If I was to give form line comments to the communication efforts of the various racing codes in New Zealand, it would go a little something like this.
Harness Racing New Zealand: Consistent runner at this level.
Despite various trainer changes over the past 10 years, puts in regular efforts and barely throws in a bad run.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing: Looked destined for a life in the paddock until a year ago when it picked up its act considerably thanks to the New Zealand Racing Desk. Can be slow out of the gate at times, but is a considerable improver.
New Zealand Greyhound Racing Association: Not sighted at trials. Little known. There may be some talent hiding away, but yet to hear anything about it. Good efforts from the Otago locals, but non-existent nationwide.
... on the web?
Information, after all, is king these days. Take Alexandra Park, for example. It has relaunched its website this week which - once everything is loaded - will be a multimedia, interactive site.
The club plans to give as much information to fans, punters, horsemen and women, and whoever else wants to look at the site.
It doesn't even need to cost anything. Some of the Canterbury harness trainers and North Island galloping trainers in particular have set up Facebook pages, highlighting new acquisitions, trials form and any other tidbits they deem appropriate to share with the general public.
Which leaves me with this question for the week: considering the negative press the NZGRA has copped over the years, wouldn't it be celebrating the efforts of Know Class - who lined up in the Sandown Cup last night - with a little more gusto?
Sombre week there ...
Sad news coming out of Australia yesterday with the sudden death of trainer Guy Walter from a heart attack. Just 59, Walter had trained Streama to a win in the Doomben Cup last Saturday.
He's probably best known to Otago Daily Times readers as the trainer of Tie The Knot, who won 13 times at group 1 level. He was also the strapper for Think Big when the Bart Cummings-trained galloper won the first of his two Melbourne Cups in 1974.
... and here
Closer to home, harness racing fans will recall Alan Scobie, who died on Tuesday. He trained almost 200 winners and reined home more than 400 in a career spanning more than 30 years.
Although Scobie retired as a trainer five years ago, it was nice to see Phoenix Warrior, owned by his daughter, Jan-Maree Pyle, and her husband, Karl, win at Forbury Park last month.
Lazy Fiver
Close-up fifth for Pencuri at Awapuni on Saturday. I'm considering renaming this segment to the Lazy Fifth-er. Anyway, on to this week. Let's give Marotiri Miss a chance to go back-to-back when she takes her place in race 7 at Trentham tomorrow.
