After a great amount of consultation with many industry participants / stakeholders, it has been decided that for June & July here at the ATC, a tiered stakes structure will apply. What this will mean is that all R rated races (pacing / trotting) up-to-R54 (approx.) will be run for a stake of $14,999 – with all races that are confirmed on the final programme to have a bottom rating cap of R55+ to carry a $20,000 stake.
Given the spread of ratings and final race splits are entirely dependent on nominations received for any given meeting, there may be the case for example in which a race carries a final split of say R53-58 – given the bottom rating cap of this race is below R55, this will pertain to a $14,999 stake. We will continue to programme a $25,000 race (again both pacing / trotting) for the tightest assessed race on any given standard meeting (where acceptances allow for an approximate R65 & Faster split to get off the ground).
Non-winners races, 2YO races & Junior Driver races will additionally also carry a stake of $14,999 (Please note – the NZRB's payment of $1,500 that goes to all horses when they have their first win for tote races up-to-and-including $14,999 will continue to be added to the first placed winners stake for the balance of the current season).
On the subject on non-winners races, the ATC would also like to announce to trainers that after consultation with the N.I Horsemen's Association, the use of preferential barrier draws (based on sex) that has up to this point been applied on sex in the instances where only one non-winners race is programmed or finalised for any meeting – will now only be in effect every second meeting with an open draw to apply on alternating weeks.
The South of the Bombay's races that were so popular last season will once again be programmed throughout June & July and as such, these will also carry a $14,999 stake.
Similar conditions will apply to these races this season as they did the last – however these will be confirmed in the coming days and shortly be available for perusal when the June tentative programmes are made available online in the coming days – with a likely ratings band of R40-65 to apply along with other conditions. Of course, should you be an (eligible) R55-65 horse and not wanting to run for the $14,999 stake these S.O.T.B races offer, then you will be more than welcome to take your chance in the R55+ races which offer that $20,000 stake.
We would like to thank you for your feedback and hope that this is something that the industry welcomes. The ATC aims to create the most professional racing, sporting & entertainment environment and whilst it was recently announced that where applicable at any given meeting horses will be selected from the top-down, this will run in conjunction with other main objectives such as creating full and even betting fields and so this policy of selection will always be subject to nominations received for any given meeting, with a top-down approach in-use where nominations permit.
All the best for the coming winter months – we wish you all the best and look forward to having you race here at The Park.
Kind regards,
Derek Balle
ATC Racing Committee Chair