Esperance Boxing Day Races - Problems Again?

NickelTown · December 2010

Before I get attacked, I am a great supporter of the Esperance Bay Turf Club as a genral racing faciltity but every year on their "big days" they always seem to under cater for these events.

It seems the whole town plus all of the tourists turn up to the boxing day event to be dissapointed again.

Not enough tote facilties, only 1 outlet to purchase alcohol and again only 1 outlet to purchase food and soft drink. The wait in the cues to purchase ANYTHING was approximately 30 minutes before race 5 on an 8 event card. This is when I left the track completey dissapointed along with many others in frustration.

Before I left they were having power troubles where not only were the tote machines periodically not working we also had 2 races where the race caller had no power and therefore no call for the race (whilst I was there and I'm not sure if the problem continued).

I'm not sure what the power problems were though surely the tote, the tv's (more of those are required also) and the caller MUST be on their own power supply with back up power supply ready.

As for the catering, why not have beer tents and food vans at different sections of the facilty to cater for these events. If staffing is an issue, don't be greedy and encourage the other sporting clubs to contribute (maybe at a percentage?) to ease the burden. The bar staff seemed totally overwhelmed and exhausted.

And then there were the drunken (legal) younger brigade who were totally not supervised on their consumption of alcohol.

Come on Esperance get it right, I love going to your track but maybe never again on your bigger days.[/b]

firemansam · December 2010

Maybe worth sending them an email then, I and a few other trainers were disappointed there wasnt enough on course stabling ready...Still we got the money:)

the committee are all busy with harvest etc..they will be busy upgrading facilities for the bigger crowds and increase in horses being trained on course...

Has a great day as you do in Esperance, track is awesome and so are the beaches 8)

NickelTown · December 2010

Yep you're right Fireman and have just found their address and sent it to them.

Cheers

Countrycaller · December 2010

Have been to the Esperance Cup missing one in the last 20 years, and on that day they get it pretty right, with smooth entry in, anyone looking suss drinking age gets a wristband after providing ID, getting food not too bad, and drinks usually not too long a wait and always ice cold. I know that years back there was power problems at the track as the course was on the "end of the line", so not sure this is still a problem. Cannot comment on Boxing Day as not there but Club could have been caught unawares a bit as Albany was a similar situation with a line waiting to get in after race 2 near 100m long, as was the line at the Beer Ticket box, and there was Tote problems as well with loss of power/or system going down. Sometimes these big days are a test for both the Club and patrons, but I'm sure that they are doing their best and welcome constructive critisicm so they can do it better next year.

choc · December 2010

Why do these Country Clubs continue to get Meetings on large Holidays such as Boxing Day & Australia Day, when there is NO local Metro Meeting held!
We are the only State in Australia where this continues to be the case, which provides further fuel to the fire of WA being a racing backwater.

Farmers and naysayers still have too much pull in this state, which is why we have no daylight saving, no extended shopping hours, no stadium etc etc ? but this of course is another issue (that will never get resolved, because change is the enemy here).

In fact, the only changes made in recent times from a Racing perspective has been the reduction of the Cup to 2400m ? Im still yet to hear a positive salient argument in favour of this.
How many Eastern Sates entrants do we have this year over this ?more favourable international distance?? Keep counting!!

thefalcon · December 2010

Not having a metropolitan meeting over the holiday season is a disgrace.
A fornight since a saturday class meeting and 10 days between a metro meeting.
Bloody woeful.

greatsouthern · December 2010

CANT COMENT ON ESP. BUT ALBANY A BLOODY DISGRACE

slipatiptome · December 2010

Tell us what you really think :)

Countrycaller · December 2010

said:
Why do these Country Clubs continue to get Meetings on large Holidays such as Boxing Day & Australia Day, when there is NO local Metro Meeting held!
We are the only State in Australia where this continues to be the case, which provides further fuel to the fire of WA being a racing backwater.

Farmers and naysayers still have too much pull in this state, which is why we have no daylight saving, no extended shopping hours, no stadium etc etc ? but this of course is another issue (that will never get resolved, because change is the enemy here).

In fact, the only changes made in recent times from a Racing perspective has been the reduction of the Cup to 2400m ? Im still yet to hear a positive salient argument in favour of this.
How many Eastern Sates entrants do we have this year over this ?more favourable international distance?? Keep counting!!

Albany and Esperance having been racing on Boxing day since as far back as I can remember, and has nothing to do with if there is City meeting or not, so not sure what your point there is.

HenleyBrook · December 2010

I have been going to the esperance boxing day meeting for the past 12 years and i thoroughly enjoy myself. best track surface in WA by far and has a fantastic atmosphere.

This year was a bit of a balls up from an operational point of view. the only reason being was that the club underestimated the crowed numbers. It was the biggest boxing day crowed i had seen in many years. The club has never had fields like this and it is brilliant how Ramsey's Horse Transport are travelling to esperance every week. I couldn't believe the amount of people whom came down from Kalgoorlie, the South West and even Albany especially!

