2 off the best runs in the Mount Eden Sprint 

Swingband and Valentines Brook hold a strong hand.

The Bunbury Cup is a "gold ticket" for the Fremantle Cup, a 2936m race ridiculously positioned the week after what looks like being a grueling Nullabor

but the runners at Bunbury will be working a lot harder for their share of the $50k than the Easter Cup competitors.Will the Nullabor runners front up for the Freo Cup?  Time will tell but maybe the Freo Cup has a better role as a lead up race over a reduced distance two weeks before? Or as most in the Industry opine, return it to a stand and return it to its traditional February time slot and programme stand races leading into it. It really is in no mans land where it currently is placed. It seems that the important ingredients of imagination and innovative thought are bereft. Just a thought bubble, why not have the Bunbury Cup as a lead up two weeks prior to the Nullabor? .

This surely raises questions for Cameron Brown as he wades through the quicksand trying to right the Harness ship of state. And the main question is programming and when he will act to sort out the mess it has become. Time for new blood perhaps?

Accepting the need to run a $50k race at GP to attract the increased product fee  (the Premium or Prime rate) to receive a better return on investment from the Betting Companies is one thing, and accepting that the Easter Cup has historically been a time honoured stand for our best horses is another but how can a front of L8/9 for $50k be justified?  The week before, the stand was a L10/11 $21k race?  How can that possibly be viewed as a lead up  to the L7/9 Easter Cup? Why weren't these two races "flipped" so to speak?  The L7/9 stand for $21k leading into the L10/11 Cup the week after for say $30k, releasing $20k for an innovative heats and final series for a new race, the Easter Bonnet or whatever?

Has that programming decision eventuated in a diluted field running for a rich stipend? Astute trainer Hall Snr has seen the opportunity with open eyes to run his two returning horses in a $50k stand rather than a normal Friday night $21k race. And why wouldn't he?

But the logic behind the programming just doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

The BOTRA Cup, also a stand for L7/9 horses, ran  for $30k back in July. Where is the consistency in stake allocation? Is there not some sort of matrix for stake allocation to provide consistency? Country Cups for higher class horses (York Cup, Northam Cup, Narrogin Cup) are all over the place on both classes eligible, and stake allocated e.g the York Cup L7/9 stand for $30k, the Northam Cup L7/9 stand for $35k and the Narrogin Cup L15 Mobile FFA for $35k.

All these variations may be part of a master plan of programming spread across a whole season based on a dynamic and flexible assessment in keeping with the current  horse racing  population but if so, it appears well disguised by the repetitive cut and paste weekly set of races that are advertised, with an aside that strangely no $L5  races ever allocated to Pinjarra it seems, instead we now see them regularly on the GP program to make up fields and numbers.

Yet again, everyone received the now almost weekly advice that "Nominations have been extended for both Pinjarra and Gloucester Park on Monday and Tuesday" via text. So. all is far from well in the City of Rome.

To my mind, this is just another example, along with many others previously highlighted, where the programming in conjunction with a patched up HWOE/Conditioned handicap system is not helping the overall product. It would seem that Brown is definitely having a crack at getting things done but there are some glaring elephants in the room that need both acknowledgment and corrective surgery. Rationalising country venues isn't one of them but programming and handicapping are.

Anyway, just a few random thoughts that may or may not provoke some discussion over Easter.

 

Race 2-   Golden Lode,  Arma Believer,  Grand Couteau,  Grevis

Race 3-   Dominus Factum,  Rupert Of Lincoln,  Per Ardua Ad Astra,  Burghley Shard

Race 4-   Hoppys Way,  The Miki Taker,  Blitzembye,  Finvarra

Race 5-   Skylord,  Flying Rumour,  All Is Well,  Maungatahi 

Race 6-   Skylou,  Im The Black Flash,  Brickies Dream,  Ardens Horizon

Race 7-   Turn The Page,  Acharne Girl,  Mighthavtime,  Fleur Du Marquis

Race 8-   Mister Smartee,  Galaxy Warrior,  Call To Arms,  Bettor Move Along

Race 9-   El Chema,  Watts Up Sunshine,  Lets Get Rockin,  Solesseo Matuca

Race 10- Hes Never Been Beta,  Sound Wave,  Duty Bound,  Gypsy Dragon

(a) My main bet - and i think it is a certainty - but E/W as allways is the go - the last race no 10 Hes A Cool Mach @ $5 - easily the

      best horse in this race , and to say it has been totally devoid of any racing luck at its last 2 starts is an understatement 

