Stallion/stud profiles

If you have a stallion and you would like me to do a story on your stallion or stud, please contact me on 0466 215 010 or email me at smythtrent@yahoo.com.au. I am only too glad to promote Tasmanian harness racing and breeding.

Trent Smyth

New, available now - noticeboard to advertise horses for sale and wanted, etc

I have been asked a couple of times about making a noticeboard available for industry participants here in Tasmania and I have now set this up at www.tasmaniaharnessracing.com/messageboard/mboard.php

I hope you will try it out for things like -

- horses wanted
- horses for sale
- stud notices
- help wanted
- gear equipment wanted or for sale
- club notices

or anything else you would like to place a notice about.

As before, if you'd like to simply shoot the breeze or have a whinge about industry matters - this Blog is here for that purpose. Just zap any new topics to me at brenda@webwoman.com.au

Enjoy!

Race replays

Race replays are great, but hwere have they gone. Have we forgotten about them?

Submitted by Roger Brown

Lead times

Just wondering if it was possible for the callers to give the lead time during the running of a race. Probably more important than any other sectional in the race as with a slow lead time you know that the race is going to be leader dominated even if they run a quick first half of last mile.

The lead time last night made the win of Gamblers Rustler even better as a 33.6 lead time equates to a 27.5 quarter and to death seat after that means he is very good.I can always get the lead time from results page after the race so not an issue as a form reference but reckon it would add to the broadcast.

Submitted by : Anonymous

Hobart 23/02/09 - review

Monday night's race meeting was combined with the greyhounds. The Tote had the harness weather as Fine. But the greyhound weather as showery. They was ran at the same venue one of the codes must improve there act to the information being released to the public.

Do you believe this information is important & do you believe track ratings are important in harness racing (like the gallops) & should they be taken more seriously. Give us your thoughts below.

Tas Tip's at a glance;

R1 No. 4. UDOIT(1st at $1.30) 1000th career winner for driver Ricky Duggan, R2 No. 2. MARCHELLA LOMBO (u/p), R3 No. 4. WINJAMMER (1st at $2.00 & $1.20), R4 No. 4. ROMAN TIMES NZ (u/p), R5 No. 8. NEW YORK FELLA (4th) well done to Jade Munnings first race winning drive on Ronnie Rat, R6 No. 10. THE DEVIL NOTCHER E/W(u/p), R7 No. 1. DEE EM GANDALF (u/p), R8 No. 7. FLYING DUBAI (u/p), R9 No. 5. CRACKA DIAMOND (u/p).

Hobart 14/02/09 Review

Tas Tip's at a glance;
R1; 5. Left Loaded 3rd, R2; 9. Our Zellweger 1st, R3; 1. Really Amos 12th, R4; 9. Our Sir Jeckyl 1st, R5; 8. Grand Passion 1st, R6; 4. Make A Memory 1st, R7; 6. Unrivalled 7th, R8; 3. Babyitsu 1st, R9; 5. Advance Attack 1st

The secret's out - new handicapping formula revealed

I don't know how many people got to attend the handicapping consultation forums held in Launceston and Hobart last week, but details of the proposals seem to have been kept under tight wraps for some reason.

Seemingly they had to be 'explained' at these forums rather than released beforehand so that people knew what it was they were going to be consulted on and could give it some thought, which is a bit strange, really, since the new system is described as 'streamlined and simplified' and much more user-friendly for owners, trainers and punters.

Possibly because of the fact that Queensland is at the tail end of the forum schedule and the cat's already out of the bag via the other States, Harness Racing Queensland has just taken the revolutionary approach of telling industry participants ahead of time what it is they are going to be consulted on.

So, if you missed out on attending in person, you can now read the summary of the HRA Integrity Rules & Handicapping Committee recommendations on handicapping which Harness Racing Queensland has been kind enough to make available.

There's some interesting changes afoot, including -

• no penalties for 2yos carrying over into subsequent seasons
• horses automatically drop back one class after 10 non-winning starts (but not further than R1, C1 or M1)
• there is no 3MA scale in the new system
  
• 3yos will not get an M penalty until they win an M0 race, so 3yo feature races such as Derbies, Sires Stakes Finals will only attract a C penalty

There's a lot more detail in the published summary, but these are the major shifts away from the present system.

What do you think? It's taken a long time to produce these recommendations; did they get it right?

Brenda Bourne

Launceston 8/02/09 - review

Tas Tip's at a glance;
R1; 1. Artifice (won $1.30 & $1.04), R2; 1. Lifttherunrate (4th), R3; 2. Cullens Count (7th), R4; 8. Rojen Pacific Nz (3rd $1.50), R5; 4. Gueneverselancetot (7th), R6; 10. Winjammer (6th), R7; 1. Hitemup (7th), R8; 4. Swanmaiden 9won $7.40 & 3.40), R9; 1. The Reflon Man (3rd $1.80)

One of our bloggers thought Necroplis was a good each - way chance in Race 4

Necroplis did get up at odds of $10

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.

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.

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