Austrotforum

Tabcorp (Vic) has struck a new deal on the world stage,with selected races from two venues in France to be broadcast in the 11pm to 2am timeslot every Tuesday night.The French passion,trotting,which acounts for 50% of the tote hold in"la belle France",figures prominently with support from gallops and jump races.Five trot events from Vincennes,the premier track,were featured last Tuesday,with one race being "monte",for ridden horses.20 more trot meetings are to be broadcast in 2009,with 9 of these scheduled for the last 11 weeks of the year.Should you choose to watch these wonderful spectacles,you will be seeing what are argueably the elite of squaregaiters.The "frogs" are held in awe throughout Europe,and have allowed very little dilution of their bloodlines by American stock,as opposed to the Australian creed of "all the way with the U S of A.

As to the betting side,disqualification is par for the course,with one break permitted for a limited number of metres,and,should a horse go off stride in the final 250 metres,disqualification is automatic.Similar penalties can be applied to bad-gaited horses.The star of 2006,Jag De Bellouet (1-54.0 rate for 2100m) was once outed for "trotting unattractively"."Monte" runners must carry a minimum of 67 kilograms,or 10 stone 7lb in the old scale,a weight very similar to the 10 stone minmum that drivers carried in the "golden age" of Australian harness racing,(when it was known as trotting).Give yourself a treat one Tuesday night..this is "serious trot".

From the industry meeting conducted at Marburg last Sunday,the question arose as to what might be done to arrest the loss of trainers from the sport.As a rise in trainer numbers directly equates to a rise in horse numbers in the racing pool,it was suggested that the old system of the newcomer learning his craft under the supervision of an experienced trainer on a "labour in exchange for basic skills" barter system should be considered.With such an arrangement lasting 6 to 12 months it should be attractive to potential participants,as their own horse should be ready to race,when they themselves are deemed ready to present it....Denis.

Posted by dlsmith at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There will be an "industry" meeting at Marburg showground tomorrow at 10am,hosted by Harness Racing Queensland..This is a "must" meeting.Harness Racing Australia,finally alarmed at the impending demise of the light harness sport,has put out a discussion paper on handicapping and programming,which is radical to say the least.Whether you think it is good or not good,you won't be able to judge unless you hear Adam Fairley's presentation.As with all these key policy issues,it is dangerous to decide YOUR position on second hand reporting,which may or may not be coloured by personal opinion.For the sake of "your" future,make the effort to be there..

The third set of rankings for ID-09 were issued last Wednesday,and again we publish the Queensland owned or trained nominations and their status on the "snakes and ladders" board.Blacks A Fake (1)..Mr Feeelgood (2)+2..I Am Sam (8)+4..Fleur De Lil (14)+5..Slipnslide (20)+8..Tip Your Hat (23)+2..Franco Liberty (32)+4..Our Brahman Boy (34)+7..Albert Street (35)+10..Riverboat Star (36)+14..Lively Highlander (39)+27..Arkamigo (43)+4..The "probables" outweigh the "possibles" with one more round of rankings due..

The latest Cold Mountain import from the US of A,Lonestar Legend,is out of quarantine and back in work at Lowood under the care of Simon Burrows.the 4yo entire,bred in the purple by Western Hanover from the unraced Abercrombie mare,Speedy Shopper,has a mark of 1-49.6 so far,and,importantly,has a heat win and second in the Final of "the Little Brown Jug" to his credit.The "jug" is the US equivalent of the "English Derby" in terms of prestige,due to its harsh format,where anything up to three heats,(one hour apart) are raced on a half mile track to decide the winner.It is an indicator to a successful stud career in this part of the world,with outright winners,Fake Left and Armbro Operative,recognised as "super sires" in Australasia,while heat winner Mach Three is already the sire of New Zealand flyer,Auckland Reactor.Lonestar Legend will race here,and hopefully add to his already impressive record.His "jug" performances,and his extended dam line are clear markers on the road to success.

Posted by dlsmith at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Darling Downs has always been recognised as the place to breed a a racehorse,be it galloper or harness.Logically,country racing of both codes has been part of the formula required to get the top animals through to Brisbane or the major provincials.The gallopers are still in Toowoomba,but it is some years since the pacers graced the inside track at Clifford Park.The wheel turns as the local participants keep up the fight to restore harness racing,and their efforts will be rewarded when a twilight meeting is run on Friday, March 27, in conjunction with Toowoomba Show.The Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland,under President, John MacDonald, and Secretary,Damon Phillips,has renovated the existing show track to dimensions of 600metres circumference and a roomy 15 metres in width..The six race program will kick off at 3.40pm with the racing being the sole ring attraction.Feature event will be the Nola Wagland Memorial and the between race gaps will be filled with on track interviews with trainers,drivers,breeders and identities such as Warren Cummins (long time supporter of Show Trotting),Lawson Cockburn,Doreen May and maybe even Doug Coy.Given that people with long memories and light harness horses are all you need for brilliant entertainment, this will be a meeting to remember.It's "the light on the hill",and,once lit,will be hard to put out..

It's great to see a TROT series on the ID-09 program.Seelite Windows And Doors have come on-board with two rounds of heats and a $20,000 Final for the square-gaiters on Grand final night.The followers of the natural gait thank Mr Tarrantino for his splendid contibution,but are quietly horrified at the concept of all drivers wearing colors based on the greyhound box draw system.ie..No1 =red..No2=black and white stripes..No 3=white.etc.This is an idea which is gaining a little impetus in the halls of power,and is supposed to have some magical positive influence on betting turnover.I am not sure,exactly how this comes about,but I am sure that it is equally insulting to owners and trainers,as the American practice of "driver's colours".If the drivers contributed as much to the trotting equation as the horse and the people who own and maintain it,they would be pulling the sulky,not sitting in it.

Posted by dlsmith at 02:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"dannypic"..

Posted by dlsmith at 02:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)