(b) The other 2 ive backed , much smaller bets , these type of horses will send you broke , but their last runs ( given the fields they are in tonight ) get sort of a tick and they are dropping in grade - Race 5 no 9 Ashima @ $34 and Race 2 no 9 Speed Force  @ $9.50 

Race 2-   Thomson Bay,  Rocknroll Sass,  Adda Spoilt Major,  Henwood Bay

Race 3-   The Miki Taker,  Hoppys Way,  Arma Xfactor,  El Chema

Race 4-   Tricky Miki,  Tenzing Bromac,  Blitzembye,  Hampton Banner

Race 5-   Never Ending,  Hotly Pursued,  Lusaka,  Chaco Eagle

Race 6-   Steel The Show,  Ardens Horizon,  Lucca,  Mister Montblanc

Race 7-   Miki Jet,  The Wildcard,  Galaxy Warrior,  Ira Poole

Race 8-   Bramante Steps,  Sound Wave,  Rockaball,  Cabsav

Race 9-   Shoot Through,  Mister Linton,  Euston Flyer,  Seeknyoushallfind

Race 10- Water Lou,  Xceptional Arma,  In A Wink,  Copy Cat Queen

A meeting with Minister Papalia on Wednesday to discuss this data was called off due to his personal circumstances after WACHRA representatives had already traveled to Perth.Unfortunate but things happen.

These responses should be read in the light of persistent rumors swirling around concerning the RWWA's Board response this week to Club and Track rationalisation. It seems a decision has been made to proceed with rationalisation. Many country clubs and tracks will in all likelihood disappear. The previously failed concept of "Growing The Industry By Shrinking The Footprint" provides further evidence of Einsteins often quoted definition of Insanity.

It is a fairly big document but for those interested in the future of what will be a very small boutique code, it may be of some interest. Then again, it may not.

Race 1-   Heez As Good As Gold,  Fly To Fame,  Wasa Heat Seeker,  Chaco Eagle

Race 2-   Loucid Dreams,  Showpony,  Soho Santorini,  Thomson Bay

Race 3-   Turn The Page,  Ima Tiny Dancer,  Make Your Mark,  Pocketful Of Opals

Race 4-   Pinny Tiger,  Arma Einstein,  Jett Star,  Finvarra

Race 5-   Galaxy Warrior,  Franco Mecca,  Bee Jays Boy,  Illawong Mustang

Race 6-   Mighty Ronaldo,  Galactic Star,  Flying Rumour,  Cordero

Race 7-   Rascal,  Lil Happy Fella,  Rockaball,  Acuto

Race 8-   Mister Linton,  Sidstrepo,  Euston Flyer,  Eye Better

Race 9-   Patched,  Tricky Ric,  Aldebaran Sundown,  Luvaflair

Race 10- Prince Of Pain,  Thenu Came Along,  Thelittle Master,  Dark Eyes

R1- The Van Gogh Camel

R2- Catch The Red Eye

R3- Callmewhatuwant

R4- Sound Wave

R5- Wheel Fast

R6- Military Star

R7- Lucy Helen

Race 2-   The Miki Taker,  Tiger Royal,  Soho Santorini,  Rascal

Race 3-   Franco Ecuador,  Rolling Fire,  Flying Rumour,  Ardens Horizon

Race 4-   Lavra Joe,  Hampton Banner,  Ima Fivestar General,  Swingband

Race 5-   Nullarbor Navajo,  Cyclone Charlotte,  Mighthavtime,  Beyond The Sea

Race 6-   Advantage,  Wasa Heat Seeker,  Galaxy Warrior,  Sound Wave

Race 7-   Navy Street,  Lucca,  Fly To Fame,  Mister Montblanc

Race 8-   Xceptional Arma,  Copy Cat Lombo,  The Swindler,  Lenora Jane

Race 9-   Money Well Spent,  Highview Heidi,  Float My Boat,  Jaxs Ideal

Race 10- Lucapelo,  Sidstrepo,  Maddy Rocks,  Duty Bound

Race 1-   The Miki Taker,  Lucapelo,  Illawong Mustang,  Galaxy Warrior

Race 2-   Otis,  Rocknroll Elliot,  Soho Santorini,  Lil Happy Fella

Race 3-   Ima Fivestar General,  Rumour Has It,  Flying Rumour,  Wonderful To Fly

