Race 1-   Cut n Run,  Rocknroll Elliot,  Lady Prima Donna,  Medieval Man

Race 2-   Hotly Pursued,  Soho Santorini,  Our Shelley Beach,  Navy Street

Race 3-   Goodfellaz,  Per Ardua Ad Astra,  Regal Cheval,  American Bullitt

Race 4-   Rubins Plight,  Ima Fivestar General,  Machlani,  Ifeel Sikdarl

Race 5-   Rumour Has It,  Chal Patch,  All Is Well,  Alcopony

Race 6-   Talks Up A Storm,  Galactic Star,  Cordero,  Vultan Tin

Race 7-   Showpony,  Eldaytona,  Rascal,  Middlepage

Race 8-   Steno,  Three Rumours,  Nullarbor Navajo,  Mighthavtime

Race 9-   Water Lou,  Luci Kane,  World Secret,  Princess Katie

R1- American Monarch

R2- Gypsy Dragon

R3- Quintessence

R4- Chillin

R5- Pocketful Of Opals

R6- Ideal Tomado

R7- Immachulate

R8- Valentinathebullet

Race 1-   Navy Street,  Showpony,  Bee Jays Boy, Per Ardua Ad Astra

Race 2-   Eldaytona,  Watching Our Coin,  Withoutthetuh,  Mr Fantastic

Race 3-   Alcopony,  Rumour Has It,  Raven Banner,  Jawsoflincoln

Race 4-   Crowd Control,  Chal Patch,  Rubins Plight,  Solesso Matuca

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

Race 6-   Talks Up A Storm,  Ideal Agent,  Cordero,  Jaspervellabeach

Race 7-   Zephyra,  Mighthavtime,  Fly To Fame,  Rocknroll Sass

Race 8-   Rocknroll Elliot,  Post Game,  Cut n Run,  Stereophonic

Race 9-   Nullarbor Navajo,  Ima Fivestar General,  Rupert Of Lincoln,  Ifeel Sikdarl

Race 10- Middlepage,  American Bullitt,  The Watch Maker,  Rodger James

R1- Velvet Shadow

R2- Axle Rocks

R3- Motor On Lilly

R4- Briggs On Bond

R5- Lukes Mistake

R6- Im The Best,  Mikipelo,  Minor Catastrophe,  Rising Spirit

R7- Alfa Princess

Race 1-   Marbeechsam,  Stereophonic,  Spring Line,  The Kraken

Race 2-   Lucca,  Per Ardua Ad Astra,  High Price,  Our Shelley Beach

Race 4-   Sovrana,  Three Rumours,  Rocknroll Sass,  Beyond The Sea

Race 5-   Machnificent,  Cordero,  Goodfellaz,  Mr Fantastic

Race 6-   Chal Patch,  Navy Street,  Otis,  American Bullitt

Race 7-   Watching Our Coin,  Jaspervellabeach,  Thomson Bay,  Firerockfireroll

Race 8-   Ardens Horizon,  Lamandier,  October Reign,  Rupert Of Lincoln

R1- Flys At Night

R2- Mega Mach

R3- Im The Best

R4- Follow The Music

R5- Motor On Lilly

R6- Homecoming Queen

R7- Alfa Princess

R8- Briggs On Bond

Just 63 starters, 3 of whom are doubling up from tonight.

All the usual suspects will be tuning their vocal chords ready to pronounce another "cracking night of racing" at Headquarters.

With an allocation from RWWA of $37,000 to run the meeting, it is costing the Industry $587 per starter BEFORE any stakes are paid out.

Some  who dared to say that this NBM disaster was coming was got labelled cancerous growths on the industry, negative norms or all manner of other names for simply stating the facts, the bleeding obvious facts.

The usual nonsense will be trotted out by the Geckos, it's a seasonal thing, it happens every year etc....which is frankly complete and utter B/S.

What sort of programming/handicapping/scheduling disaster have we been lead into in the last 5 years? If this is where the premier metro meeting  in the peak of the racing season has gotten to....and this isn't a one off of late, then optimistic predictions of the industry making it to the next decade are exactly that....very optimistic. 

Those that have lead us down this road must face the consequences, heads must roll.

First time in 56 years he has utilised his sick leave, which must be some sort of record in itself, but it explains the absence of Ernie's Trial Report, Ernie's earners and his harness column in the Sunday Times and all the other stuff he logs each week.

Probably been covered elsewhere but I think many would be wishing him a rapid return to good health.

