Raceway Newsletter

The Harness Jewels, Saturday May 31 2008, will be the biggest harness racing event ever staged in the Waikato.

Expectation is high as the countdown to the six $200,000 pacing races and three $100,000 trotting races unfolds. The contenders are emerging in all the divisions and whilst there are early favourites a lot can happen in the last few weeks leading up to the day when one horse in each division will emerge as the outright Harness Jewels Champion of its class.

Much interest will focus around the four-year-old entires and geldings group where the two northern trained superstars Changeover and Gotta Go Cullen will continue their on-track rivalry. Both will need to be at the top of their game on Saturday May 31 to withstand the challenges from the likes of Mr Molly, Montecito, Chilli and Charles Bronson.

Auckland Reactor promises to be the main drawcard of the day if he can maintain his unbeaten string of wins going into Jewels Day. Clearly, as stated many times by his trainer Mark Purdon, he is a three-year-old of exceptional quality, possibly the best he has had and if racing luck goes his way he could end the season undefeated. Fiery Falcon, Georgetown, Justa Tiger and Cullen’s Legacy in any other year could easily be top of this age group but on May 31 they will need every bit of racing luck to knock Auckland Reactor off his perch.

The contenders are still unfolding in the two-year-old divisions and April will prove the deciding month for many likely contestants. Already injuries have sidelined leading contenders such as Gotta Go Cullect leaving the way open for others to step forward.

One of the most contested divisions will be that of three-year-old colt or gelding trotter with locals Sovereignty, Real Deal Yankee and Kasyanov being challenged by the southerners The Ultimate Galleon, Doctor Mickey and No No Yankee.

Planning is well underway for a memorable week leading into the Harness Jewels Saturday.

On Tuesday May 27 there will be a low key harness meeting at Cambridge that will form the focus of an equine educational day for students from surrounding Waikato, Auckland and Bay of Plenty primary schools.

Buses and lunch will be provided with the range of activities including interactive displays, kidz kartz races and farrier instruction providing both a learning and fun experience for the students.

On Wednesday there will be a nine hole golf tournament at the Cambridge Golf Club entries will be taken by Mike Weston at the raceway office 07-8275506.

Thursday morning will see a breakfast with the stars function commencing at 7.30am with several Harness Jewels contenders being worked on the track, part of the morning will be screened live on television. There will also be dual sulky races during the morning.

On Friday evening there will be a function at SkyCity Casino in Hamilton where the presentation of the Jewels Silks to each division leader will be made.

For more information on any of the above functions please contact Mike Weston (mob) 021-501415 or 07-8275506.

Cambridge Raceway’s busy New Year schedule of overseeing nine race meetings in a six week period from mid December through to February 2 has wound up a hectic yet successful summer season for the raceway and its tenant club committees.

For the tenant clubs’ it signalled a successful holiday period of racing that included two super feature meetings at Cambridge and three regional grass track race meetings at Rotorua, Te Aroha and Tauranga.

As a consequence of the many capacity fields and strong support from owners and trainers turnovers were ahead of budget and in particular on course patronage throughout the period was excellent.

Feature races at the raceway included the $50,000 Waikato Times Flying Mile won stylishly by the Southland pacer Howard Bromac, the dual success of Mr Bojangles in the two four-year-old features the $40,000 Elliott Futurity Stakes and $30,000 Cambridge 4yo Classic, Allegro Agitato prevailed in the $35,000 Group One Turf Bar Trotters Mile, Roddick won the $20,000 Dinny Johnstone Waikato Guineas, Smokey Lonesome took out the $17,500 Te Awamutu Juvenile Stakes and Prince Sundon set a new track record in the $25,000 Crombie Lockwood Trotters Flying Stakes.

The three country grass cups were won by Walks On Water (Rotorua), Ohoka Qtee (Te Aroha) and Westburn Charlatan (Tauranga) the latter also took out the winner’s share of the $10,000 grass track bonus held over the summer period.

Racing now takes a backseat as the priority focus at the raceway is currently the main stand revamp that commenced February 8.

Regular course patrons will notice a huge change when the next harness meeting is staged, March 23. The stand revamp will be well advanced and hopefully the near seven figure improvement will be completed in time for the April 6 race meeting.

The top level of the main stand will be completely refurbished to include a fully glassed in air conditioned lounge encompassing the length of the grand stand, a corporate box, dance floor, press room, bistro kitchen and new sponsors and VIP lounge.

Patrons will be able to view the racetrack in comfort from their trackside tables that will prove a great asset to the raceway especially in the winter months.

Cambridge Raceway, long recognised as the Country’s leading country harness track will proudly boast facilities for its public second to none. The raceway company then plans to address the need to replace the current race night stables facility, hopefully this will materialise with the next couple of racing seasons.

Thursday July 7 will see the curtain drawn on the present racing season at Cambridge Raceway.

It has been a successful year for the three tenant clubs, The Cambridge Te Awamutu Harness Racing Club, Morrinsville Trotting Club and The Bay Of Plenty Harness Racing Club, this has resulted in stakes being increased for the coming season.

