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Gloucester Park
Harness & Greyhounds
bookielover
2,623 posts
Spent three weeks holidaying in Perth. We had a fantastic time thanks to the great weather on all but two days, and friends. Mind you, driving down the Mitchell towards Polly Farmer on the day that all hell broke loose, and trying to avoid fallen trees, was an experience in itself.
We went to GP on the last two Friday nights. The last night we went, saw the running of the two 100,000 2 year old Classic races. We went both times even though there wasn't a bookie, although I have to say that we didn't expect one on the first night. We went because it was a beautiful night and we stay around the corner, and it's something to do. I was surprised that Steve Mulhall wasn't there on Classic night, but he may have been away, or he couldn't be bothered going because he would essentially have been playing to an empty house.
I reckon on night one, there would not have been more than 200 hundred there, while maybe an extra 50-100 turned up on Classic night. I say maybe, because my wife and I had no trouble at all sitting both nights, at a table in the open, opposite the winning post, and there were plenty of empty tables next to us.
And this was also with a number of areas next to us being roped off for private functions.
We hadn't been for two years, and to be brutally honest, nothing much has changed.
I complained after my last visit, that the noise from whomever was singing between the races was unbearable.
On the two nights we were there, this had improved. Dramatically on night one, when a female singer sang some nice covers in a pleasant voice, rather than screeching, but only slightly on night two, when a male singer, with all respect, thought he was better than what he is. Luckily his amplifier wasn't at full blast so he was bearable.
Here are the continuing problems as I see them.
Why charge entry? The numbers were small on two beautiful evenings, one of which had two group 1 races. Throw the gates open. I would like to think that more people would come, provided the public were informed.They will get the money back on food and drink. $7.50 for a box of chips says it all.
The new bloke, Matty, I think his name is, doing the interviews with the drivers BEFORE the race, is, for on course patrons, a total waste of time.
You cannot hear a word he says. He's really doing them for Sky, so turn off the on course sound. In fact he's barely audible in the after race interview. Why is this so, because the people sitting at the tables at ground level where we were, and the private functions in the roped off areas, don't give a cr@p about the interviews, and from what I saw, barely have a bet.So they all talk in stereo.
Add to that little kids running wild on the grass, screaming while their irresponsible parents don't give a stuff until a kid hurts itself, and we are lucky to hear the course broadcast.
Yes, I'm exaggerating about that last bit, but you get my drift.
Another thing I complained about when we were last at GP, that has not changed.
You have a bet at Moonee Valley night racing. No sound. The greyhounds anywhere. No sound. The interstate trots. No sound.
But what really got to me, was this. The people running GP are, I would imagine, in charge of harness racing in Perth. There was a meeting at Albany harness. I thought for sure, that we would have the sound turned on for a sister meeting, in the state of WA, run by the genii who conduct harness racing in the state. It was a case of, up yours people who have bothered to come to the track. P!!ss off. we don't want you here. Get down to your local TAB or pubtab, if you actually want to hear a race. No sound for Albany trots.
So, unless you know the colour of your jockey driver etc, or you can pick up the saddle cloth number, you won't know what's happening. I reckon all of you who have been to GP know where PJ's bar is under the stand and the bank of screens that are there, along with two huge screens.
On one of those screens they were showing a replay of a womens 20/20 cricket match. Guess what, LOUD commentary supplied. A cricket match yes, races, dogs, trots, no.
I noted the very poor win pools in some races barely reaching 6,000. Not many trifecta and first four pools hit 8 grand. It is quite obvious to me, that interest in the trots, by the average person in Perth is zero, and the powers that be, don't care.
Look, for our purposes, it was a reasonably relaxing night out. However, if I lived in perth and wasn't on a holiday where generally speaking you want to do stuff that you don't do at home, they would never see me there.
I don't know who is running the joint, but they need to be replaced if possible, with people who actually want harness racing in Perth to advance to a point where at the very least, the on course patron, the person who is prepared to get off their posterior and make the effort to go, is taken care of.
Things weren't going too well two years ago when we last went. BUT, two years ago,we could NEVER get a table, let alone one right opposite the winning post.
I reckon that fact alone, says it all.
+1 -1
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Surely they could have just waited for half an hour or so for it to dry out a bit and have another crack, its not like we've had 3 inches of rain and another 3 inches are coming. I had a decent puddle at my front door, have been for a walk around the block and it is gone, this decision has to have been made far too hastily.
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benevolent to all participants definitely / Better systems required for longevity of Horses and
their racing lives . I definitely agree upon
But one would have to be naive to think that unlike the 2 major Ball codes in Australia who are
subsidised apparently by Government that Harness Racing but also the other 2 Codes in WA
are able to provide the facilities / experience / Revenue raising opportunities that those 2 Codes
have.
Our facilities apart from the Grey Hound track ( a miniature version of the original for spectators)
are all pre 1970 ( I stand to be corrected ! ) ( Most of the facility’s have had minimal change )
AFL Stadiums apart from MCG no older than 20 years old .
If we’re honest with our selves what revenues does Managemt have to improve anything
NOTHING. ( One can only attempt to do the best with what recourse’s are available to them )
Unfortunately things are going to remain life will go on and while extremely frustrating
I would rather be in GP ‘s situation than any other harness club in a Australia even with its short comings.
In regards to Sprint Lanes they haven’t improved turn over the horse 3 back on the pegs is still
blocked for a run so you can’t please everyone you never will in life unfortunately.
Gallops got all the space and length of straight which is way longer than GP and still get blocked
for runs that is a call / desicion the punter needs to educate themselves upon.
The 3 Codes are a blast from the past the perception that the younger generations would get
the buzz they give us would be less than double digits percentage wise not with Social Media
& Gamings Influence upon them.
TAB / TOTE & On Track Bookmakers only aloud to operate on all National & International
Racing to all Australians & Visitors to Australia
( There’s a blast from the past but it might just be the saviour of all a Race Clubs )
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