Carrick Park Pacing Club proving bigger is not always best

Despite modest facilities, which don't even include a grandstand, and at times unfavourable race dates, the club continues to draw patrons and show a profit.

President Leigh Dornauf, in his annual report, said the club returned a profit of $19,980 in 2018-19 and had $96,000 in the bank.

That result was achieved without any Sky Channel, radio or live-stream coverage of its premier cup meeting in February - which also had no off-course betting.

In many ways, Carrick is the epitome of everything that harness administrators once tried to tell the industry it didn't need - grass roots racing at grass roots tracks.

They were warned - take racing away from the people and the people won't go.

But the push to centralise racing at a smaller number of venues, each with plush, new facilities, went ahead as it was seen as the way of the future.

Did it work? Going on race days attendances at the three major tracks, clearly not.

Given half-decent weather, Carrick out-draws them all.

Dornauf said that Carrick's three meetings last season were "a great success and continue to give opportunities for the smaller trainers and owners to win a race as we try to cater for the slower class horses."

Sounds a bit like what the now defunct small-town tracks did in years gone by.

Carrick also focused on race-day entertainment, Dornauf said.

"Things like fashions on the field, polocrosse demonstrations, animal nurseries, face painting and pony trots were all very popular with the general public."

Carrick could be seen as a remnant of a bygone era and, in fairness to the bigger clubs, who do their best, it has to be said that it's easier to produce a feel-good product three times a year than 23-times a year.

But, if harness racing is to remain relevant it needs to hang on to these remnants because, except on special occasions, the modern-day alternative is not proving popular.

Footnote: The CPPC has three good race dates this season including, for only the third time in its history, two Sunday meetings on Sky Channel - December 1 and 29. The other meeting is on Saturday February 15.

Jockey Troy Baker was suspended for one meeting for causing interference on Gee Gees Jet in the Open Handicap at Mowbray on Saturday night.

Gee Gees Jet drifted off the rail in the home straight while leading, presenting a run to the favourite Ruetigger, but then shifted back in, causing Ruetigger to be severely checked.

Baker, who pleaded guilty to careless riding, chose to fulfill his commitments tonight and will miss the meeting on Friday week.

The race was won by promising five-year-old Bosporus who is a possible Newmarket runner before being aimed at longer races over summer.

Trainer Stephen Shaw said the gelding had been working well and he expected a top-three finish but "1200m is not his go."

"He'll improve when he gets to 1400m and a mile.

"The Goodwood is on in three weeks so that's the (next) race we'll go to, then the intention is to progress to the Newmarket.

"But we needed to get some points because he was only a 73-rater and that's why we ran him in an open handicap instead of a benchmark 74.

"We took a gamble and it paid off."

Mowbray tonight -

Race 1: Tough Boy was good on debut at Devonport and scratched from wide gate on Saturday night to run here from barrier 2. Needarein, Sirene Stryker and Take The Sit have all shown enough at the trials to suggest they can run well.

Race 2: Murano ran well on synthetic at Tassie debut and has barrier 1 for Newitt. Like the trial form of Vocab (close 2nd to the smart Sellick) but stable has two runners and hasn't declared rider for this one. Host of other "possibles" so tread warily.

Race 3: Having a stab here at a roughie in Knitting who has no weight after the claim and has won first-up previously. Beaten a lip by the smart Lesnar at this track last time in. Luca Bratzi is interesting runner first-up for John Blacker but has wide gate. Many other chances so watch betting.

Race 4: Lot of speed in this race so happy to go with Street Tough who flies fresh and is likely to sit off pace and finish strongly. Savs Finale, Gee Gee Lanett and My Biddy are all smart and Magic Waler is on the up.

Race 5: Silent Bid is a worry at the start but will be hard to hold out with clean getaway. Dubai Sky and Stratum On Fire look the dangers. Clever Charlotte is two from two first-up but hasn't won over 1400m

Race 6: Sir Simon is reportedly being set for race at Flemington on Cup Day so might simply be too classy but does have 61kg first-up. Ocean Essence has run well both starts in Tas. and should be better value. Tammany Hall next best.

Race 7: Shallow race. Snippety Cat and Gee Gee Millmagic have the exposed form but Captain Morgan, despite being a maiden and better suited over further, wouldn't surprise.

Race 8: Benny Goes Beserk has been earmarked for Devonport Cup so prepared to give him another chance. Lord Smedley hasn't won at the distance but, with a strong rider like Callow, could be hard to run down.