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Addington Raceway Offices, 75 Jack Hinton Drive, Addington, Christchurch 8024, New Zealand, PH 03 338 9094 Please reply to info@addington.co.nz with the word unsubscribe to no longer receive email information from Addington Raceway. |
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Maurice Holmes Vase This Friday Night
Friday night sees the running of the Group 3 $25,000 Maurice Holmes Vase at Addington Raceway.
The Maurice Holmes Vase is the first of three races at Addington where the winner of each race is guaranteed a start in the Group 1 $600,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup on 13 November. The Group 3 Avon City Ford Cup and Group 3 Glenferrie Farm Canterbury Classic are the second and third legs of the treble scheduled to run on 28 September and 12 October respectively.
Friday’s Maurice Holmes Vase has drawn a select field that includes some of the South Island’s more tightly assessed pacers.
Stunin Cullen, the earner of close to $1.5 million, lines up for his second start this season and he is sure to have benefited from his first up run on 24 August after being off the scene for 17 months.
Talented types in Franco Ledger and Ohoka Texas resume after 5 months off the racing scene and are joined by the big fella Franco Emirate who has had a similar break from the race track.
Talking of big horses, the massive Pure Power at over 17 hands resumes, having last raced in December 2011. Impressing his connections he finished an encouraging third in an Addington trial earlier this week after setting up a fast clip with the winner recording 3.13.7 for the 2600m stand start trial.
The very capable gelding Mister Presley the winner of 9 from 18, debuts for the season. He’s been impressive at recent Rangiora trials and after showing huge potential last season will be looking to make his mark in town hall company.
Last start winner Mach Banner who impressed two weeks ago at Addington will be looking to go back to back and guarantee a start for his army of supporters in the big one in November.
The field is rounded off by Rangataua Ray who was a gallant second to Mach Banner when resuming and Lord Mamaduke up from Westwood Beach.
No doubt every runner in this quality field will want to put their best hoof forward and be greeted in the winner’s circle by their connections at around 8.40pm, knowing they have gained a start in New Zealand’s holy grail on the second Tuesday of November.
Ged Mooar
Marketing and Commercial Manager
Addington Raceway and Events Centre
5 September 2012
DAVID BUTCHER TO REPRESENT NZ
PRINCETON SOLD TO WEST AUSTRALIAN INTERESTS
Last-start Rangiora winner Princeton is to do his future racing in West Australia.
The Bettor’s Delight gelding is to join the stables of Greg and Skye Bond after being sold by former owners, Max, Frances and Lyndon Bowden.
He raced 24 times for the Jones stable for four wins, seven placings, and $28,156 in stakes.
Princeton provided co-owners Max and Frances Bowden with a change of luck when he regained winning form in the 2-wins Sefton Mobile Pace at Rangiora on Sunday, July 1.
Max added the win was satisfying as the horse had been trialled a few times by would-be buyers but has continued to race strongly.
Princeton, a 4YO Bettor’s Delight gelding, had preceeded Sunday’s win with a strong-finishing second to Bettor’s Fire in the Timaru Winter Cup, seven days earlier.
Burnham trainer-driver Mark Jones eased Princeton back early in the final event on Sunday, but was able to get on the three-wide train beginning the final lap.
Mark improved Princeton three wide outside Formidable and Ginger Spice at the 600m and kept up a sustained run to hold by three-quarters of a length from
Princeton rated 2:00.6 for the mobile 2000m, the leaders running the final 800m in 57.5s and final 400m in 27.9s.
By coincidence, Princeton’s half-brother, Union Buster recorded his only NZ win at the same winter Rangiora meeting two years ago.
Rangiora has been a lucky track for the progeny of Princeton’s dam Emcil.
Another half-sister, San Fran Lady, was also a Rangiora winner, recording the first of her three NZ wins at the North Canterbury track.
Princeton’s latest win credited Mark Jones with his 51st training success for the season, but race numbers will be light in coming weeks.
Many out of the stable have been sold or exported to Australia in recent months, with OK Courage continuing his good form for the Peter Russo stable with a third to Washakie and Vegas Bound in a $A14,000 pace at Albion Park, Brisbane, in late July.
