The Race Aftermath
It would be a harsh harness racing critic that found fault with “The Race by Grins”. It had everything including Trans-Tasman rivalry, the early expected battle for the lead, moves aplenty, and some wonderful performances, particularly by the first two home. It certainly went a long way to cement the event as a season highlight and a great way to show off our industry and best horseflesh.
Add to that, fine weather and the sadly long overdue spectacle of big enthusiastic crowds on a racetrack, and it is hard to imagine how it could have gone off any better.
A couple of suggestions on how we can build on the concept were floated, an increase in stake levels for the supporting events and a version of ‘The Race’ for the trotters. Given the current struggle to attract fields in the North, it is hard to imagine that spending money on other races on the night would achieve any better results, unless you upped them to some crazy levels like $50k, which is both extremely unlikely, and a big risk.
Setting up a trotter’s event is a very different story though, but there could be pitfalls involved there too. You would presume that, like other major races the stake for the square gaiters would be considerably less than the pacers. Would that attract the interest from sponsors, or any Australians, who knows. Without wanting to sound negative, setting such a plan in motion and having it die without a whimper would be a very bad result.
Anyway, that sort of decision is one for the future, let’s for now celebrate a job well done by all concerned including HRNZ, with a big “Grin’, and look forward to next year.
Pete Cook