WALES, UK – The Crock Of Gold Series will return once again to Tir Prince Raceway in 2016 and now sports a new sponsor for the finale of the series.
A poll on a UK Harness Racing Debates site earlier in the year showed overwhelming support for the Crock Of Gold to remain as a series rather than be run as heats and a final on the same night. Some changes have been made with the series now consisting of 3 heats taking place on Saturday 18th June, Saturday 16th July and Tuesday 26th July, with the grand final being held on Saturday 20th August.
The Final will be sponsored by Northern Trading Cumbria and the total purse for the final will be an estimated £5000.
“We are delighted that Northern Trading Cumbria have agreed to sponsor the Crock Of Gold Final,” said Eric Witherspoon, Racing Director at Tir Prince.” And we are proud to be associated with them. We hope to make the 2016 Crock Of Gold Series the most exciting ever. We look forwarding to seeing as many of the staff and customers of Northern Trading Cumbria as possible on the Crock Of Gold Final night on 20th August, as it promises to be a memorable occasion.”
The format of the heats has changed as they will be for the top ten horses entered on the night and will be run as an open preferred handicap with horses 9 and 10 following horses 7 and 8 on the gate.
Heat winners will automatically qualify for the final and will not be allowed to compete in other heats.
The Final will then be made up of the three heat winners and the 7 horses with the highest total of points from the heats. Points will be awarded as follows;
2nd place – 9 points plus 3 bonus points = 12 points
3rd place – 8 points plus 1 bonus point = 9 points
4th place – 7 points
5th place – 6 points
6th place – 5 points
7th place – 4 points
8th place – 3 points
9th place – 2 points
10th place – 1 point
If less than 10 horses compete in a heat then the points will still be granted as though the race was a 10 runner race; for example a horse who finishes 8th in an 8 runner race will receive 3 points. However, it should be noted that any horse who starts a race but does not finish will automatically not be granted any points.
Should any qualifying horse decline to run in the final the horse which is next in line on the final league table will qualify.
The final will be run as a Free For All with the horses balloting for position and the horses who draw 9 and 10 will follow horses 1 and 2 on the gate.
“We feel the tweaks that we have made to the series will make it more exciting.” Said Eric Witherspoon, Racing Director at Tir Prince. “Making the heats preferred will hopefully encourage the horses who are lower down the grades to enter as they will have a draw bias over horses who are higher in the handicap than them.
“Cutting down to 3 heats condenses the action,” Witherspoon explained, “And makes it even more important for the horses to enter and bring their A game. We hope that with heat winner qualifying automatically and not being allowed to run in further heats will give more horses a chance and encourage more horses to enter.”
For additional information contact Eric Witherspoon at e.witherspoon@tirprince.co.uk.
From the Tir Prince Media Department