You will most likely find that Esperance Cup day will be alot different as boxing day crowed numbers were unexpected. With the difficulty of obtaining a start at bunbury and pinjarra for a maiden and the increase of transport to Esperance, the fields are only going to increase every year. the club is only going to go ahead in leaps and bounds. Combine that with the quality of the track and the increase in revenue, the club will be able to offer better course facilities. Not to mention with the poor state of the Kalgoorlie track which is fast becoming a grave yard for horses breaking down. The grass is hardly available to track gallop on during the week in Kal as well. alot of Kal trainers are shifting camps to esperance because of the good training conditions.

There has already been another maiden added to the program on the 7th January and the town has literally no boxes or stables left. the club is only going to go forward from here on.

Countrycaller · December 2010

said:
I have been going to the esperance boxing day meeting for the past 12 years and i thoroughly enjoy myself. best track surface in WA by far and has a fantastic atmosphere.

This year was a bit of a balls up from an operational point of view. the only reason being was that the club underestimated the crowed numbers. It was the biggest boxing day crowed i had seen in many years. The club has never had fields like this and it is brilliant how Ramsey's Horse Transport are travelling to esperance every week. I couldn't believe the amount of people whom came down from Kalgoorlie, the South West and even Albany especially!

You will most likely find that Esperance Cup day will be alot different as boxing day crowed numbers were unexpected. With the difficulty of obtaining a start at bunbury and pinjarra for a maiden and the increase of transport to Esperance, the fields are only going to increase every year. the club is only going to go ahead in leaps and bounds. Combine that with the quality of the track and the increase in revenue, the club will be able to offer better course facilities. Not to mention with the poor state of the Kalgoorlie track which is fast becoming a grave yard for horses breaking down. The grass is hardly available to track gallop on during the week in Kal as well. alot of Kal trainers are shifting camps to esperance because of the good training conditions.

There has already been another maiden added to the program on the 7th January and the town has literally no boxes or stables left. the club is only going to go forward from here on.

WA racing's best kept secret, but not anymore now that on Sky as well. A mate told me he was at races at Ascot having a drink, with a prominent trainer, who was surprised when watching Sky that Esperance had such a great track. I'm surprised that a prominent trainer would not have already known that.

choc · December 2010

said:

said:
Why do these Country Clubs continue to get Meetings on large Holidays such as Boxing Day & Australia Day, when there is NO local Metro Meeting held!
We are the only State in Australia where this continues to be the case, which provides further fuel to the fire of WA being a racing backwater.

Farmers and naysayers still have too much pull in this state, which is why we have no daylight saving, no extended shopping hours, no stadium etc etc ? but this of course is another issue (that will never get resolved, because change is the enemy here).

In fact, the only changes made in recent times from a Racing perspective has been the reduction of the Cup to 2400m ? Im still yet to hear a positive salient argument in favour of this.
How many Eastern Sates entrants do we have this year over this ?more favourable international distance?? Keep counting!!
Albany and Esperance having been racing on Boxing day since as far back as I can remember, and has nothing to do with if there is City meeting or not, so not sure what your point there is.

Not knocking Country Clubs having meetings, don?t get me wrong.
(The way our lot is going, they?re the only places we can get a start at the moment.)

My main gripe was with the lack of a corresponding Metro Meeting; and not just on Boxing Day, but on ALL Public Holidays.

While the timings have shifted for our main Carnival & Classic (Oaks/Derby) days, its still hard to forget in a hurry the bumper Boxing Day Meetings of old.
Now you have to head out to Pinjarra (and I?m not knocking it, as it remains a top Provincial Course), while Ascot lies basically dormant.

And you have City Races with fields of 7, while 27 acceptors try to squeeze into a Provincial Class 1 and face getting balloted out again and again...

fourleggedfriend · December 2010

Albany was under catered for on Boxing Day as well and it cost me $$'s .... had two winners for the Esp meeting but couldn't get near the tote to get a bet on.

Lining up for grog tickets is a bloody joke. By the time you get your handful of tickets and hand out 3 for a UDL or similar it's a bloody bad day ... it encourages binge drinking because ya gotta get your lot early and I wonder if'n the Albany RC will give us back our $$'s because ya couldn't get near the bar while the races were on so I've got 8 tickets left ... x 3 bucks that's $24.

firemansam · December 2010

Esperance track could handle more meetings no probs, its possibly the only track in WA that could... and with the sky vision and cheap, reliable transport I hope the metro trainers/owners consider the south coast..

Esperance form is harder than Albany, has been for quite a few years now...the Esperance trainers can turn up in town and win after summer:) its a darn fine spot for getting horses ready-on course stabling plans for Esperance have been in the pipieline for a few years now, if they build it, we will come :lol: and they will build it, make no mistake 8)

Esperance is the new Broome......

:wink:

firemansam · December 2010

said:
CANT COMENT ON ESP. BUT ALBANY A BLOODY DISGRACE[/quote
very hard place to get excited about...
:roll: :roll: :roll:

cubes · December 2010

Look it is a good set up but hardly earth shattering. Enjoyed my few times there but doesnt yet hold a candle to Broome.

