Picnicking at iconic country racetracks like Waikouaiti is on the way out.
Check out where, when and how many times they’re racing in the 20-21 draft harness dates
By Barry Lichter • 15 May 2020
The Auckland Trotting Club is happy that it will retain 29 Friday night meetings in the draft calendar released for next season.
Alexandra Park will host 36 meetings, down only a few on this season but, most importantly, vice president Jamie Mackinnon says it keeps its familiar end of week presence.
“Auckland is a Friday night club essentially - we’ve traditionally built our business around Friday night hospitality.”
Auckland has 16 Friday night meetings to itself, and another 13 in tandem with Addington, on the best punting night of the week.
And while Auckland will share Thursday nights with Cambridge through August and September, when Addington has sole grip on Fridays, Mackinnon says it won’t matter so much with the public not expected to be allowed on course by then under the COVID-19 restrictions.
“When the public comes back the Alex Bar will be the focus for generating food, with our Function Centre firmly closed, but just like other places we’re not expecting people to rush back as soon as we open the gates.”
Mackinnon says the main thing is the calendar provides regular racing for horses in the Auckland region.
Cambridge Raceway will host 34 meetings next season under the proposed dates, up six on the present season’s allocation.
CEO David Branch said in essence the club will be racing fortnightly, with 27 Thursday night meetings.
“We’re pretty happy to see some consistency in our dates which is what we have been after for a long time.
“We have an average of 170 horses trained at our Cambridge Raceway and Scott Reserve (Morrinsville) training centres which will be well catered for between ourselves and Alexandra Park.”
Branch said it was disappointing, however, to lose its traditional Christmas Eve meeting for both harness and greyhounds.
No dates have been allocated in the Central Districts but local officials are hoping their submissions on running dual code meetings at Palmerston North with the greyhounds will be approved.
All of the grass track meetings on the traditional summer country circuit have disappeared.
The South Island landscape also loses much of its country flavour with only two weeks around Christmas-New Year providing opportunities for picnickers to enjoy the small country tracks.
From Boxing day on there will be two meetings at Westport, one at Reefton, one at Omakau, two at Cromwell and two at Nelson.
Kaikoura retains its back-to-back days in early November.
Dunedin has no meetings at Forbury Park.
Harness racing dates on the draft calendar
More news in Harness
Little Missy Lincoln can stand up for herself in Young Guns fillies’ heat on Friday night
Leo poised to roar again - he looks a ratings special at Cambridge on Thursday night
Pole goes on The Night Fox - now he just needs a little luck from a niggly draw on Friday night
$10,000 weanling Johnny Lincoln surprises again with fifth win over white hot blue blood
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Lincoln Maree
5.55pm
“Frank drove a nice race on her last time, doing a bit of work early before leading and trailing, but I think the result might have been different if she’d led all the way. She has no speed, she’s better in front and rolling, so this week we’ll tell Frank to go forward and to not hand up and hopefully she can go one better.”
Race 4: The Night Fox
6.56pm
“He got KOed last time at Auckland but Harry said he felt like he could have won with a decent draw so we’ll just put that race behind us. I wouldn’t say this field is any harder. We’ve got a bad draw again but it depends on how the race pans out. I think he can still win.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.58pm
“He’s doing a good job, and he ran home well last time at Cambridge, but Leo Lincoln is definitely the pick of ours.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.58pm
“He’ll strip a lot fitter and I think he’s a good winning chance. He’s been racing open class horses and this is a huge drop back for him.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Linda
5.06pm
“I’m not holding my breath. She beat a poor bunch at Cambridge and will have to step up here.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
5.45pm
“Given the right trip, she should finish off not too bad as she has a bit of speed but, after two runs back, she needs to improve.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s only little but she trialled super and got home in 2:00.6 mile rate. If she repeats that, she’ll be in the fray. It’s early days yet but she’s a nice, tractable filly who has drawn well in two and, based on that one trial, you’d have to give her a chance. Whether she improves off it, we’ll see.”
Race 8: Spiritual Bliss
8.34pm
“I don’t think any of the others stand over her. She’s a tough mare who has trained on well. I’d love to see her in front, she’s proven that’s where she goes best, but whether she’ll get there from four is debatable. But I’m sure she’ll go another good race.”
