Apologies to devoted Turn It Up fans, of whom I am sure there are thousands — or at least six — who missed the last two editions of this column.
As you would have noticed, we devoted the space Turn It Up usually takes up to local racing coverage, which is the No1 priority for this paper’s racing department.
Although it’s not necessarily a priority, this column has focused on much of the rumour and speculation that sweeps across the racing industry over the past six months. One of these rumours that had tongues wagging and inspired media beat-ups was about the future of Forbury Park.
Although mothballing the Dunedin track is not a new idea, talk gained momentum recently, when a crisis meeting was called by Canterbury trainers to discuss harness racing’s new ratings-based handicapping system. Discussion about the wider racing landscape meant Forbury Park became a topic of conversation, and
trainers questioned its validity as a racing venue.
For me, this reflects how dysfunctional the Canterbury harness racing scene is, more than anything else.
Shutting down one of the few inner-city tracks left in New Zealand will solve Canterbury’s racing headaches?
That sounds like a long shot to me.
I have some other ideas on how to look at Forbury Park and Canterbury harness racing. Firstly, Canterbury, sort out your own scene.
How about working to develop a fluid and structured racing programme that provides opportunities for a range of horses.
It would be a tough one to implement, but perhaps it’s an opportunity for the province’s or the nation’s administrators to make some hard calls.
That would stop the ever-turning merry-go-round of competing interests that I think is stopping that from happening right now. Secondly, instead of shutting the joint down, how about fostering racing at Forbury Park. The last thing any city needs to do is get rid of harness racing or any other code. Staying connected with the masses is important when life is throwing hundreds of other entertainment options at the public.
Harness racing is dead in Wellington — dead, buried and gone forever.
There are almost 500,000 people with no tangible link to the trots since Hutt Park was shut down.
So, taking it out of Dunedin is a horrendous idea and that’s without pondering its economic impact through the possible loss of Dunedin trainers, owners and those employed within the industry.
Also, instead of shutting the place down, how about we celebrate Forbury?
For many, it’s the home of the battling horse.
If you want to get negative about that I can’t stop you, but how about celebrating the thrills a win for that battling horse can bring. I should know. I stand at the finishing line taking photos and can hear the cheering, the screaming and the utter jubilation the connections of those horses get from their Forbury Park wins.
How about we celebrate what Forbury offers for dozens and dozens of these types of horses, their trainers, drivers and owners.
In fact, isn’t the a win for exactly that kind of horse the reason truckloads of horses from Canterbury stables came to compete at last night’s meeting?
Happy trails.
