$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.

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.