Harness Industry Heading For Irrelevence
 

As a new member not hard to see a severe lack of comment going on - so let me fire up a few out there by stating the Harness Industry in this country is doomed - total TAB turnover down to 10% - with all the lost turnover going to the dogs(now upto 20%).All this when overall racing turnover is being cannibalised by the booming Sports Betting area. It seems to me using squillions of dog meetings as a fill in for the thoroughbred progam to keep the turnover coming from the race to race punting tragics is taking its toll - & quite frankly the trots with their on-time starting issues & time taken to run are fast becoming an inconvenience. Increasing prizemoney via sell offs /sponsorship /increased takes via racefields legislation is all very well - but it is not increasing interest at the lowest levels - the punters - the lifeblood of the game. We now see the gallops taking over the traditional Friday Night trot program - pushing many a mtg/race to the doomed SKY 2 channel. Harness adminisrators should have a good hard look at themselves - they have a lot to answer for - i do fear it is a tad too late !

Hey,

I have seen this as well. You didnt mention the corruption in the industry which has also taken its toll on turnover. Plus most races will have a short priced favourite which prevents punters from betting, often this favourite will get rolled as well.

Its a very tough racing code to bet on. And greyhound racing is fastly becoming much more popular for punters especially for the younger generation who want a quick bet and collect if they win.