Race 2-   Sovrana,  Beyond The Sea,  Little Darling,  Dontbesillychilli

Race 3-   Sista Sammy,  Lets Get Rockin,  Franco Mecca,  Lamandier

Race 4-   Soho Dow Jones,  Infinite Sign,  Sugar Street,  Solesseo Matuca

Race 5-   Sebastian James,  Im Massimo,  Captains Creek,  Lake Pichola

Race 6-   Carana,  Rock Artist,  Otis,  Coney Island Lou

Race 7-   Illawong Mustang,  Loucid Dreams,  Rock Me Over,  American Bullitt

Race 8-   Major Freeway,  Major Overs,  Seven No Trumps,  Amazing American

Race 9-   Crowd Control,  Vegas Strip,  Rocket City,  Strike Team

Race 10- Linebacker,  Classic Choice,  Montana Glory,  Spring Line

For those interested, I will put together some career highlights later on in the week. A childhood hero of mine and many others on the bus home from school each day, trying to work out win or place for our 5 bob on one of L.J's.

Race 1-   Rocknroll Spirit,  Barbados,  Rodasi,  Acoltnamedsu

Race 2-   Rocknroll Elliot,  My Ultimate Baxter,  Loucid Dreams,  Solesseo Matuca

Race 3-   Penny Black,  Bramante Steps,  Champagne Everyone,  Pocket The Change

Race 4-   Lake Pichola,  Sebastian James,  The Bettor Side,  Captain Stirling

Race 5-   Lusaka,  Otis,  Carana,  Rock Artist

Race 6-   Never Ending,  Talks Up A Storm,  Arma Einstein,  Hampton Banner

Race 7-   Rock Me Over,  Awaitininstructions,  Swagger Man,  Infinite Sign

Race 8-   Whataretheodds,  Sorridere,  Coney Island Lou,  Crowd Control

Race 9-   Sugar Street,  Classic Choice,  Sound Wave,  American Bullitt

Race 10- Benji,  Eton Rock,  Lamandier,  Hengheng

R1- Follow The Mikyway

R2- There And Then

R3- Watch Me Wave

R4- Disco Under Fire

R5- Rockin Rufus

R6- Allwoods Chevron

R7- Pick Me

Race 1-   Montana Glory,  Seven No Trumps,  Barbados,  Johnny Lombo

Race 2-   Let It Linga,  Dark Eyes,  Lamandier,  Chambray

Race 3-   Bet The House,  Crowd Control,  Whataretheodds,  Velocipede

Race 4-   Tenzing Bromac,  The Miki Taker,  Steel The Show,  Jett Star

Race 5-   Bettagetonpip,  Copper Head Lady,  Bull Shark Betty,  Ruby Lovera

Race 6-   Penny Black,  Rattlin Lilly,  Pocket The Change,  Little Darling

Race 7-   Aardiebytheseaside,  Carana,  Paul Edward,  Arma Xfactor

Race 8-   Solesseo Matuca,  Rascal,  Navy Street,  State Of Heaven

Race 9-   Whos The Dad,  American Bullitt,  Soho Firestone,  Feeling Aces

Race 10- Sugar Street,  Classic Choice,  Illawong Mustang,  Awaitinginstructions

R1- Repossession

R2- Star Of The Galaxy

R3- Veeforvictory

R4- Sweet Ivy

R5- Elsamay

R6- Jamie Kim

R7- Northview Dance

R8- Alz Sunshine

Race 2-   Paul Edward,  Let It Linga,  Elwaddell,  Rocknroll Spirit

Race 3-   Arma Xfactor,  Strike Team,  Otis,  My Ultimate Baxter

Race 4-   Never Ending,  Mighty Conqueror,  Tenzing Bromac,  The Miki Taker

Race 5-   Vegas Strip,  Whataretheodds,  Hale Saint Louie,  Sorridere

Race 6-   Rubins Plight,  Solesseo Matuca,  Awaitinginstructions,  Whos The Dad

Race 7-   Bet The House,  Menemsha,  Artful Miki,  Petes Honour

Race 8-   Seven No Trumps,  Barbados,  Rodasi,  Johnny Lombo

Race 9-   Aardiebytheseaside,  Sista Sammy,  Three Rumours,  Sovrana

Race 10- Hold That Gold,  Stay Foucused,  Line The Starzzz,  Nickys Son

Sylvia was the first female bookmaker in WA and probably Australia in the late 1970s. Her then husband Ian Boylan held a trot license and wanted to move to the races so Sylvia took out a trot license so they could cover both codes. At that time a bookmaker was confined to working one racing code only. I was instrumental in getting the rules changed to allow dual licenses despite strong opposition from the elite racing bookmakers.

