"MENANGLE...MAXI-TRACK OR MYTH?"..I THINK RAY CHAPLIN KNOWS WHERE THE PRIZEMONEY MUST COME FROM IF IT IS TO BE MAINTAINED AND MAYBE GROW IN THE FUTURE..
Is Menangle the panacea for the entire Harness Racing Industry in New South Wales?
More evidence that suggests maybe not
Comparing “customer” response to the Menangle metropolitan class meeting on Saturday 22nd October 2011 (Most recent Saturday metropolitan meeting raced) with the Penrith provincial class meeting raced on Friday 4th November 2011
Venue Track Size Races Stakes Paid Total Starters NSW TAB Win/Place NSW TAB Win/Place Excluding Race One* NSW TAB Total Exotics (#As defined) Attendance (Anecdotal) Weather
Menangle 1400m.. 8 races.. M0 M2-M3 FFA M0-M1 TR (D) FFA C3-C7 C3-C5..Prizemoney $123,000..Starters 63..Win/place total pool $315,817..Race 1 pool ($65,380)..Remainder win/place.. $250,437..Exotics $126,503..Crowd.. small..Weather fine
Penrith 804m. 8 races.. C3-C5 C2 C1 C1 C2-C3 C3-C5 3YO+ 3YO+..Prizemoney.. $103,000..Starters 71..Win/place total pool. $299,589..First race ($43,081)..Remainder win/place $256,508..Exotics $167,417..Crowd large..Weather fine..
* Equalises the pre 7.00 pm Saturday night premium betting slot only available to Menangle
# Included - Quinella; First 4; Exacta; Trifecta; Daily Double; Excluded – Big 6. not available at Penrith; Quaddie – Menangle Jackpot pool unknown; Duet and Running Double (miniscule investments)
Harness Link Forum comments comparing Penrith to Menangle
“And far more entertaining than the weekly snooze fest from Menangle” - Jim Pickett (forum contributor)
“It was a good meeting with some good racing, a big crowd, a jumping castle for the kids and a big band playing swing music and it cost nothing as the Penrith Club has free entry – Jim Boyd (forum contributor)
Summary
With a supposed outdated 800 metre track, a slower class racing programme and 16% less stake money the Penrith Club attracted 13% more runners, greater equalised NSW TAB win/place holdings, greater comparable exotic holdings and a larger attendance (more ancillary income) than Menangle the greatest harness track in the Southern Hemisphere and the supposed NSW showplace headquarters for Harness Racing
Why?
Penrith is the closest NSW “Customer success factor” focussed business model to Yonkers Raceway the most successful harness track in the USA today – location/access, total entertainment experience and exciting close up racing
The formula for success is simple – pity our HRNSW/NSWHRC administrators do not have the competency to recognise it
The big question mark?
How is a further $25million expenditure at Menangle justified when there is no evidence publicly available that this business model will work and every indication to date that it won’t?
The stakes are huge but like every business the bottom line is simple
Without adequate “customer” numbers (both on and off course) there is no viable long term business and it is a proven fact that increasing stakes does not increase “customer” numbers
Is this a case of the NSWHRC and HRNSW hierarchy satisfying their egos by committing the industry to further Menangle expenditure rather than recognising needs of current and prospective “customers” who have already rejected Menangle’s out of the way, difficult to access, dull and boring harness racing product offer?
I wonder if any of them would invest their own hard earned dollars rather than those that don’t belong to them on Menangle or instead before they waste even more of the Harold Park windfall proceeds fully investigate and evaluate all alternate options for a “real” customer driven metropolitan showcase for the sport in New South Wales
Ray Chaplin www.equineexcellence.biz