Race 1-   Beyond The Sea,  Rumour Has It,  Three Rumours,  Nullarbor Navajo

Race 2-   Doc Holliday,  Acuto,  American Bullitt,  Sidstrepo

Race 3-   Taking The Miki,  Ima Fivestar General,  Lamandier,  Stamford

Race 4-   Lavra Joe,  Minstrel,  Eldaytona,  Goodfellaz

Race 5-   Navy Street,  All Is Well,  Flying Rumour,  Spring Line

Race 6-   Franco Mecca,  Rocknroll Elliot,  Showpony,  High Price

Race 7-   Soho Dow Jones,  Cordero,  Rupert Of Lincoln,  Valbonne

Race 8-   Raven Banner,  Ardens Horizon,  Watching Our Coin,  Withoutthetuh

R1- Minor Catastrophe

R2- Rising Spirit

R3- Mikipelo

R4- Miss Laurel Lea

R5- Major Dalton

R6- Flys At Night

R7- Montego

Race 2-   Paul Edward,  Flying Rumour,  Bettor Move Along,  Adda Spoilt Major

Race 3-   Ardens Horizon,  Taking The Miki,  Ima Fivestar General,  All Is Well

Race 4-   Lavra Joe,  Arma Einstein,  Blitzembye,  Machnificent

Race 5-   Sovrana,  Machs Legacy,  Mighthavtime,  Artistic Scribe

Race 6-   Arma Xfactor,  Cordero,  Valbonne,  Firerockfireroll

Race 7-   Carana,  Cooper,  American Bullitt,  Watching Our Coin

Race 8-   Caliente,  Illawong Mustang,  Bellezza Nera,  The Kraken

Race 1-   Crowd Control,  Rocket City,  Insta Gator,  Tantabiddi

Race 2-   Loucid Dreams,  Flying Rumour,  Our Shelley Beach,  Peligroso

Race 3-   Machnificent,  El Chema,  Cordero,  Eldaytona

Race 4-   Ardens Horizon,  Hoppys Way,  Alcopony,  Carana

Race 5-   Wonderful To Fly,  Taking The Miki,  Cyclone Charlotte,  Born To Boogie

Race 6-   Lavra Joe,  Minstrel,  Arma Einstein,  Vultan Tin

Race 7-   Mighthavtime,  Adda Spoilt Major,  Our Star Watch,  Alta Queen

Race 8-   Evas Image,  Patched,  Elegant Peak,  Luvaflair

Race 9-   Rupert Of Lincoln,  October Reign,  Firerockfireroll,  Alfredi

R1- Pushbutton Rock

R2- Your Grace

R3- Alta Freeway

R4- Brodie Boy

R5- The Righteous

R6- Jackpot Joe

R7- Navy Street

R8- Gota Good Warhol

R9- Just Cruizin

Never seen it this bad, ever.....but no need for the Harness Office to panic, the New Business Model needs time to bed in. Without having a really close look at the form, some of Friday nights races will have extremely short priced favourites, $1.10, $1.30  etc.

In 5 years of this new handicapping/programming regime, there has not been a single Friday Night of 10 races, full fields, not one. Not a single KPI has been achieved. Yet anyone who has criticised it has been labelled a quisling, a cancer on the Industry and far worse.

Now spare me all the flannel about the negative norms, doubtless the flunkies will be up and about spruiking what a "cracking night of racing" we have got coming up, the resident town crier down by the palms will be shouting from the empty grandstands that the Restaurants are full of Christmas revelers ....but turnover is falling through the floor, no one is betting on harness racing and the Industry is up a serious creek minus a paddle, now returning less than 40 cents for each dollar outlayed. How can you run a business on such terms? I am sure the Harness Director would have a view on such circumstances.

And no one on earth can convince me that spending $24.7 million of Industry funds on a beached whale of a venue whilst retaining an 800m track is in any sense wise. That money, not yet spent, could be utilised far better than providing a comfy clubhouse for 300 members after flogging off half the farm.

Cameron Brown has a serious task in turning this once great industry around from it's current train wreck status. All those that love the industry await his proposals with great anticipation....no doubt, there will be pain, there must be, even the Gordon geckos might have to suffer a bit  but otherwise, it will be goodnight Irene for the whole shooting match within 5 years.

On top of all stakes, every winner on the night collected a bonus $500 cash ....plus an Esky chock full of goodies...750 mL bottle of Scotch, half bottles of Red or white wine, chocalates, bickie presentation packs, a stainless steel hot/cold coffee mug etc etc.....I'm guessing at least  $200 bucks worth of product on top of the esky. Magnificent trophies and a great night to win a race at Narrogin (Hope your reading this Mikipelo).