The stake for most races will be increased by around $500, that will return an extra $70,000 to stake holders, while the threshold for races attracting an acceptance fee is likely to be increased from $6,000 to $7,000. Races with gross stakes of $7,500 and above will have an acceptance fee of 1% attached, those below will be free to enter.

All starters in every race will receive a cheque of around $100 plus GST upwards that will at least be the equivalent of the losing driving fee and pay a contribution towards floating costs for the evening.

For the upcoming racing season commencing August 1, Cambridge Raceway has had an increase in the number of permits, currently there are 19 but in the new season there will be 23.

There has been an industry effort to structure northern harness race dates on a more consistent pattern. Race dates primarily at Cambridge will be on Thursday evenings excepting the first three weeks of January when they are to be on Friday night.

Hopefully this will give some security to trainers mapping out preparations for their horses. It is hoped that eventually the racing pattern at Cambridge will be a harness meeting every second Thursday.

Around 20 of the 23 harness meetings at Cambridge in the coming season will be held in conjunction with a greyhound race meeting, there will also be another 20 permits that are solus greyhound race dates.

Recent improvements at the raceway have seen the introduction of a new $40,000 Ford Falcon Mobile Barrier carrying the sponsorship logo of Nevele R Stud. The new barrier replaces the 20 year old Holden V8 utility that had served so well for many years. With only 30,000kms on the clock it has gone to a good home.

The Raceway Board is currently in the process of a $30,000 replacement of the back straight fence that will be extensively sign written once completed. Also planned is a $60,000 new semaphore board that will display electronically the sectional timing of races whilst in progress as well as results and margins, this is to be erected early in the new season.

As a consequence of the increased race permits at Cambridge the tenant clubs and Raceway Board are currently evaluating the costings of glassing in the greater part of the existing main grand stand. Architectural drawings of a stand revamp were commissioned in 2001, these included the installation of a lift to the upper levels and an extensive fire rating warning system, the two latter items have since been completed as has a revamp of the upper bar and lounge.

If approved by the tenant clubs the trackside viewing from the main stand will make it the equal of any in the country and provide year round comfort in an air conditioned lounge for around 500 patrons.

13 Jun 2005 by Kerry

Two very successful meetings at the end of 2004 provided the catalyst for the start of 2005 and a trend that has continued for the Cambridge-Te Awamutu Harness Racing Club.

At the Club's meeting of January 7 stakes of $161,000 were paid to owners, the largest single amount being almost $25,000 to the connections of star pacer Mister DG who easily won the $40,000 Waikato Times Flying Mile.

Course attendance at the meetings of December 24, December 30 (at Rotorua) and January 7 were affected by the unseasonal weather experienced at that time but that resulted in outstanding off course returns with the three meetings achieving almost $3.85 million.

This year the Club's first super-feature meeting was brought forward a week to the first week in January and the change certainly proved a successful one for the Club. The Waikato Times Flying Mile field was affected by the scratching of Auckland Cup winner Elsu, who opted out after drawing the second line, but of the final eight to go to the post there were four from each island that created a lot of interest in the outcome.

Mister DG's winning time of 1:57.02 was one of the slowest recorded in recent years reflecting the weather conditions on the night.

Others feature race winners over the period included Whatsundermykilt ($30,000 Group One Turf Bar Flying Mile), Live To Reign ($15,000 Cambridge Mitre 10 Te Awamutu Juvenile Stakes), Bailey's Dream ($17,500 Dinny Johnstone Waikato Guineas), That's Life Lavra ($15,000 Cullen NI Breeders Matriarch Stakes) and Glenbogle ($20,000 Crombie Lockwood Flying Stakes).

The Club now looks forward to its two February meetings where four-year-old pacers take centre stage at the raceway.

The first feature scheduled for Friday night, February 11, is the $40,000 Elliott Futurity Stakes a special handicap event for three and four-year-old pacers. Expectation is high that some of the country's leading age pacers of this group will be in attendance and will also back up in the $30,000 Cambridge Classic that is due to be run on Friday night, February 25.

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Lucky members draw.

For members of The Cambridge-Te Awamutu Harness Racing Club, a member's number will be drawn by lot after race five at any of the club's race meetings.

The successful member will be announced on course over the loud speaker system and will have 15 minutes from the time of that announcement to report to the secretary's office to receive a $50 betting voucher.

If the successful member is not present on course the members' lucky draw will jackpot, by $50, to the next meeting of The Cambridge-Te Awamutu Harness Racing Club up a maximum of $500 where it remain until struck.

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The committee of the Cambridge-Te Awamutu Harness Racing Club is investigating options on how to best reward members.

In the past a members only area has been tried but has not proved to be entirely successful so the Club is looking at two options. Either introducing a members rewards voucher booklet (discounted drinks, complimentary racebooks and perhaps discounted loyalty drinks in the Clubhouse Café & Bar outside of racedays) or once again making the Cambridge Lounge an exclusive area for members with full bar service and complimentary tea and coffee available.

Members will be kept informed of developments.

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With nine of the club's 17 race permits for this race season having been held it is an opportune time to look at progress at the halfway stage of the year.