Ex-Overport Lodge juvenile Glenferrie Rustler (Lis Mara-Exceptional Lass gelding) justified his favouritism with an easy win over 1800m (2:01.9 rate) in a $A7000 pace at Globe Derby Park, Adelaide, on the same night.
SPIN DOCTOR DELIVERS AT FORBURY
Spin Doctor, who provided the Mark Jones stable with the first win of the new term at Forbury Park on Thursday, August 16, has the breeding and potential to develop further.
He brought up 50 NZ wins for the progeny of his top-producing dam Janetta’s Pride (Gee Whiz II-Zola), who won three times herself when prepared in the early 1990s by the late Pat O’Reilly sen.
Spin Doctor, who delivered easily despite losing a big stretch of ground early, is the eighth individual winner from nine to race for his dam.
He is a brother to the illustrious Group Race winners, Dependable (14 NZ wins for $154,917, 1:59.2, US), Jo Anne (12 wins, 1:58.5), Ima Gold Digger (15 wins, $362,328, 1:57.6) and Shirley Temple (three wins incl. 2007 NZ Trotting Derby).
Now six, the Sundon gelding is raced on lease from breeders Keith and Bevan Grice by Kyle “Jock” and Wendy Austin, along with Gavin and Sharon Glover.
Jock prepared Spin Doctor for his first four starts. He races in Jock Austin’s sign-writing business colours _ silver, with the AllSignedUp logo.
Jock earlier co-owned the smart free-legged pacer Nutwood, who won eight races when prepared and co-owned by Jock’s father, Mike, in the mid 1990s. The Nero’s BB gelding was subsequently sold to race in North America, taking a 1:50.6 mile mark.
Once balanced up by catch-driver Blair Orange, Spin Doctor made short work of his opposition.
He recovered to be within striking range of the leaders over the final 1000m and came clear to win untouched by two and a-half lengths in 2:57.6 for the stand start 2200m.
Stablemate Electric Ollie (Ricky May) rallied strongly for second to Wot The Owl in the viv Anngow _ Life Members Pace, but the winner had established a winning margin turning for home.
Wot The Owl, who held by three lengths in 2:43.1 for the mobile 2200m, was claimed out of the Archie Armour stable by fellow Southland trainer Tom Kilkelly.
HARNESS RV SUCCESSFUL DEFENDING CASE
Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) defended an action brought against it by Sportsbet Pty Ltd (Sportsbet) in the Federal Court of Australia. The case ran over two weeks (in March and August 2011).
Sportsbet challenged the Victorian legislation under which HRV charges a race field fee. Sportsbet also challenged HRV’s ability to charge a fee based on turnover.
HRV charges approved Wagering Service Providers (WSP’s) a race field fee of 1.5% for the use of HRV race fields for wagering purposes.
Sportsbet’s fundamental argument was that the fee is discriminatory, not least because Tabcorp (who pays substantial amounts in excess of the race field fee under contractual arrangements with the Victorian Racing Industry) and on course bookmakers are exempt from the legislation.
Justice Mansfield has now handed down his decision.
In his judgment, Justice Mansfield found that:
1. The Victorian race fields legislation is valid;
2. WSP’s, who make a profit from wagering on Victorian harness racing, are obliged to make a payment, providing the fee is valid;
3. This means that WSP’s such as Sportsbet must pay a fee;
4. A fee levied on WSP’s based on turnover is valid;
5. HRV’s entire 1.5% of turnover race field fee imposed on Sportsbet was impermissible due to a 0.5% of turnover subsidy it pays to on course bookmakers for offering a bookmaking service to patrons at Victorian harness racing meetings.
For information, HRV charges on course bookmakers an aggregate 1.5% turnover fee, however the 0.5% turnover subsidy is paid to bookmakers who attend tracks around the State. For the year 2011/12, the subsidy amounted to $12,600 in total.
Although Justice Mansfield found that on course bookmakers’ attendance at Victorian harness racing meetings provided a benefit to HRV, he found that there was insufficient evidence to justify the amount of that benefit.
As a result, Justice Mansfield found that the practical effect of applying this subsidy meant that Sportsbet had been discriminated against and the 1.5% Turnover Condition was an additional burden on Sportsbet, when compared to on course bookmakers, and concluded that the whole race field fee was invalid.
