Covid 19 Racing

[Messenger]

Imagine having a 2yo and being in the same region as the Stewart stable (and throw in the Stanley, Tubbs ...), it is a pretty hot region. You cannot travel to avoid them so your opportunities are greatly reduced

[Messenger]

"Generally, a 1 week suspension will equate to a 1 race meeting suspension".

So why the hell are they bothering to make a change

http://www.harness.org.au/media-room...?news_id=43501

[Yabbie]

"Generally, a 1 week suspension will equate to a 1 race meeting suspension".

So why the hell are they bothering to make a change

http://www.harness.org.au/media-room...?news_id=43501

I presume because there may be an occasion where for example, both Ballarat and Melton race in the same week and that would be two meetings.

[Messenger]

Surely the stewards have the race calendar at their finger tips and can see how 'harmful' x weeks is
Sometimes regions have twice as many meetings as another region in a 2 week period

What about the small trainer/driver who does not race that often.
He gets rubbed out for 2 meetings, only misses a week thanks to say a busy Bendigo schedule, a week that he wasn't going to race in anyway
And is back the next week - no real penalty

While the Stawell/Terang replica of this trainer gets 2 meetings and misses 2 weeks

These examples can be found in the April calendar

It is unfair if they are not checking the calendar to make the penalty a fair penalty and therefore whether they state the penalty in weeks or meets is somewhat irrelevant - just saying they could have left it as it was

[Messenger]

5 wins and 2 placings to Greg Sugars at Melton tonight (only 3 were Stewart horses)

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...s/?mc=MX180420

How is it that Menangle can still be NSW's 'metro' track - aren't there metro class horses outside that region who are missing out?

[djgood]

5 wins and 2 placings to Greg Sugars at Melton tonight (only 3 were Stewart horses)

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...s/?mc=MX180420

How is it that Menangle can still be NSW's 'metro' track - aren't there metro class horses outside that region who are missing out?

There are trainers with Trotters who cant get to Menangle now , at least 8 in hunter valley ,some of which are now in paddock as they will not put races on at Newcastle for them

[Messenger]

Paul Campbell has posted the drivers' colours for Bendigo on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/29835693765...394172736/?d=n

[Messenger]

Elliminyt is in the West region because it is only an hour from Terang (1½hrs to Ballarat was the alternative, I suppose) but it was worth the 2½hrs trip to Stawell (paired with Terang) for Julie Brimacombe as her infamous Hook Eye Joh (see link) notched up his 2nd win in fine style

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/art...-saves-a-life/

[Adaptor]

The disaster ot the world wide Spanich Influenza epidemic of 1919 had repercussions:

From John Peck:
Back in 1919 when they first tried to create Anzac Day it was cancelled due to the Spanish influenza.

Trotting in Victoria was also cancelled for a couple of weeks:-

BALLARAT TC 08-02-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

COBRAM 08-02-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

GUNBOWER 12-02-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

CHARLTON 13-02-1919 cancelled due to flu epidemic

KIEWA 14-02-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

DIMBOOLA 19-02-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

BIRCHIP 19-02-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

KERANG 19-02-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

NATHALIA 19-02-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

SPRINGHURST 19-02-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

PURRUMBETE SOUTH 22-02-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

SEBASTIAN 22-02-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

CONDAH & DISTRICT TC 22-02-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

KATAMATITE 22-02-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

AVOCA 26-02-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

WARRACKNABEAL 26-02-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

DOOKIE 26-02-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

ROCHESTER 27-02-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

COBDEN 01-03-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

HORSHAM 01-03-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

ORBOST 04-03-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

ST ARNAUD 05-03-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

GIPPSLAND TC (MORWELL) 06-03-1919 *cancelled due to influenza ban*

[gutwagon]

I think in 2 more weeks it will be time to go back to normal race programing. Keep the hygiene practices and no crowds of course. Lets not ruin the feature races like the Vicbred and breeders crown.

Might be worth looking at having 2 or 3 regional races on every card just to give local trainers and drivers a chance at getting some prize money. It has to be better for the future of the industry to spread the money out more evenly.