Alexandra Park is set to become a ghost town on race nights.
Sorry team, drinks are off at the Park while coronavirus clampdown is in place
By Barry Lichter • 18 March 2020
Extreme measures adopted to restrict the spread of coronavirus mean Lincoln Farms won’t be able to extend the usual hospitality to our owners on race nights for the foreseeable future.
In case you weren’t aware, the governing bodies of all three racing codes, harness, thoroughbreds and greyhounds, yesterday announced that race meetings will be conducted as “closed doors” events starting today.
This followed the government’s decree banning gatherings of more than 500 people in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic which has seen 20 confirmed cases in New Zealand and the deaths of more than 7900 people worldwide.
The only people permitted to attend race meetings will be those jockeys and drivers competing, trainers with runners engaged, stable staff advised to the club and essential raceday personnel.
The restriction will be in place at least until April 13, and probably longer, but at this stage there are no plans to cancel meetings.
The unprecedented move is designed to protect the livelihoods of the 15,000 or more people who earn their living directly from the industry, and to ensure owners don’t suffer from the loss of stake money.
We’ll still be able to watch televised coverage of our runners - it just means Lincoln Farms’ office in the Alexandra Park birdcage will be out of action.
Good luck everyone, stay safe, and we look forward to seeing you again as soon as things return to normal.
John and Lynne Street.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
4.52pm
“She did a good job last week at Auckland. Throwing her in the deep end seems to have toughened her up a bit. She’s getting stronger all the time. This is a big drop in class and she’s a chance from a better gate (three).”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.20pm
“If the real Prince turned up he’d absolutely be hard to beat. If he leads, as he should do from two, he’s a different horse.”
Race 3: Major Copy
5.54pm
“Maurice just nursed him around on debut. He was stepping over tyre marks on the track so he didn’t want to launch him into the open too soon. We’ll put a shadow roll on him this time to stop that and I can see him going a lot better from the inside draw.”
Race 3: Jessie Lincoln
5.54pm
“I’m not saying she can’t win but it will be hard for Fergie to find a good trip from the draw. She’ll need a lot of luck but she can be right in it if things go her way as she’s training well.”
Race 5: Lincoln Dealer
6.49pm
“He’s been a slow developing horse and you can’t drive him pretty, he won’t let you, as he’s a bit of a hot head. Maurice will launch him and see where he ends up.”
Race 5: Spirit Of God
6.49pm
“She got tired late last time and started hanging a bit (hitting a marker) but I thought she went OK. She did a bit early (from a wide draw) and was still there at the finish so she’s going to win a race. You never know with second line draws but it’s usually a decent impairment.”
Race 7: Lincoln Maree
7.40pm
“She never runs a bad race. She has a big motor for a little filly and should be right in the fray.”
Race 7: Angelic Copy
7.40pm
“Maurice said she foundered a bit when they took off, and got three or four lengths behind, but she didn’t lose any more ground after that and held her place. So the run wasn’t as bad as it looked and she’ll be improved.”
Race 8: Lincoln Wave
8.14pm
“It was a non-event last time (from a stand) and he’s a good horse who will be vying for the lead from five and deserves to be favourite.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.14pm
“Peter (Ferguson) said he didn’t feel as sharp last week as in the past so I’ve given him a little freshen-up with a light week and he should go better.”