The HRV Board at its meeting this week will consider the judgment and take advice on appealing the decision. Until that has been determined, I am unable to quantify the financial impact on HRV.
In the interim, HRV will take on board the findings contained in the judgment and immediately remove the 0.5% subsidy to on course bookmakers, so as to ensure that Sportsbet and all other WSP’s make an equal contribution to HRV.
Courtesy of John Anderson,Chief Executive, HRV.
SIRES STAKES EXENSION FOR 3YO TROTTERS
As lead ups to the Hutton Racing Stables Sires Stakes 3 Y.O. Trotters Championship, a Prelude will now be run in each island.
Victorian, Michael Taranto , who also sponsors the Seelite Windows & Doors Sires Stakes 2YOTrotters Series, was keen to see more opportunities for the 3-year-olds and with his support the Board felt the time was right given the increase in the number of trotters paying up for the series.
With the Championship being run at Auckland, the inclusion of a Prelude at Addington was seen as providing something for South Island trainers to aim for. While the finer details are yet to be finalised, dates and venues for the Hutton Racing Stables Sires Stakes 3YO Trotters
Series are:-
Prelude 1 NZMTC 15th March 2013
Prelude 2 Auckland TC 19th April 2013
Championship Auckland 26th April 2013
Silver Auckland 26th April 2013
Courtesy of Doreen Graham, NZ Sires Stakes Board
100 DAYS TO LINDAUER RACE DAY
The countdown is well and truly on to Cup Week in Christchurch. It’s less than 100 days to go to Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup Day on 13 November 13.
Tuesday, August 8, marks 100 days to Show Day in Canterbury on November 16, the date for Lindauer Race Day at Addington Raceway.
Highlights on Lindauer Race Day include the Group 1 $200,000 Hellers Dominion for our leading trotters and the Group 1 $150,000 Woodlands New Zealand Free-For-All staged over a mile for Australasia’s best pacers.
Complimenting these elite events on 16 November is the new Show Day Futurity Mobile Pace.
Addington Raceway and Events Centre today announced that the race will carry a stake of $36,000, which includes all enrolment payments and is to be sponsored by our valued business partner PJ Jeans.
The new race will be known as the “PJ Jeans Show Day Futurity.”
“It’s great news to have long term client PJ Jeans on board with this new concept and we thank company owner Mr Phil Creighton for his valuable support to our organization,” said Addington’s Marketing Manager Ged Mooar.
“It’s fitting that 100 days out from Lindauer Race Day the PJ Jeans Futurity has attracted over 100 entries from trainers with pacers who are now a minimum of 4 years old and as at 4 July 2012 were eligible for a non-winners race, or who were unqualified.”
To be eligible for a start in the Futurity, horses must start at least once at a New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club meeting between August 1 and including November 2.
Brian Rabbitt, Racing Manager at Addington commented: “he is pleased with the response to the new concept from trainers with the bulk of entries coming from the Canterbury region, as you’d expect. We’ve also had strong support from trainers throughout the greater South Island including prominent trainers Murray Brown and Geoff and Jude Knight. Amongst the nominations from Graeme Anderson and Amber Hoffman is the last start impressive winner Eddie Boy, and the promising Ohoka Kentucky, from the Tony Herlihy barn in Clevedon.”
For any further information on the PJ Jeans Show Day Futurity please contact Addington’s Racing Department on (03) 338 9094 or visit www.addington.co.nz.
Courtesy of Ged Mooar,
Marketing and Commercial Manager,
Addington Raceway and Events Centre
MET CHANGES FFA DISTANCE TO 1609M
The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club is to reduce the distance of the Woodlands New Zealand Free-For-All on Show day, 2012, to 1609m (metric mile).
The Group One NZ Free-For-All was previously been run over 2000m (or 1 1/4 miles), but the Met wants to turn the feature Cup week sprint into a mile dash, following improvements to the camber at the 1609m start point.
The NZ Free-For-All has been run over one mile eight consecutive times, but 85 years ago.
Racing Manager Brian Rabbitt said: “Cup week in Christchurch is the greatest week in harness racing in the country and it fits in well that the best pacers throughout Australasia can compete at this carnival over the ultimate speed distance of a mile.”
“We get the top echelon of pacers going for glory on the Tuesday in the cup over two miles (3200m) and now they have the opportunity to compete over a mile three days later.”
