The ATC needs to be prudent with its stakes while it is haemorrhaging money on its building project.
ATC keen to start again in June with penalty-free racing to stimulate field sizes
By Barry Lichter • 15 April 2020
The Auckland Trotting Club is confident it can run race meetings in June and is promoting a novel idea to encourage as many horses back to the track as possible.
ATC vice president Jamie MacKinnon wants to see harness racing resume in Auckland sooner than anticipated, providing New Zealand moves out of the level 4 COVID-19 lockdown on schedule.
And in order to fill fields, while public track trainers in particular get their charges fit, the club is proposing penalty-free racing for two months.
“We want to encourage trainers to get their horses back as quickly as possible so owners and the industry can get some money coming in,” says MacKinnon.
“We’re in a time of crisis and we need to chuck out the rule book. I’m told there will be dates for June and the club supports penalty-free racing until the new season.”
Jamie MacKinnon … we need to chuck out the rule book.Under the plan, which the ATC hopes will find favour at Harness Racing New Zealand, horses would initially be rerated after wins but would revert to their original points come August 1.
MacKinnon says after canvassing most trainers, the club has been surprised by how many horses will be ready to race in early June.
“Will there be 10 races with full fields? Probably not, but we might get, say, six races of eight horses.”
MacKinnon says the club is likely to restrict races to a mile in the first instance as horses don’t have to be fully fit to compete at the sprint distance. The concept had already proven popular in the months leading up to the lockdown.
“I know there’s been talk about Auckland alternating with Cambridge in the first few weeks but we’ll be pushing to race every week. Why disadvantage the horse population up here by racing only every second week?
“While I’m a supporter of Cambridge, racing is going to need Government funding, and there’ll only be so much money to go round. Right now the focus should be on getting Addington and Auckland up and running.”
MacKinnon said while the club has to be prudent on the purses it can offer when it is haemorrhaging money on its building project, it is still committed to putting all its HRNZ funding into stakes.
“We’re the only club in New Zealand that puts 105% of its money back into stakes - Cambridge pays 80% - so whatever the new deal is on prize money, Auckland will still be higher.”
MacKinnon says the ATC will be further discussing race programmes with trainers and keeping nominations as open as possible to ensure every horse can get a start.
“Everyone wants to get back sooner than July and we think there‘ll be a lot of horses ready. Trainers aren’t taking their usual winter break and the fields for July and August should be larger than we’ve seen in previous seasons.”
More news in Harness
Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
