Alexandra Park has been allocated only five meetings until the end of the season in the draft calendar.
Auckland does the leg work to prove horse numbers warrant more racing at the Park
By Barry Lichter • 22 April 2020
The Auckland Trotting Club has produced evidence it can race every week at Alexandra Park, after canvassing most trainers in the north.
The club was disappointed at being allocated only five dates through June and July in the draft calendar released yesterday for the remainder of the season.
Instead of racing most Friday nights, Auckland is set to only alternate weekly with Cambridge on not so lucrative Thursday and Wednesday nights.
ATC vice president Jamie MacKinnon says the calendar places trainers and owners in the north at a clear disadvantage when the numbers support more regular racing.
Jamie MacKinnon … leg work revealed an ample supply of horses in the north.MacKinnon called 28 trainers in the Auckland region to discover how many horses each would have ready to race come June, July and August if training is allowed, as anticipated, once the country moves to alert level 3 on Monday night.
He discovered 97 horses would be fit enough to race in June, enough he says for at least a seven or eight-race card at Alexandra Park every week.
“And in July there’ll be another 75 ready so we’ll be in clover.”
The trainers named a further 48 horses whom they expect to be ready by August and another 11 in September.
“And those figures don’t include 68 new qualifiers. There’ll be one ready in May, 34 in June-July, 21 in July-August and 12 in August-September.”
MacKinnon says he has the details of all horses’ ratings so competitive cards can be assembled.
“Clearly the people who have drawn up this calendar haven’t had information like this. We don’t know who they consulted. I wonder if they even know what the numbers are in Waikato?”
Edward Rennell, chairman of RITA’s dates committee.MacKinnon pointed to New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s release yesterday which stated it had contacted 55 trainers nationwide before framing its new season calendar.
MacKinnon says he has no doubt now that, boosted by horses travelling from Waikato, Auckland would be able to regularly programme attractive betting fields.
He favoured mile racing in the early stages which would enable horses to back up more easily.
ATC president Rod Croon would be presenting Auckland’s case to the chairman of RITA’s dates committee Edward Rennell to try to get the draft dates amended, he said.
The closing date for consultation is April 28 and Rennell, formerly CEO at Harness Racing New Zealand for nearly 22 years, said he expected the calendar to be finalised by May 4.
Northern trainers, with the horse numbers they can supply, are:
More news in Harness
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Ray reaches for the half hopples to keep Whats Up The Hill trotting at Cambridge on Thursday
Debbie Lincoln’s sizzling win has namesake Debbie Green excited about the future
A Moose in his happy place is a fast Moose but programming hurdles lie ahead
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Whats Up The Hill
4.59pm
“Fergie wasn’t exuding praise for him after his last start when he galloped away. But we’ve taken everything off him this time, no half hopples, no fixed deafeners, and that’s the same as when he won at Auckland last prep.”
Race 5: Lincoln La Moose
6.45pm
“The winner had it handed to him last time, when he went only 2:45.9, and that meant he outsprinted our boy with a 56.3 last half. When we won the previous week he went 2:40. He likes to roll along, so it will be tempo dependent. It’s his first go from a stand and only second at 2700 metres so we’ll find out if he likes it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
6.49pm
“We’ve never really tried to leave the gate with her but, from the inside draw, she has the advantage and should lead or trail. You’d have to say on her last run she’s the best chance of our trio.”
Race 3: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.49pm
“He’s thriving and looking very well. He was only just beaten last time and, from two, should get every chance.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
6.49pm
“His closing sectionals were very fast last week and he never goes a bad race. The draw isn’t as desirable, but the small field helps.”
Race 4: Tyson
7.21pm
“He had to do a lot of work last week. You can never count him out because he’s so tough.”
