Trots

I was just thinking the other day when were the halcyon days of the trots ?

Went to Harold Park a bit during the days of Christian Cullen and Courage Under Fire. It was a great atmosphere and good night out.  Also to Newcastle a few times for heats of the MM and saw some great horses.  It doesnt seem to get promoted now like it used to.

Used to be a great night out. Was regular at HP

We went to Albion Park once, the Friday night before the Stradbroke meeting, no need to pay to get in, a telltale sign that nobody goes and there was about 5 people there.

That showground track was a classic. Was there any straight at all  Easy to get a shorty rolled there 

ExceedAndExcel wrote: The fact that the trots have moved to Melton and Menangle in Melbourne & Sydney respectively tells you all you need to know about the status of the sport. Both venue miles from anywhere and I suppose it makes sense when no one wants to go. Albion Park will be next to relocate you’d imagine. I think it’s supposed to be redeveloped for equestrian events at the Olympics but surely it’s only a matter of time that prime realestate like that gets turned into apartment blocks. Globe Derby & Gloucester Park probably a decade or so behind. They’ll likely last longer due to being in smaller cities.

Loved going to Harold Park on a Friday night in the 50s/60s , saw many great pacers and trotters , Caduceus the standout , 14-2 hands of pure dynamite , 50 thousand + the night he won the Inter . In 1960 , no better venue for a night meeting imo , putting poker machines in , and taking your eye off the ball the criminal element had a party , no need to tell you who the boss was . 

iamt wrote: My thoughts, the success of trots was always about the spectacle and the experience. Half mile (or shorter) tracks running at night with the crowd right on top of the action. As interest declined the industry accelerated it by thinking the public wanted larger tracks and fairer racing, when the appeal was in the short tracks and the atmosphere they created.

If you’d been to HP before they moved.

Interest in Melbourne pacing arguably first started to decline when they moved from the showgrounds to Moonee Valley.  It was quick and easy to get to the showgrounds via car, tram or most likely train - all of which got you close to the turnstiles.  And punters were right on top of the action and could circle the entire track to watch the races.  The Valley was also relatively accessible but having a track inside the horse racing circuit hardly did anything for atmosphere.  And whatever crowds were left certainly dissipated with the move to Melton where you'd be extremely fortunate to find anyone there not associated with a stable.

oneonesit wrote: Used to be a great night out. Was regular at HP Always a solid peppering of the elite criminal element out in force as well  Yep - sorely missed. Some of my favourites off the top of my head along with Bobs above - Roma Hanover, Cocky Raider, Halwes (I was only a kid with him), Gammalite, the little Bathurst bulldog Hondo.............  My favourite horse re punting was named Satan's Command. Won a lot of money with him - used to death seat & won a lot of races doing so.

Plastic letters wrote: oneonesit wrote: Used to be a great night out. Was regular at HP Always a solid peppering of the elite criminal element out in force as well  Yep - sorely missed. Some of my favourites off the top of my head along with Bobs above - Roma Hanover, Cocky Raider, Halwes (I was only a kid with him), Gammalite, the little Bathurst bulldog Hondo.............  My favourite horse re punting was named Satan's Command. Won a lot of money with him - used to death seat & won a lot of races doing so. He was my favourite  Much to my eternal shame I was escorted from the track by security after he got rolled in the biggest boat race ever. 1982 Lord Mayors cup I was only young but not silly, I saw what went on

Tough as nails - sit in the death & grind them into the ground. 

oneonesit wrote: Plastic letters wrote: oneonesit wrote: Used to be a great night out. Was regular at HP Always a solid peppering of the elite criminal element out in force as well  Yep - sorely missed. Some of my favourites off the top of my head along with Bobs above - Roma Hanover, Cocky Raider, Halwes (I was only a kid with him), Gammalite, the little Bathurst bulldog Hondo.............  My favourite horse re punting was named Satan's Command. Won a lot of money with him - used to death seat & won a lot of races doing so. He was my favourite  Much to my eternal shame I was escorted from the track by security after he got rolled in the biggest boat race ever. 1982 Lord Mayors cup I was only young but not silly, I saw what went on Tough as nails - sit in the death & grind them into the ground.