Ian and Sylvia were good at their trade and Ian was an excellent form analyst that was capable of working outside the square.

Race 1-   Quinton,  Prince Of Pain,  Soho Skyfall,  Petes Honour

Race 2-   Captain Bligh,  Velocipede,  Coney Island Lou,  Loucid Dreams

Race 3-   Classic Choice,  Flying Rumour,  My Ultimate Chevron,  Stormyskyes

Race 4-   Machs Bettor,  Rock Me Over,  Cloud Nine,  Wall Street Girl

Race 5-   The Miki Taker,  Mighty Conqueror,  Diego,  Wildwest

Race 6-   Steel The Show,  Hampton Banner,  Rock Artist,  Soho Santorini

Race 7-   Major Freeway,  Swagger Man,  Soho Confidential,  Get Ya Bets On

Race 8-   Aardiebytheseaside,  Three Rumours,  Sovrana,  Little Darling

Race 9-   Mandown,  Lady Prima Donna,  Sound Wave,  Lamandier

Race 10- Captainshavtime,  Ruby Lou,  Crunchee,  Twilight Tango

R1- The Khukri

R2- On The Back Foot

R3- Ineeda Drink

R4- Majic Bay

R5- Make It Quick

R6- Euston Flyer

R7- Wahine Toa

Race 2-   Linebacker,  Rubins Plight,  Benji,  Dontbesillychilli

Race 3-   Beyond The Sea,  Sovrana,  Three Rumours,  Wall Street Girl

Race 4-   Mighty Conqueror,  The Miki Taker,  Street Hawk,  Jett Star

Race 5-   Paul Edward,  All Is Well,  Whataretheodds,  Insta Gator

Race 6-   Holy Hecka,  Lamandier,  Rock Me Over,  Lord Titanium

Race 7-   Coney Island Lou,  Sorridere,  Maungatahi,  High Price

Race 8-   Rockin Le Monde,  Hot Rockefeller,  Worlds Above,  Infinite Merit

Race 9-   I Cross My Heart,  Relatively Arma,  World Secret,  Manea

Race 10- Our Maestoso,  Thats Not My Gait,  Aldebaran Sundown,  Abundance

Race 11- Ruby Lovera,  Iseeubaby,  Jaxs Ideal,  Wicked Lover

Race 1-   Ten To The Dozen,  Captain Bligh,  Frisky Styx,  Loucid Dreams

Race 2-   Penny Black,  Soho Seraphine,  Dame Valour,  Champagne Everyone

Race 3-   Lamandier,  Whos The Dad,  My Ultimate Baxter,  Rakero Raider

Race 4-   Lusaka,  Lil Happy Fella,  Rocknroll Elliot,  Machs Bettor

Race 5-   Jumpingjackmac,  The Miki Taker,  Never Ending,  Wildwest

Race 6-   Otis,  Youre So Fine,  Caliente,  Lucapelo

Race 7-   Elwaddell,  Gee Smith,  Lord Publisher,  Swagger Man

Race 8-   Bet The House,  Vegas Strip,  Franco Encore,  Atlas The Titan

Race 9-   Lake Pichola,  Im Massimo,  By Gee By Jingo,  Captain Stirling

R1- Zuede

R2- Manea

R3- Military Star

R4- Sweet Vivienne

R5- Lonestar Warrior

R6- Jamie Kim

R7- There And Then

R8- Miss Marcopolo

Wilf Powell who controlled a strong team for many years...Flagship, Copper Charm, Garry John, Pride Of Kentucky, Trial Flight, Our Petite Hanover, Nerida Frost, Capridau, Gainsborough, Van Stranger,  My Hanover Nugent, Yo Yo Time....and many others. Lovely bloke and very potent combo with driver Phil Coulson.