Of course it could handle more meetings it only has about 8, hard to compare to tracks that have 20 or more. Kal has to support 25 or more.

Is too far away to really take off when you have Bunbury, Pinj, Alb and Mt Barker all racing at same time of year and all south of Perth.

Hope they continue to progress and they do it well but not yet Nirvana.

NickelTown · December 2010

After intially starting this thread and at the prompting of Fireman Sam I emailed my post to the committee.
I have just had an unexpected and remarkable conversation with the president of the Esperance Bay Turf Club.

With me waiting for a potential bucket of verbal abuse, I instead received the most genuine response from the head of an organisation who firstly thanked me for bringing some issues to their attention, explained to me the problems they have had and rectified, the problems they still have and the committee's desire to continually to improve their facilities with any opportunity they are given.

With me now having a bit more insight into a "too far away from metro" racing club, where is the support from the supporting bodies who still manage to profit from these areas?

In one understanding and courteous phone call from Kevin explaining their future objectives for improvement I ended up contributing financially to their cause.

Well done Kevin and your team, inspiration personified and good luck in the future!

dungy · December 2010

Good ending Well Done to both

firemansam · December 2010

Well done Nickel Town!!! How Festive!!! Go Esperance BTC 8)

Now please ring him back and make sure he finishes my stables-LOL

Countrycaller · December 2010

said:
Look it is a good set up but hardly earth shattering. Enjoyed my few times there but doesnt yet hold a candle to Broome.

Of course it could handle more meetings it only has about 8, hard to compare to tracks that have 20 or more. Kal has to support 25 or more.

Is too far away to really take off when you have Bunbury, Pinj, Alb and Mt Barker all racing at same time of year and all south of Perth.

Hope they continue to progress and they do it well but not yet Nirvana.

Don't think anyone here has declared it any better than anywhere else, just for a 10 meeting club now 9 this year, they have some fairly good facilities, and are working hard to improve their product. Everyone has their opinion, you rate Broome, where I have always thought that it get's over hyped.

Sprintcar · December 2010

Only been to Esperances races once when we there on holiday. It is a lovely track, facilities comparable to Mt Barker (It was a few years ago). I just thought it was dam sdhame it was so far away I would like to have my horses race there.

firemansam · December 2010

said:

said:
Look it is a good set up but hardly earth shattering. Enjoyed my few times there but doesnt yet hold a candle to Broome.

Of course it could handle more meetings it only has about 8, hard to compare to tracks that have 20 or more. Kal has to support 25 or more.

Is too far away to really take off when you have Bunbury, Pinj, Alb and Mt Barker all racing at same time of year and all south of Perth.

Hope they continue to progress and they do it well but not yet Nirvana.
Don't think anyone here has declared it any better than anywhere else, just for a 10 meeting club now 9 this year, they have some fairly good facilities, and are working hard to improve their product. Everyone has their opinion, you rate Broome, where I have always thought that it get's over hyped.

Broome in winter and Esperance in summer-pretty close to nirvana for me 8)

You can always send a couple of runners my way for Esp/Alb if you like Cubes and Sprintcar, plus there is always a charter plane to Esp for the jocks also Ramsays truck is here every meeting-Just putting it out there :D

Happy NY to all :lol:

Brubaker · January 2011

said:

said:

said:
Look it is a good set up but hardly earth shattering. Enjoyed my few times there but doesnt yet hold a candle to Broome.

Of course it could handle more meetings it only has about 8, hard to compare to tracks that have 20 or more. Kal has to support 25 or more.

Is too far away to really take off when you have Bunbury, Pinj, Alb and Mt Barker all racing at same time of year and all south of Perth.

Hope they continue to progress and they do it well but not yet Nirvana.
Don't think anyone here has declared it any better than anywhere else, just for a 10 meeting club now 9 this year, they have some fairly good facilities, and are working hard to improve their product. Everyone has their opinion, you rate Broome, where I have always thought that it get's over hyped.
Broome in winter and Esperance in summer-pretty close to nirvana for me 8)

You can always send a couple of runners my way for Esp/Alb if you like Cubes and Sprintcar, plus there is always a charter plane to Esp for the jocks also Ramsays truck is here every meeting-Just putting it out there :D

Happy NY to all :lol:

Hey.... same goes for Carnarvon. the big boys are slowly squeezing us to either go big or fold. They are forgetting where the grass root trainers and owners come from. (I would also include jockeys, but they're already f*#ked that system.) Lived in Broome for 10years and yes, over rated. But full credit to their committee and "driving force" they have a fantastic round. (By the way... they built all the new facilities and stables after the cyclone. There was mega bucks thrown at them because it became political.) I think we all need a cyclone heh!heh!
Every country club in WA would love to have a great track, facilities, stabling, etc. But the main obstacle is finance. The people behind these clubs do a fantastic job with very limited resources.

All the best for the New Year. Go Richie in the Cup!!!!!!!!

G'day Punter!

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