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:
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Tyson
5.31pm
“He’s not the best steering horse in the world. He’ll win races but he’s a funny horse and you can never be sure which Tyson will turn up.”
Race 3: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.29pm
“Drawn the outside of the second line he was never going to be in the hunt last time but Maurice said he paced much better. We’re trying him in spreaders and from one on the second row he should get a better trip. It all depends on which one turns up. We know he’s capable of winning if he comes with his A game.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.30pm
“I’ve changed his bit to try to slow him down. He’s been pulling too hard. He’s an honest horse who you can never count out.”
Race 5: Kevin Kline
7.30pm
“I’m always pleased with Kevin - he never runs a bad race. He gave the favourite (Mantra Blue) a bit of a fright last week and in another 20 metres I think he would have got her. It’s only 1700 metres this time and he looks a good chance. The five draw shouldn’t bother him as he can do a bit of work.”
Race 7: The Rascal
8.22pm
“I thought he was pretty good last week despite not handling the corners. I’ve put spreaders on him this time, and he’s trained well in them, so it should give him every opportunity. I rate him a winning chance.”