Bit of a headwind up the long run in saw some swoopers come into play with some great battles up the straight and the first 5 winners all rolled the faves at some very decent odds. Saturday nights is a bit of a black hole turnover wise, especially following a feature day at Ascot but (TabTouch only), the biggest win pool of the night was on the HANDICAP stand and it exceeded a lot of the GP win pools from the previous night. The winner came off 50m and it was a terrific contest.

Just on the kitchen, the $10 buck Hamburger would feed two people, the staff operating it were frantically busy most of the night but unfailingly obliging in knocking up a last minute coffee and brownie slice for a weary patron heading back to Manimup.

Race 1-   Holy Hecka,  Crowd Control,  Insta Gator,  Frisky Styx

Race 2-   Cyclone Charlotte,  Rumour Has It,  American Arma,  Three Rumours

Race 3-   Flying Rumour,  Paul Edward,  Soho Santorini,  My Ultimate Baxter

Race 4-   Bee Jays Boy,  Bettor Move Along,  Illawong Mustang,  Feeling Aces

Race 5-   Machnificent,  Valbonne,  Rockmyster,  American Bullitt

Race 6-   Magnificent Storm,  Arma Einstein,  Wildwest,  Blitzembye

Race 7-   Minstrel,  Ardens Horizon,  The Mustang,  Firerockfireroll

Race 8-   Born To Boogie,  Cordero,  Vultan Tin,  Classic Choice

R1- Pandoras Art

R2- American Monarch

R3- Seeknyoushallfind

R4- Cry Havoc

R5- Pacific Eagle

R6- Sovrana

R7- Make Your Mark

Race 1-   Soho Santorini,  Our Shelly Beach,  Bee Jays Boy,  October Reign

Race 2-   American Arma,  Otis,  Longreach Bay,  Infinite Sign

Race 3-   Machnificent,  Hillview Bondi,  Ima Fivestar General,  Tiger Royal

Race 4-   Floewriter,  Goodfellaz,  Arma Xfactor,  Ardens Horizon

Race 5-   My Ultimate Ronnie,  Wonderful To Fly,  Alcopony,  Tricky Miki

Race 6-   Sovrana,  Rumour Has It,  Mighthavtime,  Im The Mightylucy

Race 7-   Sister Cherie,  Between Two Thorns,  Zephyra,  Castella Dellacqua

Race 8-   Magnificent Storm,  Minstrel,  Arma Einstein,  Blitzembye

Race 9-   Lusaka,  Carana,  Extraordinary Mary,  Joey James

R1- Galeocerdo Cuvier

R2- Firefly

R3- Highly Flammable

R4- Quiggley

R5- The Righteous

R6- Lil Delight

R7- State My Case

Race 2-   Mister Montblanc,  Peligroso,  October Reign,  Vintage Blu

Race 3-   Loucid Dreams,  Mr Fantastic,  Lucca,  Machs Bettor

Race 4-   Blitzembye,  Arma Einstein,  Galactic Star,  Wildwest

Race 5-   Wonderful To Fly,  Born To Boogie,  Beyond The Sea,  Sheez Our Hope

Race 6-   El Chema,  Talks Up A Storm,  Whatabro,  Master Publisher

Race 7-   Sugar Street,  Lusaka,  Otis,  Whos The Dad

Race 8-   Tiger Royal,  Our Shelley Beach,  Mighthavtime,  Gee Smith

Race 9-   Patched,  Luvaflair,  Elegant Peak,  Dark Secret

Race 10- Xceptional Arma,  Ambitsiya,  Water Lou,  Relatively Arma

 

Race 1-   October Reign,  Bee Jays Boy,  Joey James,  Longreach Bay

Race 2-   Sheez Our Hope,  Five Bangles,  Mighthavtime,  Joelene

Race 3-   Floewriter,  Whataretheodds,  Brickies Dream,  Rockmyster

Race 4-   Steel The Show,  Arma Einstein,  Minstrel,  The Code Breaker

Race 5-   Tricky Miki,  Youre So Fine,  Alcopony,  Bellissimo Acquisto

Race 6-   Sugar Street,  Master Publisher,  Loucid Dreams,  Cut n Run

Race 7-   Machnificent,  Stamford,  Tiger Royal,  Firerockfireroll

Race 8-   Bella Regazza,  Between Two Thorns,  Jackie Daniels,  Spiritofanangel

Race 9-   Bellezza Nera,  American Bullitt,  Gee Smith,  Per Ardua Ad Astra

Race 10- Arma Believer,  Infinite Merit,  Petes Honour,  Ubeen Thundastruck

R1- Extinction

R2- Eastern Advance

R3- Sweet Lucifer

R4- Atomic Feel

R5- Firefly

R6- Cheap Thrillz

R7- Chica Valiente

R8- Star Of Kaos

I just watched a trot race, race 6 at Yarra Valley over 2,600.