Race 4-   Hampton Banner,  Arma Einstein,  Alcopony,  Galactic Star

Race 5-   Ten To The Dozen,  Thenu Came Along,  Grevis,  Menemsha

Race 6-   Copy Cat Queen,  Water Lou,  Xceptional Arma,  I Cross My Heart

Race 7-   Louis Vee,  Mysta Moon Walker,  Control The Room,  The Bettor Side

Race 8-   Copper Head Lady,  Ruby Lou,  Bull Shark Betty,  Bettagetonpip

Race 9-   Cyclone Charlotte,  Sugar Street,  Eldaytona,  Nevermindthechaos

Race 10- Ardens Horizon,  Navy Street,  Lucca,  Mister Montblanc

Race 11- Miki Jet,  Cooper,  Adda Spoilt Major,  Cowboys n Bandits

Race 12- Franco Encore,  Here Comes Sharkie,  Maddy Rocks,  Sidstrepo

R1- Del Bocavista Bay

R2- Ellucifer

R3- Our Lady Jen

R4- Franco Mecca

R5- Military Star

R6- Pacific Eagle

R7- The Thirsty Vet

WA is ,primarily from Gloucester Park metro meetings (fact), also living way beyond its means, the product is broken, harness is losing millions, now way under the often quoted 40 cents in the dollar return,  and with overall share of turnover at less than 11% and falling, it is clear punters will not bet on the current product. Stakes cuts are a living certainty moving forward, the subsidies from the other codes can't continue. The product is broken.

There has been much social media discussion of late about improvements to the product....trial replay availability on TABtouch, post race interviews with drivers and trainers, we have pre-race birdcage interviews: all excellent ideas and impossible to argue against but who will watch or listen? The product is on the nose and these positives are the equivalent of putting lipstick on a pig. A prettier pig but still a pig. 

The bigger issues of handicapping, programming, PBD, calendar dates, on course stabling/training centre etc etc are rarely discussed. Yes, they are difficult areas but tinkering around the peripheries will solve nothing. And despite all the propaganda about the "redevelopment" of GP and the vacuuming up of $25 million of Industry funding all to retain an 800m track with a comfy new lounge for the few members that go along, that is years away from ever eventuating and will not make a scintilla of difference to the fact that the good ship Harness has a gaping hole in its hull.

Until their is a management and industry realisation that the product of the plethora of non competitive $1.10 favourites winning each week in small fields (granted, partially corrected of late at GP but robbing Peter to pay Paul is in play), which is great for the big boys to play their multi's and all ups, has been and continues to be ruinous for the Industry. it does nothing in attracting back the 1000's of former trots punters who have given up ages ago, or of attracting the new age sports betting crew who would prefer to bet on who scores the first touchdown in American Football or gets the first wicket in BBL.

