Here goes
We need punting revenue
It seems to me that the most successful harness in the world is Europe
A few years ago we were providing product for France
Has this the potential to be seriously profitable if we get it right?
Have the last half of our evening meets 4 or 5 trots races that lead into France's own afternoon of racing
Using TrotsVision or Sky whatever, recruit a French race-caller for the feed
Maybe Russia should be the target if they are such big gamblers, I don't know, just throwing a Leftie out there
Greg Sugars was a Champion harness racing person
Hmmmm. perhaps do a search engine search with the following key words before mentioning Russian gambling too loudly!
"russia mafia match fixing"
I think few sports have been affected by "their" (I won't name them as I still have will to live,) long reaching arm. On the other hand, perhaps their involvement is a sign that an industry's betting turnover is great and worth their while!
Originally Posted by Messenger
Russia may be a place to go as they are silly enough to bet on things like this dodgy enterprise:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...scam-the-sting
But seriously no future tracks should be over 1,000 metres in length, to try and give attendees some spectacle value, unlike the 1,400 metre Menangle track where in the back straight the horses are out there in the distance. It is embarrassing to take guests to the track, and the only racing spectacle is when the runners come down the main straight, whilst the rest of the race is watched on the TV screens.
It works for the gallops however Steve but I agree that small track action is a point of difference that we should be exploiting for the excitement factor
While on tracks, someone once suggested to me a figure 8 track - a great way to maybe negate leader bias - could look incredible
Greg Sugars was a Champion harness racing person
Figure 8. Something akin to a flag and barrel race with sulkies. What could possibly go wrong?
"Posters be kind to those who have the courage to throw something out there"
On a large 8, I don't think it would be as chaotic as you are suggesting Trev. I see the pole and the death more or less rotating the lead. I wouldn't mind seeing it. There would be a grass track somewhere that you could peg it out and see how it works(gallops)
Greg Sugars was a Champion harness racing person
It would need to be a big, big 8 Kev and I reckon the sight of horses pulling up lame would prove counter-productive. Then again it would be a better spectacle than Trot Rods and Mercury 80.
Come on people, we are dying and need ideas
Greg Sugars was a Champion harness racing person
I agree!
1. Bring back smaller tracks
2. Get rid of the sprint lanes
3. Remove mandatory split times
4. Bring back the standing starts
Racing has become fixated on fast times, not spectacle. The skill, and cleverness of drivers has been made less important. Racing has been slowly changed and designed to ensure the "expected" result is achieved. Tactics and smarts are removed from the equation. I know people will say that the changes reduce race fixing, but I think this is yet to be proven. Drivers would still be held accountable where suspicious actions were taken. Throwing condition that make tactics more important and bringing back Standing Starts ensures that people find punting more exciting. They punter needs to guess on driver actions and skill and how they think the race will play out. On an 800 metre track and a rival driver can think about how to beat the favourite, versus a race on a 1400m track and the favourite will just bulldoze past on talent giving nothing else a chance....it may be fairer to the owners of that better horse, but does nothing to create excitement and resurrect the industry. Boring and robotic is how I often see races now.
"Boring and robotic is how I often see races now"
That is true of many of our races Em and 99% of USA races
Greg Sugars was a Champion harness racing person
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