Your chance to have a say - Cambridge surveys North Islanders before forums
By Barry Lichter • 6 February 2023
Cambridge harness chiefs will survey all North Island licence-holders and owners in advance of next month’s industry forums.
And Cambridge Raceway chief executive officer Dave Branch is urging as many people as possible to take part so the data can help frame the scope and focus of the forums.
It is planned to hold two meetings - at Palmerston North on March 6 and Pukekohe on March 8 - when it is hoped solutions can be found to the myriad of issues facing harness racing in the North Island. Leading New Zealand facilitator Sarah Beaman will oversee and co-ordinate the forums.
“We intend to follow a structured process around the set up and design of these forums to ensure good use of everyone’s time so ultimately they are as productive as possible,” Branch said.
Sarah Beaman … will facilitate the forums.Beaman has consulting experience across a range of industries, including state services, local government, sport and recreation, health and corporate business.
On the board of New Zealand Cricket, her work in racing includes a 2019 report for the New Zealand Racing Board on how effectively the industry was engaging and involving women.
In 2022 she was project manager for Equestrian Sports New Zealand’s ‘Strengthen and Adapt’ initiative.
Cambridge Raceway’s forum plan followed Harness Racing New Zealand’s decision to scrub two feature races from its January meeting because of poor nominations.
In an open letter to all participants Branch and Cambridge chairman Graham Bowen said the industry needed to be united and work together to find solutions for the future.
“Among the major issues are race programming, stakes funding distribution, the racing calendar (dates and number of meetings), the declining number of horses racing in the north and subsequent falling turnover.”
The forums will have a clear objective of looking for solutions and new ideas that can be presented to HRNZ for action.
More news in Harness
Friday night’s main event: In the blue corner, Tyson, in the red corner, Sugar Ray
After 40 years in the sulky, Fergie’s just loving his renaissance in the lincoln green silks
Big-spending Mike Tanev snares The Rascal and he’s off to Canada next week
Dreams Of Eric goes from black and blue to blue and white, now for Harness 5000
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
