I think your very right there, Rick market research amongst those who bet but not on us would be more beneficial. We don't have a perceived integrity problem, we have an integrity problem, green light scandal in NSW with a participant and steward gaoled, race fixing charges and convictions in QLD and VIC, that I don't think we at the participant level take enough ownership of. Sure there are messages from the authorities that it won't be tolerated and increases in integrity funding but where is the message from the participants to the general public and punters that cheats and cheating won't be tolerated amongst our ranks?
Regardless of if its true or not the belief amongst many trainers and drivers that "certain" participants get special treatment from authorities seems to be endemic to the culture of harness racing making that perception not an easy thing to change.
I am not talking about totally crazy whip use but videos with none/virtually none and videos with above average/considerable use. To see if our ideal market pick up on whipsOriginally Posted by Dot
Like I said - the video survey could aim at gleaning a lot more than just the public's opinion of whips
Greg Sugars was a Champion harness racing person
I think you guys are unnecessarily limiting your expectations by only wishing to convert dogs and gallops punters
I have a fair idea of why dog followers like their code but it would sure be interesting if a survey revealed that a percentage of the public liked the fact that the dogs chase/race of their own free will (with no human or whip in sight)
Greg Sugars was a Champion harness racing person
We welcome them back and even make them mentors for our young participants!
Greg Sugars was a Champion harness racing person
Well if the young are our ideal market some of them don't fit into that demographic and it would be considered too small a group to be statistically relevant but the video survey has been going for 20years now amongst my family for my horses and degree of whip use gets picked up every time.
Not limiting my expectations to converting dogs and gallops punters Kev, just saying we should start with a demographic which is willing to punt, to find out why they don't punt on our code, once we have addressed that and our product is more palatable to punters then we could invest more in attracting people through the gate.
But don't we need to attract people through the gate because you don't become an owner if you haven't
AND it is owners/horses that we need to put on the show
(Mind you, this might be a chicken and egg story)
Greg Sugars was a Champion harness racing person
It's a symbiotic relationship Kev, we need both. Realistically if it's the 18 to 30 demographic we are trying to attract Kev then the focus has to be on encouraging them to punt (responsibly) because few will have sufficient discretionary spending ability at that stage of their life/careers to make the significant investment required ( even with syndicates) to invest in ownership.
Which is why I have always questioned actually why we need to focus on this age demographic as many people think we do. I've always thought we should focus more on an older demographic who are more established in their careers and life path and likely to have more discretionary spending ability to punt or invest in ownership.
HRV details Whip Rule
http://www.harness.org.au/media-room...?news_id=38006
The one part that does not add up for me is how being allowed to whip 20 times in 200m/14secs. It is surely continuous and not giving the horse time to respond. Time yourself and see
Offence clock resetting every 28 days is pretty dam generous
Let's see excessive whip use as a grounds for protest - I reckon it would stop happening in under a month
It would however require administrators and stewards to show they care
Greg Sugars was a Champion harness racing person
Has anyone managed 20 whip flicks in 14secs without it being continuous?
David?
Greg Sugars was a Champion harness racing person
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