Mal Senior in today's columns....Sanhedrin's Pride a standout amongst many. Sires Produce win was a standout which old bookies may recall. Colors very similar to Phar Laps.

The claim that 85% of turnover emanates from the Eastern States is one of the reasons being put forward. That to my mind is a waving of the white flag on the turnover front and the argument that 90% of Australia's population is in the Eastern States, therefore, we should expect that to be mirrored in turnover figures doesn't hold up for mine. GP harness meetings  are a WA product, much as Eagles or Dockers games at the Stadium are a WA product, and I'd be pretty sure that viewing figures for these games would have a much higher audience based in WA and be nowhere near 85% domiciled in the Eastern States. 

Even with "85%" of harness turnover originating from the Eastern States", it is no where near enough to sustain an Industry whose overall share of turnover has shrunk to a miserable and industry threatening 10%. The reality is that overall, the product is not attractive as a betting medium, as opposed to the gallops and the greyhounds whose share of betting turnover on racing continues to grow.

It is a very sad indictment on the product if you are basically accepting that your local population has no interest in betting on or attending the Trots. Starting at 4pm and finishing by 8pm will basically put the thought of any on course presence of a crowd into the history books. It frankly makes the building of the new Grandstand and members facility to cater for a fictitious 4,500 crowd beyond logical thought, especially when Gloucester Park seem to make only a token effort to attract any patrons on course.

The argument around occupational health, and the late finishes for trainers and staff, is understandable but for country participants, it works both ways with early departure from home base creating their own set of problems with staffing arrangements and getting all the stable work done on a Friday.

For hobby trainers, it is yet another barrier, with work on a Friday at their day jobs almost impossible with a 4pm start. This may well foreshadow a further decline in participant numbers, a further shrinking of the footprint, which may after all be the driving force behind the move. The "movers and shakers", quoting certain spokespersons for the Gloucester Park Owners Association, make no secret of their desire for "3 track racing" on their doorstep so to speak and it is not inconceivable to think that moving forward, there may be only 6 to 12 professional stables racing each other, with all the hobbyists and part timers sidelined out of the industry, with trotting in country centres being consigned to the history books.

It would be beneficial if the claims of increased turnover, for many things including the sprint race format at Pinjarra and the seemingly weekly 6 horse FFA's each Friday night, were supported by the release of actual figures.

Something has to happen shortly. The collapse of two $30,000 two year old West Sired races on Friday night, just 4 nominations for the colts and only two for the fillies, is indicative of both hopeless programming and an alarming decline in numbers and I am not totally sure that 4pm starts to appease a few big eastern states punters is the answer. Growing the industry at a local level, making decisions to encourage new, and sustain existing participants, may be a far better strategy. And seeing references in the latest BOTRA minutes about the Harness Racing Consultative Group listing the "transfer of Kellerberrin Meetings to Northam" should send shivers down the spine of all WACHRA Executive members.

What was once a mirage may well become a reality. 

"The Camels Are On The Horizon".

Race 2-   Youre So Fine,  Navy Street,  Alta Rhett,  Cloud Nine

Race 3-   Rocknroll Elliot,  Coney Island Lou,  Holy Hecka,  Arma Xfactor

Race 4-   Jett Star,  Steel The Show,  Arma Einstein,  The Code Breaker

Race 5-   Bramante Steps,  Soho Seraphine,  Wall Street Girl,  Little Darling

Race 6-   Soho Firestone,  Major Freeway,  Captain Bligh,  Chasing Hill

Race 7-   Lil Happy Fella,  Montana DJ,  Lusaka,  Rockmyster

Race 8-   Gee Smith,  The Wand Waver,  Elwaddell,  Chillin

Race 9-   Street Hawk,  Trouble Supreme,  Lucapelo,  Mikipelo

Race 10- Flying Rumour,  Infinite Sign,  Pierre Whitby,  Deeorse

Race 11- Water Lou,  Flybye Lou,  Spice Package,  Stellar Edition

Friday preview seemed to be a set up.

Too get the people in the know to listen to them.

I may be wrong and watching a different replay.

Its getting very hard too have a bet on.

But for punters listening its hard to find the truth.

Race 1 was a classic.Rasal $4.60 into $3.