ceremony I might add. Just because HRNSW got the rights for the ID what right do they have to cut the guts out of tradition, (and don't throw the heat farce that occurred in Perth up, that was a one off). See the outline for HRNSW brave new plan on http://www.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=96317
I've been fortunate in the last decade or so to of spent a couple of three year blocks in the EU and the US for work. I've attended pretty much any major racing carnival you can think of.
Gallops wise I've done all the English majors including the jumps, the Arc in France, Ireland twice and one trip to Germany. In the US I've done the Derby twice and four Breeders Cups. Dubai is on the bucket list : )
I'm a Harness Racing fan first and foremost and when I lived in the States I was only 15 mins from Yonkers and an easy trip to the Meadowlands so I've done all the majors at both venues, I've been to the Jug twice and driven to Baltimore, Dover, Florida, Illinois and one trip to Canada for a meeting or three.
My point is I believe I've a good understanding of what makes a truly great racing carnival and I believe Harness Racing NSW could have at least the best Harness Racing Carnival in the World.
As is the case in nearly all of the major carnivals in the EU and US it would need to coincide with the school holidays and with Menangle being out in the sticks, land could be set aside both inside the track and surrounding areas for caravans and cabins etc as well as a place for a show with rides etc
I'd have it at Easter (not too hot not too cold), so why not an Easter Show to take on "the" Easter Show. How many locals out that way make the trip to Homebush to get ripped off every year ? Bring the Easter Show to them and other families who will make the trip not only for the Easter Show as well as those who come to town for what is a little over a week long Harness Racing Carnival.
As for the racing, here goes...
Friday : ID Heats, Derby Heats.
Monday : ID Heats, Ladyship Mile, Oaks Heats.
Thursday : ID Heats, Chariots of Fire.
Sunday : ID Final, Derby, Oaks.
I'd also have :
Trotting Classic. 2 Heats on the Thursday? with the final on Sunday.
MO-M1 2 Heats + Final.
M2-M5? 2 Heats + Final.
C1-C4 2 Heats + Final.
+ 1 race on each day for Country trained horses who qualified in the bush.
I also like the idea of an invitation race on Grand Final Day open for the first two home in the mares race, first two in the Chariots of Fire with the remaining spots filled by horses who just missed a place in the ID Final. How does 100K sound ? as well as a consolation for 17th+ carrying the equiv prize money of an ID Heat.
The Friday could be moved forward to the Thursday night if Good Friday is an issue.
I had a few hours to kill on the flight over
[VVV] I just wanted to bring this to the fore once more.
The very start of the thread.
I sincerely hope some of our esteemed NSW officialdom are reading this and getting a few ideas.
HP, I'll say it again...this is excellent.
Thanks mate.
The set up for the ID next year, is everything bar the kitchen sink on the one night.
I caught the early flight after the final in Perth and got out to Menangle for Ladies night a few weeks back. It pissed down with rain most of the week and pretty much never stopped all night. If it not for the Torque In Motion gang who accounted for 50% of the crowd, it was empty.
Easter is perfect. Menangle might as well be in the other Hemisphere re the perceived clash with the gallops. If you've been to the races on a Saturday recently, there's nothing family orientated about it. I took a few mates who were out from the States in February to Randwick and it was embarrassing. If barefoot inebriated chicks wearing next to nothing throwing up on Alison Rd is your thing, enjoy a day at the races ... Harness Racing should go after families, put on a Harness Racing Show / Carnival over Easter, the best horses will come and so will the crowds, all week long.
It's time to grow a pair and come out from under the thumb of the thoroughbreds. Do you think they give a toss about Harness Racing when they race under lights. What a fizzer that is.
Rehab over ... how about the world's best Harness Racing Carnival out at Menangle. The track, surrounding areas absolutely tailor made for it. The block right next door is for sale too. Grab a piece of that. Get some power on it, caravan and cabin central. Get more permanent stabling there. Visiting trainers at other times could live there etc
Anyway just thinking out aloud.
Speaking of Menangle, a Hell of a lot of construction going on out there. Extension to the grandstand, new race day stabling etc. Add to that the much awaited Permanent on-course stabling/training barns and it's going to be something to behold when it's all finally completed.
Maybe Westfields should look at putting a shopping centre out there, on the vacant lot HP'er said is for sale!!!
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