Addington will now race on every Sunday through June and July until the end of the season.
Extra harness meeting added to calendar and RITA may approve more if there’s demand
By Barry Lichter • 1 May 2020
One extra harness meeting has been added to the transitional racing calendar for the rest of the season.
Addington gets the additional date on Sunday, June 7, meaning it will race on every Sunday in June and July.
Addington racing manager Brian Rabbitt had been trying to get an extra meeting for May 23, confident through feedback that there would be sufficient numbers to race that soon.
RITA Dates Committee Chair Edward Rennell said if there was support and demand for additional races and/or meetings in the next three months, it may grant approval at short notice.
That could open the way for more racing at Alexandra Park if numbers warrant it but, despite objections from the ATC, no change has been made to harness racing in the north with the venue alternating between Auckland and Cambridge.
In confirming the calendar this afternoon, the Racing Industry Transition Agency also flagged a change to Addington’s Friday meetings on May 29 and through June, which all now be run at night. This takes into account COVID-19 restrictions and kenneling times for greyhounds which will race at Addington from mid-day.
The only other change to the calendar after consultation is the addition of eight more greyhound meetings, with racing now due to start earlier on May 5.
Harness racing resumes on Friday night, May 29 at Addington and thoroughbred racing at Riccarton on Friday, July 3.
Return to racing protocols for alert level 3 and 4 have been approved by WorkSafe NZ and the implementation will be managed directly between the racing codes and stakeholders.
HRNZ will release information on a revised programme of workouts and trials next week.
Confirmed dates for harness and gallops meetings until the end of the season:
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
5.23pm
“He’s come through his two runs well and we can be bolder with him from a front row draw.”
Race 2: Sugar Ray Lincoln
5.23pm
“He’s in good shape and you can’t fault what he’s doing. I don’t think the (seven) draw should make a lot of difference - he’s been parked in his last two and still got money. You wouldn’t take a trifecta without putting him in.”
Race 2: Leo Lincoln
5.23pm
“He’s racing really well and just needs a bit of luck from the second row. He’s trained on well and should go well again. ”
Race 4: Rivergirl Bella
6.27pm
“She only has a little sprint but, if she doesn’t have to do too much, she can get home well.”
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.27pm
“She’ll win a race or two, and will get one soon as she’s honest, but she’s still very green. And to be fair to her, she hasn’t had a decent enough run where you can really judge her yet.”
Race 8: Lincoln Wave
8.38pm
“Based on the draws, Sammy looks a better chance than Lincoln Wave. Not many win from out there, especially in a Group I race. But I suppose he had a similar draw at Cambridge (six) and got lucky (squeezing into the trail when Nymbal broke) so you never know what can happen. It won’t be easy for him but it would be nice to see him get a good trip as I think he’ll handle the 2700 metres as well as the others.”
Race 8: Sammy Lincoln
8.38pm
“If he can hold up, that would be marvellous as if anything can give Jumal a fright, it’s him. I know he’s still a maiden but he’s better than most of them ability-wise. He’s a classy big bugger who is very fast and if he ends up on Jumal’s back he’d be dangerous. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the fray as he has such a lot of ability.”
Rac e 10: Prince Lincoln
9.37pm
“If the real Prince Lincoln turned up he’d be in the money, but you never know with him.”