Race 1-   Xceptional Arma,  Water Lou,  In A Wink,  Atlantic Gem

Race 2-   Ira Poole,  Mighthavtime,  State Of Heaven,  Bee Jays Boy

Race 3-   Tiger Royal,  Flying Rumour,  Onesmartfella,  Ifeel Sikdarl

Race 4-   Franco Ecuador,  Arma Einstein,  Pinny Tiger,  Alcopony

Race 5-   Hotly Pursued,  Rolling Fire,  Hale Saint Louie,  Holy Hecka

Race 6-   Hector,  Lucca,  Lady Prima Donna,  Otis

Race 7-   Steno,  Wonderful To Fly,  Beyond The Sea,  Rumour Has It

Race 8-   Wasa Heat Seeker,  Haywire,  Cowboys n Bandits,  Lamandier

Race 9-   Ardens Horizon,  Soho Santorini,  Watts Up Sunshine,  Showpony

Race 10- Major Corrida,  Terror In Texas,  Maddy Rocks,  Alfredi

R1- Alexandra Thegreat

R2- Storm The Beach

R3- Henwood Bay

R4- Bazaar Package

R5- Chasing Hill

R6- Thomson Bay

R7- On The Back Foot

R8- Pecunious

Race 1-   Franco Ecuador,  The Miki Taker,  Mighthavtime,  Galaxy Warrior

Race 2-   Tiger Royal,  Onesmartfella,  Cordero,  Nevermindthechaos

Race 3-   Ima Fivestar General,  Regal Cheval,  Acuto,  Deeorse

Race 4-   Arma Einstein,  Finvarra,  Sugar Street,  Galactic Star

Race 5-   Minstrel,  Tricky Miki,  Ideal Agent,  Pinny Tiger

Race 6-   Three Rumours,  Beyond The Sea,  Zephyra,  Ima Tiny Dancer

Race 7-   Rockaball,  Hes Never Been Beta,  Cowboys n Bandits,  Alta Rhett

Race 8-   Hotly Pursued,  Lucapelo,  Travelban,  Balingup Boy

Race 10- Ponzi Beach,  Here Comes Sharkie,  Maddy Rocks,  Fiord

R1- Pecunious

R2- Bazaar Package

R3- American Monarch

R4- Chillin

R5- Chasing Hill

R6- Thomson Bay

R7- Crowded Reactor

R8- Del Bocavista Bay

$1326, $1800, $2855, $3086, $1786, $1572, $1557, $2086, $1448, $2252 across the 10 races for an average of a pathetic $1977.

The denialists will have those numbers covered.....it was a one off, it is just TABtouch and everyone bets with the corporates, would have been far worse if it was Narrogin or Bunbury, it was a hot night, we don't need the $20 dollar punter, it's Albos fault....or whatever.

Realists will be aware that the Industry is in a deep and probably unrecoverable crisis. It is going broke at a rate of knots, the gradual decline is now in freefall. Punters do not have any affinity or loyalty to the product.But, nothing to see, another "cracking night" (of GSL 1) coming up will be the line from propaganda central.

But it does take longer for news travelling south.

Ascot has changed to Wednesday from Sunday so the Sky 1 slots may be

gone.

That may well be all she wrote as far as Williams continuing as a racing venue, Goodnight Irene I fear. Certainly, the jungle drums were beating last year that a number of venues would lose dates, possibly back to just one "boutique" Cup meeting per year. Although that appears to work quite well at Kunnunurra and other novelty type outer racing venues, I think that Harness Clubs would not be able to sustain their volunteer base of tracks for just one go per year. Trainers using those venues would also  probably put the cue back in the rack.

Turnover was cited at the time as one of the drivers for "rationalisation"....we are told it has absolutely  fallen off the cliff across all codes post the Covid Sugar Hit ....and it will probably be used to "rationalise" Bridgetown (currently also with only two racing dates). Track safety will also emerge with a current review/report being prepared which spells danger for Busselton and Collie, they are also probably doomed regardless of turnover or crowds.

You wonder what the landscape will look like in a year or two. Clearly, WACHRA put together a strong case via a lengthy submission to Government on retaining tracks and dates. Like most submissions to Government and semi government QUANGO's like RWWA, it was met with polite smiles, enthusiasm from the Opposition,  vague non core expressions of support and it is now probably gathering dust in some corner of Dumas House. Other industry groups probably didn't bother reading the contents and have remained fairly oblivious and languid in their responses to the bleeding reality of Industry shrinkage.

Obviously, GP with its "redevelopment/sell off"  isn't going anywhere due to the influence it has over RWWA as illustrated by the allocation of $24.7 million of funding helping to maintain a track of the same dimensions along with a new Pavilion for 300 members, same with Pinjarra and Bunbury....maybe Northam and Albany survive the executioners sword, with question marks about Central Wheatbelt, and one of either Wagin and Narrogin. Politics may play some role as Libby Mettam in Busselton would probably fight tooth and nail to keep Busso alive and Collie may be interesting as a potentially vulnerable government held seat.

Despite bleatings from Government (and the very reduced opposition) about the importance to communities of Country Clubs and Race meetings and their undying support for regional communities, the future looks pretty bleak for country harness. Gloucester Park is already running community $6,000 races on Tuesday along with three $9,000 races tomorrow night in order to make up full programmes of 10 races with full fields. Again this is understandable given the needless demographic "bulging" of the lower levels of the racing population due to the "drop back on steroids" system in HWOE, where far more horses drop back than go up.

I think going forward it will be a very, very reduced industry and when stakes reality strikes home as the other codes demand their pound of turnover flesh after the current distribution subsidy and guaranteed built in stake increase arrangement finishes in 12 months time, the very reduced industry must by definition race for very reduced stakes.

