A new track south of the Bombay would eliminate harness racing being an Auckland entertainment option and reduce the ability to attract new owners (=horses) in the north. People need to experience racing live to join the party. Even on an average night the Park is a good night out with plenty of good dining options. Also, and perhaps more importantly, the existing businesses that the club has on site make good revenue (that's how they fund the Golden Gait series and supported race stakes in the past). Once the development arm clears it's massive debt from the building fiasco, those same developments will provide income, which will further support ATC stakes as originally planned. Moving from the Park would lose all that income that subsidises racing at the Park.

I don't "HAVE" to do anything, despite your telling me l do. I wouldn't have an each-way bet at any such meeting, so I'm not remotely interested in divvies for 3rd as you base half your missive on. The other half is based on owners, and if you read my post properly you're actually supporting what l said yet are making out you're not. That's a comprehension issue, and it's your issue, not mine. You've made dozens of great posts on this forum. This one certainly hasn't added to them.  A quaddie may be of interest (l generally check out the quaddie legs but don't always take one), but it's still generally difficult to get any sort of divvie (I'm a small punter) when every leg has only a handful of runners. This is where the Pick 6 was a good bet type, but Entain couldn't see that. I simply don't enjoy watching 5-6 horse fields. It's a personal choice. This is something a Labour government will likely take away in future, so celebrate it while you can 🤣 I have plenty of things to do over summer without spending 4 hours watching paint dry at Alexandra Park on a Friday night (especially while our best horses are across the ditch), but thanks for your concern 👍  And no, it doesn't involve tennis, cricket or beach volleyball 🤣 Besides, it's no boycott. It's just that l choose not to watch or bet on something that'll bore the crap out of me when l could be doing something else that brings me enjoyment. Horse racing has NEVER been the only thing to put a smile on my dial, far from it, and when they fail to provide a product that floats my boat, well, surely ANY sane and sensible person would look for something else that does?  

Interesting Cam Hart is on a Emma Stewart horse PS and not on Jason's horse

Unlike the exciting days of Jan's Beau and Kotare Chief 

Don't tell me thats why Entain are throwing good money after bad at Alexandra Park.  Would make more sense selling Alex Park and creating a new complex south of the Bombay, like Menangle and Harold Park did.

Ah yes sorry. I was thinking about the $450k reserve. Be different in next few years with prize money increasing for horses outside the winner.  I assume Cambridge and Khier will take thier own horses and ATC Hankee Alpha so that leave Nahkle, Malaysians and Race to find a runner

Just a sign of the times mate. Horses are expensive to race nowadays. AND Punters don't have disposable income like they used too. I live 20 mins from Albion Park and only go 3 times a year . They race 3 times a week including tonight. I'll probably watch AKLD trots as respect the competitors there.  Brisbane trotting would of collapsed years ago. The sport has fallen as you say. No one goes now (just the owners and horse connections) We got lucky that Kevin Seymour , a multi Millionaire (owner of LEAP TO FAME is his god-blessed reward)   and Chris Garrard (who helps NZ with sponsorship too)  bailed it out and Kept it afloat. Progressive men like David Brick have introduced Slot races , and have even Achieved the feat of Booking the Interdominion for the next 3 Years for Brisbane. !! you remember the Interdominion ? what an amazing event it was each year. Unique to harness racing. a fine tradition. (I'll definitely be Attending that 👍😆)  NZ can't afford to run it now ,🙄 with the 'trying times' and no one wanting to race a horse much or even BET on the Sport apparently.  The gallops offer better odds. Just the way it's always been . Trotters are Waaay more consistant than gallopers.  so to me are a way better bet.  Dean Shannon from QLD helped prop QLD for a while , now pros up Barry Purdon a bit with 17 horses (including Merlin) is trying to help Save the Day at AKLD.  I hope he's successful and the Allstars owners arrive and give him a run for his money too 😁. some great racing once again !! well done ATC. 

I know all about the ATC PS, I worked there for years when things were done right and the place was buzzing. True we did have some magnificent horses at that time which certainly helped, but it is heartbreaking to see how far they have fallen.  

I'm a cheerleader for harness racing O'man. The ATC has run races for over 100 years at Alexandra Park. You guys are so spoilt by great horses over the years you cannot face a normal meeting , where people like Dr Luk Chin are competing in the sport they love.  So people grizzle here about stupid things like they shouldn't be getting money from HRNZ , someone else should in the South. Lol . The North Island has some of the BEST Horsemen ever seen on Earth, in Barry Purdon , Tony Herlihy, . the top of the field ON THE PLANET , Way better than other sports (except AFL 😉) and you guys Hate It ??   Other sports like golf have small crowds , and don't get lampooned like harness racing. ? Galloping people are particularly Bad at Bashing anything to do with harness racing , but it is so similar , with the beautiful horses, race fields, prizemoney, a winning post and a few Cups for the good ones 🏆🏆. Punters can still get a bet on if they want too. I have a little flutter for fun each week. You guys just don't seem to know how to have fun with it anymore. Spoilt somewhere along the way. What a sad ending for harness racing. At least the club ATC ran a Golden Gait night and some FUN industry participants like Unhinged got a winner and had a great time. They should run those once a month lol !!!  

Why would that make it hard? That's about the same as everyone else paid per year isn't it?

Matamata R2 - 1 R7 - 1 R8 - 4, 5 Flemington R2 - 7 R3 - 3 R4 - 8 R6 - 4 BB R7 - 14 R8 - 11 Randwick R2 - 3 BB R6 - 5 R7 - 3  

Hopefully a few more slots announced this weekend. i heard the Malaysians were having a go at Perfumist but surely OTI would go with NZ Slot holder if she was coming? Be hard for the Malaysians to do a competitive deal since they paid $225k or something like that for a single season slot. 

I wonder if it's just the dog's welfare they have in mind or if they're trying to achieve something else.

Risk $10.00 to get $9.00 back on a trifecta!  No thanks!

Totally agree on the quality issue and lack of atmosphere on course Ohokaman, and whilst not a fan of small fields if I am having a local bet, it would be in a multi format (adapted to the situation) Most of my interest and punting is on Gloucester park these days 

You'd better believe the Kentucky Derby (G1) will be a hot topic this spring in the Boston Red Sox locker room. Two of their players already have been bitten by the horse racing bug: Walker Buehler and Alex Bregman.View the full article

This ones been scratched a few times since this post but finally getting a start today.  4yo mare first up over 2000m doesnt usually excite me but Cody Cole is good at having them ready - just a watch today Gruffy?

What are you PS…unofficial cheerleader for the ATC ? The average punter doesn’t care about the things you raise. They are interested in competitive fields of quality horses that provide a decent betting option and at the same time some exciting entertainment….and both those things have been missing for a long time at Alexandra Park.  Watching ordinary fields of six or seven with $1.50 favourites excites no one, hence the financial propping up by HRNZ.

Here's one for you tonight Mite - $25 for any 4 / 5 is a cheap bit of entertainment (although you can be out of action after 2 races of course)

That's a pretty decent argument PS - you point out a lot of 'ups' My main bet these days is 3 or 4 horse multis (usually Top3 or 4 depending on price), with the any 2 /3 or 3 /4 option (sometimes Win or Top 2 as well)  which fits well with the smaller fields. It ends up multiplyng out to a decent return, and your 25 bucks entertainment can spread over a couple of hours which ups the entertainment value 🙂