“We have been thinking of this concept for some time now and it’s been a while since we’ve staging a flying mile at Addington. Only the best pacers competing at the time will be eligible given the criteria, and this coupled with an attractive bonus should ensure the sparks are flying.”
The race will be run for $150,000, with a special bonus of $5000 each on offer for the trainer and driver of the winner, providing the current NZ mile record of 1:52.1 (shared by Kiwi Ingenuity and Smolda) is broken.
Addington Raceway’s Racecourse Manager John Denton says Addington Raceway is somewhat different now than it was in 1991 when the last mile was run here under normal conditions (before four-quarter miles were run with speed incentives).
“With the introduction of pylons in 1995 and the fact the gradient is significantly better now I’m confident the NZ record could be given a shake given ideal conditions on the day,” Mr Denton said.
The field will be restricted to 10 starters with the provision for one emergency.
The front-line limit for the feature 1609m Addington mile will be a maximum of six off the front row, and four on the second row.
The Met, after a thorough period of consultation within the industry and discussions with leading horsemen, will invite the first six placegetters in the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup to start in the FFA, along with the winner of the NRM Sires’ Stakes 3YO Final (both races run three days earlier).
The balance of the field will be selected at the club’s discretion.
A catalyst for the change in distance has been the reduction of starters for the NZ FFA in recent years, with nine being the average amount of starters over the last four years.
The Addington Raceway mile track record is officially 1:56, set by Blossom Lady, in 1991 (Master Musician was hand-timed to run 1:54 to win the 1995 Monsanto 4-Quarter Mile at Addington, but this wasn’t officially recognised as it wasn’t electronically timed).
ESTIMATED $40,000 FUTURITY FOR SHOW DAY
The NZ Metro TC are calling enrolments for a “Show Day Futurity”, with an estimated stake of $40,000, for maiden 3YO or older pacers, as at July 4, 2012.
The club will guarantee the Futurity stake at $25,000 should the race proceed, but estimates it should have enough funding for a $40,000 stake.
Enrolment payments of $115 (including GST) are required to be eligible for the Futurity, which is designed to offer a good race for a new pool of horses at the NZ Cup meeting.
To remain eligible, horses must start at least one NZ Metro meeting at Addington between August 1, 2012 and November 2, 2012.
A points system will run for qualifiers on a 5 for first, three for second, one for third, basis.
A countback system on the most starts will be used in the event of a tie for points at final acceptance time. If a tie still exists, the club will use its discretion finalising the field.
The Futurity will be be run over a mobile 2600m distance, with a preferential barrier draw to determine starting positions, based on wins, then earnings. There will be no final acceptance fee for the race.
Any horse nominated and selected to race in the Futurity will be ineligible to start in any other race on November 16, 2012.
The Club has a get-out clause to cancel the event and refund all enrolment monies if, in its opinion, enrolments are insufficent to continue with the feature. This will be decided no later than August 31, 2012.
Stake money for the Futurity is to be divided as per the club’s policy.
RANKING SYSTEM FOR NZ CUP
The NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club will use a ranking system to determine the field for this year’s proposed $600,000 ($300,000 to the winner) Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup on Tuesday, November 13, 2012.
Previously, field selection, apart from automatic Addington qualifiers from designated lead-up races, was at the discretion of the club.
However, a move to the ranking system is considered “desirable” to ensure the most robust, transparent and regularly updated process, available to assist industry participants in determining selection of the Cup field.
Those responsible for the rankings will be HRNZ’s Chief Handicapper and Assisant Handicapper, the NZ Metro TC Racing Manager, and a NZ Metro TC Board Representative.
The HRNZ Chief Handicapper is considered the best person to rank any Australian entries for the race.
Cup Nominations ($172.50 including GST, non-refundable, no sustaining payments), will close on August 31, with initial rankings available on September 5.
Rankings will be updated and published on the HRNZ website weekly, until final rankings are completed.
Final rankings will be released a.s.a.p. after the final late nomination and withdrawal deadline at 2pm on Tuesday, November 6. (late entry fee, $6900, including GST). The acceptance fee will be $7500 (plus GST).
Horses will be ranked in the following descending order:
Winner 2011 New Zealand Cup _ Terror To Love.