Race 2-   Rolling Fire,  Cordero,  Lil Happy Fella,  Onesmartfella

Race 3-   Jawsoflincoln,  Hotly Pursued,  The Miki Taker,  Soho Santorini

Race 4-   Minstrel,  Ideal Agent,  Finvarra,  Talks Up A Storm

Race 5-   Steno,  Wonderful To Fly,  Taking The Miki,  Rumour Has It

Race 6-   Ardens Horizon,  Fly To Fame,  Feeling Aces,  Otis

Race 7-   Ponzi Beach,  Azterian,  Troopingofthecolor,  You Fly With Me

Race 8-   Hes Never Been Beta,  Rockaball,  Lady Prima Donna,  Lucapelo

Race 9-   Gregarmy,  Our Star Watch,  Disco Under Fire,  Star Of Willoughby

Race 10- Xceptional Arma,  In A Wink,  Luci Kane,  World Secret

Race 1-   All Is Well,  Travelban,  Fly To Fame,  Lucapelo

Race 2-   The Miki Taker,  Post Game,  Flying Rumour,  Illawong Mustang

Race 3-   Sugar Street,  Rocknroll Sass,  Sugar Apple,  Our Star Watch

Race 4-   Alcopony,  Showpony,  Rascal,  Solesseo Matuca

Race 5-   Our Maestoso,  Evas Image,  Patched,  Tricky Ric

Race 6-   Cowboys n Bandits,  Louie Lebeau,  Alfredi,  Fiord

Race 7-   October Reign,  Regal Cheval,  Per Ardua Ad Astra,  The Watch Maker

Race 8-   Ardens Horizon,  Watching Our Coin,  Acuto,  Withoutthetuh

Race 9-   Pinny Tiger,  Lil Happy Fella,  Tiger Royal,  Montana Glory

Race 10- Rumour Has It,  Three Rumours,  Beyond The Sea,  Alta Queen

R1- Princess Katie

R2- Quintessence

R3- Tinseltown

R4- Chillin

R5- Pocketful Of Opals

R6- Thomson Bay

R7- Cracka Tinny

R8- On Golden Road

Owners need to know where their horses stand and although the jungle drum beaters opposed this when previously instituted, it is long overdue. 

I also like the idea of a big "Westbred Night" for all ages preceded by heats 10 days earlier. Again, some will remain vehemently opposed to heats thinking they have an entitlement for their horse to get an automatic start in the final, citing bad luck in the heats can work against them....but bad luck can work against or for you...even in the final.  So, thumbs up from me.

I still believe the dates of the Pacing Cup and the Fremantle Cup are in need of urgent review. Barring evidence showing a big jump in turnover on the Cup when shifted to November last year, and a subsequent sustained increase in turnover resulting form the change (not just a one off sugar hit), the overall effect was the Summer/Christmas Period all but dissolved into thin air without the Cup being run at it it's traditional time. Two weeks after the Golden Nugget in very late December/New Years Eve, returning to its traditional timeslot like the very successful New Years Day Perth Cup at Ascot this year, almost demands the move.

And the placement of the Fremantle Cup as an afterthought the week after the Nullabor just seems illogical.. Two weeks before the Nullabor as a lead up makes in my mind a whole lot more sense, any potential visitors far more likely to come early and race as they will be most unlikely to suit up a week after the grueling Nullabor (same for local horses). Hopefully, they have a look at the scheduling.

Losing betting ticket written by fielder "W Notman", a name I cannot recall at all, on Worthy Andy (Phil Coulson) ran 2nd to Trunkey Commando (Reg Musgrave). Do you recall W.Notman?

Fielders listed in the book are:

S.Nicholaides

R Beavis

B. Francis

R.Evans

R.Howat

R.Cooper

L.Kanther

M.Kalaf

W.Notman

Eastern States:

R.P Evans

R.E Michell

Phil was still up and about at that time, bookended the card with Via Valencia Race 1 and Mahere Race 10. Other winners were Meadow Bogart (GDH),Bobbys Dream (Tricky), Even Par (LBH), Aphrodite Gold (Lou Austin), My Current Account (Ray Duffy) , Sorella Bella (Lou Austin) and The Storm Boy (Tricky).

The Pony Trot was won by Silver Toy driven by Nathan Scott trained by Matthew Scott.