Tuesday nights at Cambridge: Branch hopes it will be short-term pain for long-term gain

CEO David Branch knows Tuesday night meetings won’t make any money for Cambridge Raceway but he’s hoping they’ll generate long term gain for the industry.

Tomorrow marks the start of the new northern harness set-up with regular Tuesday meetings at Cambridge and Friday nights at Auckland.

And while only 55 horses are carded to race on Tuesday and just 57 at Auckland, Branch says it was exactly as predicted.

“Everyone expected there to be some short term pain but someone had to be brave enough to try it. Regular consistent racing at both venues is what we’ve always needed.”

The Entain-driven initiative, designed to provide more betting opportunity for punters and more earning potential for owners, is an experiment for everyone, says Branch.

“It’s a mindset change for everyone. It’s like build it and hope they come. I suppose the question will be how long can we sustain it?

David Branch … “Everyone expected there to be some short term pain but someone had to be brave enough to try it. Regular consistent racing at both venues is what we’ve always needed.””Hopefully our 55 will come again next Tuesday and trainers will get into the habit of racing every week and then slowly we’ll build up when people get confidence the races will happen.

“We have licences for only six races for the August and early September meetings but have been told it could potentially go to eight.”

The highest rated race on Tuesday, for R35 to R55 pacers, came close to being split into two until a couple of horses withdrew.

Branch said he doubted many of the horses racing at Cambridge would have raced at Auckland and the paucity of runners was also a reflection of the time of year when many were still out spelling or just being brought back into work.

Having to race on Tuesdays, which have not traditionally been good days for turnover, was not ideal but the club would just have to deal with it.

“We’ve had to re-evaluate our whole business plan and consolidate. Everything will be geared around running an industry-type meeting with off-course turnover.”

With few people expected on course, Branch says the club has to be smart over what rooms it opens so as not to lose money. The same facilities offered for Thursday greyhound meetings would see only the Clubhouse with its public bar open, as well as the Taylor St Club room, to cater for members and owners.

The Skyline restaurant would only open if private functions were booked there and catering adjusted accordingly.

Branch said notification had gone out to the Chamber Of Commerce in the hope businesses could be attracted to Tuesday meetings for a few drinks over short-sharp meetings.

Tomorrow’s meeting starts at 5.17pm and ends at 7.39pm.

Cambridge will run 41 meetings this season with 32 on Tuesday nights, six on Fridays, two on Thursdays and one on a Monday.

Harness calendar for the new season