I  have, from time, criticised race callers, especially those who are so concentrated on the leader and winner over the last 100 metres of a race, especially when that horse is 4 or 5 lengths in front, that they forget about calling which ones have the chance to run second or third, leaving punters who can only listen to the race, in the dark.

Having said that, I have to applaud the caller at Yarra Valley Harness for an absolutely brilliant call.

I don't know the name of the caller as I don't follow the trots here, but it was an absolutely brilliant call. Only 8 horses, but, adopting the adage which Bill Collins once told me, that being, "when I call a race, I call as if it's to a blind person, I watched the race with that in mind.

When I used to bet on the trots, and even nowadays when, from time to time if there is nothing else on and I'm watching Gloucester Park on a Friday night, or the odd race at Melton, or Albion Park, the callers both in the past, and it continues today, don't bother with telling the punters who can only listen but not watch, where exactly, the last 4 or 5 runners are positioned in a race.

If I'm punting, the horse I backed might be third last, but it's a huge difference to me listening, if I'm told that it's third last on the outside or third last on the inside behind a wall of horses. And the callers, rarely, if ever, tell you.

So as a lesson in how to inform punters who cannot watch a race, and even to those that can, watch race 6 from Yarra Valley today, and see how it's done. The caller did not miss a beat.

If you were listening in your car, you knew exactly where your horse was positioned throughout the 2600 metres of the race. It was a brilliant call, and a lesson to all harness callers, on how it's done.

Opened $1.34 on Tabtouch.and $1.45 on Bet365.

Race 1-   Ima Fivestar General,  American Arma,  Rockaball,  Firerockfireroll

Race 2-   Tricky Miki,  Otis,  Rocknroll Elliot,  Machnificent

Race 3-   Chal Patch,  Pinny Tiger,  Alcopony,  Cordero

Race 4-   Vampiro,  Valentines Brook,  Patronus Star,  Blitzembye

Race 5-   Diego,  Steel The Show,  Magnificent Storm,  Jumpingjackmac

Race 6-   Turn The Page,  Rocknroll Sass,  Miss Sassy,  Mighthavtime

Race 7-   Im The Black Flash,  October Reign,  Rambo Rabbit,  Bellezza Nera

Race 8-   Skylou,  Magnus Victor,  Soho Firestone,  Rock Artist

Race 9-   Infinite Sign,  High Price,  Path Of Gold,  Maddys Nino

Race 10- Marengo Bay,  Tricky Ric,  Bee Bee Beroc,  Stay Focused

Race 11- Xceptional Arma,  Heartofahlia,  World Secret,  Douseeme

R1- Star Of Kaos

R2- Lord Titanium

R3- Cry Havoc

R4- Captains Beachbabe

R5- Alfa Princess

R6- Dourado

R7- Navy Street  

Markovina will be all over the $26 Skylord if he can get it.

Race 2-   Acharne Girl,  Major Freeway,  Cheer The Major,  Lucca

Race 3-   Kimble,  Hoppys Way,  Whatabro,  Valentines Brook

Race 4-   August Moon,  Zephyra,  Purest Copper,  Our Lady Jen

Race 5-   Never Ending,  Louie Dior,  Skylord,  Magnus Victor

Race 6-   Let It Linga,  Elsamay,  Regal Cheval,  Simply Shaz

Race 7-   Mighty Ronaldo,  Jumpingjackmac,  Diego,  Wildwest

Race 8-   Watts Up Sunshine,  Soho Dow Jones,  Our Trump Card,  American Bullitt

Race 9-   Wonderful To Fly,  Sheez Our Hope,  Three Rumours,  Star Of Diamonds

Race 10- Im The Black Flash,  High Price,  Duty Bound,  Henwood Bay

Race 2-   Tricky Miki,  Classic Choice,  Rocknroll Elliot,  Musztang

Race 3-   Valentines Brook,  Otis,  Ima Fivestar General,  Seeryanfly

Race 4-   Faster Than Dad,  Talks Up A Storm,  Youre So Fine,  Jett Star

Race 5-   Jumpingjackmac,  Steel The Show,  Minstrel,  Prince Of Pleasure

Race 6-   Cyclone Charlotte,  Taking The Miki,  Beyond The Sea,  Sport Sport Sport

Race 7-   Mister Smartee,  Skylou,  Rolling Fire,  Sorridere

Race 8-   Whos The Dad,  Rockaball,  Mister Versace,  Hillview Bondi

Race 9-   Duty Bound,  Cowboys n Bandits,  Rambo Rabbit,  Cherry On The Cake

Race 10- Xceptional Arma,  Heartofahlia,  World Secret,  Philthejug