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
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.26pm
“She had to sit parked most of the way last time but still went well, and that’s what she does. She’s proven to be a very promising filly and, while it’s hard these days to win without a good trip, it’s an even field and she’s a good chance again.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lou
5.55pm
“He probably cost himself a win last week by going roughly, but he can do that. If he’d got Frisco Bay’s trip he would have won with his closing quarters of 56 and 27 the fastest in the race. He’s just got to do things right to be the one to beat, even from the bad draw, as it’s an easier field.”
Race 5: Frisco Bay
7.30pm
“He’s up in grade a bit but I don’t think there’s anything between them. He’s just got to get the right run and, with his speed, he’ll be right in it.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.59pm
“He’s no superstar but he’s very honest and he’s always a place chance as he’s a tough bugger, he sat parked last week.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.59pm
“With a similar run to last week, he’d be right in it. He clocked 55.8 and 27.7, doing his best work at the finish. He hasn’t gone a bad race since he’s come back.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.59pm
“I wasn’t expecting him to do anything on debut as he’s a green, young horse. But he went very well so he’s obviously lifted his game for the occasion. And he’s trained on even better so the experience has enhanced him. From the inside he has to be a good chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.59pm
“She’s definitely a better animal left-handed but she was passable right-handed and should go better this time. She’s got some speed.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.59pm
“She’s a nice filly but is behind the others. I don’t expect her to beat anything but she needs the experience.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.59pm
“There won’t be any shadows for her to jump this time so she has to be a serious chance. She’d been dominant at the workouts and trials before her debut but didn’t get the chance to show her true worth.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.59pm
“Fergie was quite impressed with him on debut and requested the drive again. He finished on strongly up the lane and should go well again. He just needs some luck from the outside of the gate.”
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”
Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm
“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.”
