Where do you go to get transfer forms?

While at the Launceston track I asked for a Change of Ownership form, but they didn't have one, said to get one from the Stewards, but they said they didn't keep them either. I asked again the next week at Launceston but they hadn't done anything about getting any and said again to ask the Stewards. I'm rather surprised that these forms are not available at one of the major racing tracks, also that they didn't give me any info or help about how to go about obtaining one.

If whoever is concerned can't make them available at local tracks, are they available for download somewhere, does anyone know?

Submitted by Shirley

Should there be a warm weather policy?

Over the past few days we have seen thoroughbred & greyhound race meetings in Vic & All three codes in S.A called off due to the heat wave that has hit the southern parts of Australia.

Today at Carrick (Saturday' s Tasmanian harness racing venue) the forecast top was 35°C but at 4pm it had excelled that to be 39.4°C.

I am unsure if Tasmanian Harness Racing officials have a hot weather policy or not but, what I am asking is if there is one to be put in place in the near future what would you like to have in the policy?

I have added some recent news story's if you would like to see what other racing body's are doing.

Click here to read about Harness Racing Victoria's warm weather policy.

Click here to read about Victorianabandoned race meetings being.

Click here to read about Saturday's race meeting at Flemington (read the quote from Chris Alford at the end).

It would be appreciated if you could list your role in the industry eg; trainer, driver, owner, punter, fan etc.

Carrick Park (Cup Night) 31/01/09

Tas Tips At A Glance;
R1; 1. For My Mum Maggie Nz(won $1.60 & $1.20), R2; 1. Eternal Miss* (u/p), R3; 10. Kept Alight (u/p), R4; 11. Crash Cart (2nd $2.00 place), R5;1. Gettysburg Address(won $2.70 & 1.80), R6; 9. Jumpin Jack Jasper (won $3.40 & $1.40), R7; 4. Jenna Anne (2nd $2.20 place)

Give us your thought on the program along with what you think the Carrick Club can do with the Tasmanian Country Derby that was deleted due to only 4 nominations just hit the comment button below to have your say.

GE & KJ Eustace Builders Carrick Park Pacing Cup Night

This twilight meeting features the GE & KJ Eustace Builders Carrick Park Pacing Cup and the CPPC committee looks forward to seeing YOU there!

But the action will not be confined to the track; patrons will enjoy lots of other entertainment and the opportunity to win some great prizes.

New Norfolk 26/01/09 - review

Tas Tip's Best Bet; Race 5 No. 11. ALBY ALBERT

ran 2nd $ 1.80 the place

The Tas Tip's team would like to see a side camera for the replays of New Norfolk races rather than the head on. Not only for punters but trainers/drivers & owners to get a better understanding of how the race was run.

Plus wouldn't be a good back up system in case the finish linx equipment broke down?

If we can put a man on the moon we should be able to have a side camara at New Norfolk.

There is interesting "blogging" going on below about the day at New Norfolk.

So why not have your say at the blog below.

Give us your thoughts on the program by clicking on the "comment" button below.

New Norfolk you beauty !

It was my first visit to New Norfolk and what a great day at the trots,
Congratulations to Rick Duggan and his committee at the New Norfolk Pacing Club for todays Australia Day race meeting, great racing, huge crowd and no wonder, the facilites are terrific , a band playing ,families on the lawns and the absolute best afternoon tea with homemade cakes ,what else could you ask for ?? (apart from a few winners) although Kevin Neilsan did his best to find one for everyone.

New Norfolk must be the most under utilized facility in Tasmanian harness racing, and what a pity .
Surely there could/should be a meeting held there on major Gallops race dates such as Cox Plate Day, Caulfield Cup or even Hobart Show Day , no one could convince me that a race meeting on any of those days would not be successful with a little bit of promotion .

Do we have so many race dates on the current calendar that we couldn't get fields for a couple of extra meetings??
O.K if there are'nt enough dollars in the pot and that seems to be the reason put forward I can't see any thing wrong with running a restricted meeting with perhaps the daily double legs being worth $ 4200.
Come on you trotting people , what do you think ? am I a lone voice in this or is there any one out there who agrees , or if you disagree tell us why
But at the end of the day the bottom line is. Well done New Norfolk

Launceston 25/01/09 review

Tas Tip's best;
Race 3 No. 3 ETERNAL MISS ($5.80 u/p)

Tote Sport Radio's Robin Wilson best;
Best Bet; Race 6 No.1 KINGS A COACH ($1.40 fav u/p)
Value; Race 5 No.2 BAROOGA JASPER (3rd $1.80)
Roughie; Race 3 No.5 HONDO RAVEN ($22..50 u/p

Give us your thoughts on the program by clicking on the "comment" button below.

Last update: 26/01/09 at 7:57AM

Claiming races

As most would know I am keen on claiming races but am continually frustrated at the inconsistency of races programmed. It seems strange to have sometimes 3 or 4 races one month and then go some months with 1 or even no races, how about some consistency in programming. Further to this I cannot understand why claimer races are treated like second class races as far as stakes go, I know for a fact it costs just as much to feed and work them but they race for much less than day to day races, surely not based on turnover I'm sure. We are the first called when holes need to be filled on raceday and rarely let clubs down. Anyway enough whingeing see you soon Roger

Roger Brown

An open invitation to harness racing enthusiasts

As a harness racing owner/breeder (and trainer and driver in an earlier life!) I know pretty much what interests me and, happily, BOTRA Tas has allowed me a free hand in creating its website. But there are, in all probability, things which other people might like to see covered.

This is an open invitation to all harness racing enthusiasts to tell us what you think of our BOTRA Tas website : how can we improve it? what would you like to see added or changed?

Just hit COMMENTS (below) and have your say.

Brenda Bourne
Webwoman

Yearling sale impressions

I have just experienced my second Tasmanian yearling sale. I have to say that the presentation of most of the lots on offer certainly continues to improve and Kevin Neilson's untiring promotion of the event can't be faulted. There is no doubt that, like yearling sales everywhere, it is more of a spectator sport than anything else, but certainly everyone present seemed to enjoy the day out. And to see BOTRA committee men slaving over a hot barbecue all day was awesome; well done guys!

One thing which I believe could be improved enormously is the yearling parade. There is a beautiful grassed area next to the sales marquee which could be put to good use for this. In my personal opinion, a parade means having the opportunity to see all the yearlings, in their separate colts and fillies groups, shown together, along the lines of a regular horse show. How else can they be compared and judged?

An added advantage of this would be to give prospective purchasers the opportunity to see the yearlings moving out in the open, rather than being led up and down the crowded aisles in the stabling area, which is, quite frankly, both useless and dangerous.

Brenda Bourne
(Webwoman)

Views on 2 yr old racing, for programming

BOTRA Tas at its January meeting nominated me as its representative for programming issues. To help me fulfill this role, I would value comments from owners and trainers on the programming of 2yo races for the coming season.

Some points which have been raised include -

• at what point in the season should 2yo racing commence
• mobile vs standing starts
• should feature races be programmed earlier in the season and spread over a longer period
• should reduced stakes be offered for races with small fields, or should the minimum be $4,500 regardless of field size
  
• during the latter part of the season (say the last 4 months) should all non-Sky meetings be 2AO only, to maximise the distribution of Tasbred bonuses, and Sky meetings 2A0 and better

Your input would be much appreciated.

David Hayes
BOTRA Tas Committee