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
Wednesday at Auckland
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
5.10pm
“I can’t believe he’s not picked in four (on the HRNZ website). He actually headed Cyclone Rebel last start but switched off. We’ve added sliding blinds which seem to have helped in training and he’s got to be a good each-way chance. He just needs a bit of luck from six on the gate.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
5.10pm
“He’ll need some luck from the outside but hopefully he can still get a cheque. He doesn’t have as much speed as Prince Lincoln.”
Race 7: Spiritual Bliss
6pm
“I think she’ll be able to handle the rise in class. She’s a pretty good mare who keeps finding when the pressure goes on. It won’t be easy but she has a good draw and has already run a mile in 1:55.3.”
Race 7: Debbie Lincoln
6pm
“It’s hard to know how she compares with Spiritual Bliss but I think they’re both chances. Debbie Lincoln is still the fastest three-year-old to win over 1700 metres around Alexandra Park and she was excellent again when just pipped by Tyson last time.”
Race 12: Tyson
8.38pm
“The rise in class won’t stop him. If they go a bit harder, he can still run a 56 half off a solid pace. He’s improving all the time, more than I thought he would. He could easily win again.”
Race 12: Leo Lincoln
8.38pm
“We threw him in the deep end first-up when he really needed another trial. That race will bring him on a bit but I think he’ll need another before we see him at his best.”