Winner 2012 Auckland Cup _ Sir Lincoln.
Winner 2012 Inter Dominion Final _ (Im) Themightyquinn.
Winner 2012 Maurice Holmes Vase _ to be held, Addington, September 7.
Winner 2012 Avon City Ford Cup _ to be held, Addington, September 28.
Winner 2012 Canterbury Classic _ to be held, Addington, October 12.
Then “competitiveness and performances” in Group races after August 1, 2012.
Then “competitiveness and performances” in Group races in the 2011-12 season.
Then “competitiveness and performances” in non-“black type” races after August 1, 2012.
NZ METRO MULTIPLIER REWARD
The NZ Metropolitan TC will reward owners and trainers who start an individual horse, who wins or dead-heats, at a minimum of 15 of its meetings over a 12 month rolling period from August 1, 2012.
The incentive scheme will award $7500 ($5000 to the owner, $2500 to the trainer), of an eligible horse, until a total of $150,000 is paid out in incentives.
A horse can make a start at a later date next season and still be eligible for the next 12 months.
Racing Manager Brian Rabbitt says the scheme is an incentive to ensure strength of numbers at Met meetings throughout the season.
Only one lifetime reward per horse can be won.
Conditions exclude start at all Tuesday graduation meetings, and any such meetings in the 2013-14 season.
The “Met Multiplier” will be trialled for a period up until November 20, 2012, when the Board will conduct a review and consider the future of the scheme.
However, all horses which races at NZMTC meetings from August 1, 2012 until November 16, 2012, will be eligible for the reward, regardless of the review outcome.
Reward payments will be made on the 20th of the month following qualification, and upon the clearance of any raceday swabs taken form any perfomances that contribute to the qualification of winning the award.
ADDINGTON “WINTER FEST” PROMOTION
The NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club are introducing owner and trainer incentives in attempts to boost August numbers.
To be eligible, the same horse must start on all three NZMTC night meetings in August on Thursday August 2, Friday August 10, and Friday August 24.
Racing Manager Brian Rabbitt has announced details of Addington Events Centre Food and Beverage vouchers (combined value of $300 including GST) to be received by owners of eligible horses, as listed in the Racebook on August 24.
One voucher will be given to the connections of each eligible horse, irrespective of the number of owners.
The vouchers are to be redeemed on each of the three nights of the NZMTC September meetings (Friday, September 7, Thursday, September 13 and Friday, September 28), but are limited to one $100 voucher per night through September.
The club is also offering a trainers reward if a trainer, or training partnership, starts a minimum of six indvidual horses in total, and starts a minimum of one horse per night, over the three August meetings.
The same deal applies, with $300 (including GST) Food & Beverage vouchers, to be used at a value of $100 per night at the September meetings.
To be eligible, horses must be registered in the name of the trainer, or training partnership, as at August 1, 2012.
HRV ANNOUNCES PREMIER TROTTING SALE
Harness Racing Victoria has announced that the southern hemisphere’s first ever trotters-only yearling sale, the Australasian Premier Trotting Sale, will be conducted on March 24, 2013, at Melton’s Tabcorp Park.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Racing The Hon. Dr Denis Napthine during the Seelite Windows & Doors Redwood Carnival at Maryborough on Sunday.
The inaugural Australasian Premier Trotting Sale, which is a collaborative venture between HRV and industry stakeholders, has already attracted an incredible list of entries.
The trailblazing initiative is the latest step toward highlighting the trotter, which has already seen the number of Victorian squaregaiting races rise to 734 with combined stakes of almost $6 million.
The Australasian Premier Trotting Sale will coincide with the running of the inaugural Great Southern Star trotting series, yet another initiative aimed at improving the status of squaregaiting.
CEO John Anderson said the announcement further illustrates Harness Racing Victoria’s commitment to the continued growth of trotting.
“We are very pleased that the Minister has made this announcement given that funding has been made available jointly by the State Government and Harness Racing Victoria. We genuinely believe the Australasian Premier Trotting Sale will provide an annual boost for trotting and help secure its long-term prosperity,” he said.
“We are thankful to Minister for Racing Dr Denis Napthine and the State government for their support of the Australasian Premier Trotting Sale.”
Courtesy of Jason Bonnington, Communications Coordinator, Harness Racing Victoria.
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