Turnover both on and off course is ahead of budget, off-course has averaged $997,925 per race day which in total is ahead of budget by just in excess of $1 million while on-course is ahead of budget by almost $6,000 per race.

Stakes paid to date this season total $630,000 (92 races) at an average of $6,850 per race.

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Agenda items still in progress for the Raceway Board and the Club Committee include a new race night stabling facility at the Raceway and the erection of a new fence on the back straight of the race track.

The priority project is the back straight fence that is in urgent need of replacement and quotes are currently being sought to achieve this, it is thought that it may cost around $30,000 to repair and replace.

A new racenight stables facility may cost around seven figures and to that end the Board of the Raceway is mindful of committing reserves to the most suitable design that will achieve the required result to accommodate up to 130 horses on racenight. Included in the design will need to be a vets room and swabbing facility as well as several overnight stalls and colts boxes.

08 Feb 2005 by Dave

After the first quarter of the current season, Patumahoe trainer Geoff Small emerged as a clear leader as leading trainer at the Raceway. Most notable among his victories was Fulham Fella's impressive August 6 win in the $15,000 Trillian Trust Cambridge Cup. The season's opener at Cambridge saw Small notch a hat trick with Zenterfold and Bubba being his other winners. Others this season have included Count Me In, Zack and an impressive double to upcoming star Beware. ********* Howz Lucky sets new track mark for a four win trotter over a mile. At the Morrinsville meeting of October 28, the locally trained mare Howz Lucky led for the greater part of the mile to record 2:00.37 and would have broken two minutes had she been pushed. The six year daughter of Sundon had no recent form credentials to push her claims for support but obviously relished the mobile conditions catching many punters by surprise although her trainer Sean McCaffrey was fairly confident after trialling her behind the gate earlier in the week. ******** Around 50 members and Committee attended the AGM of The Cambridge -Te Awamutu Harness Racing Club, Tuesday October 5. President Mary Corboy reported that after much hard work for the season ending July 31 2004 the Club showed a surplus after depreciation of $108,715. This was after abolishing acceptance fees on all races that had a stake of $6,000 or less (a reduction of $35,000 to the previous year). While turnovers declined slightly both on and off track to the previous season positives included an increased number of horses now being trained on the track as well as a solid performance from the Clubhouse Cafe & Sports Bar that the Club was a fifty percent partner in. ******* Friday afternoon, October 15, saw around 300 children and parents decend on the raceway as part of the nationwide tour of the Variety Club Mini Bash. As well as all the funky vehicles there were lots of giveaways for the kids and also teams taking part in a celebrity sulky race. The celebrities included former All Black Joe Stanley, local Mayor Alan Livingston, former Olympic Equestian Gold Medalsit Mark Todd and New Zealand's first Lady Rider Linda Jones. A great time was had by all in the Trillian Trust sponsored promotion that saw funds raised to assist needy children in our community. ******* Friday, November 12 is the date of the next meeting at Cambridge - it promises to be a great night. Promotions manager Decima Kinsman has been inundated with group bookings as early party goers wind up for their Xmas functions. Feature on the night will be the $17,000 Alabar Stud Sires Stakes 4&5yo Mares Final while the supporting card promises some exciting action. Cambridge Cuisine, the resident catering company, has some great innovations for their racenight meal, all in all it should be too good a night to pass up so make up a party and be there. Contact the racenight office on phone 07-8275506 ask for Decima. 01 Nov 2004 by Kerry

Cambridge Raceway awards evening will be hosted at the Clubhouse Café and Bar, Wednesday August 18, commencing with a happy hour at 6.30pm.

Tickets are available at $15 from the Secretary's Office - contact Decima Kinsman Ph 827 5399 or email decima@cambridgeraceway.co.nz

Early voting would appear to support Elsu being odds-on to take out the Raceway's Horse of the year award, with other category winners being Leading Driver of Trotters (Peter Ferguson), Leading Trainer of Trotters (Sean McCaffrey), Leading Junior Driver (Arna Donnelly), Leading Trainer (N.Chilcott) and Leading Driver (Scott Phelan).

In addition the harness club has instigated several new awards to be presented during the evening. These include the Waikato-owned horse of the Year, Leading Waikato Trainer and 'Unsung Hero Award'.

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Season's finale, July 23 a successful night at the Raceway.

Although the weather was bitterly cool the guaranteed $100,000 pick six and even fields attracted a lot of support for the Cambridge-Te Awamutu Club's final meeting of the season. As a consequence there was some great racing with the off track turnover nearing $1.15 million.

The final leg of the Cubis Cup/Waikato Junior Drivers Challenge was taken out impressively by the local runner Megastep who sat parked for the whole trip. This was enough for her junior driver Stephen Butcher to tie the Series with Luke Edmonds who had driven Stylish Lavros to win the corresponding heat at the meeting of July 8.

Butcher and Edmonds will share the Cubis Cup for the next 12 months.

The Cambridge-Te Awamutu Club wishes to thank the following trainers Mike Berger, Ray Bradley, Susan Branch, John & David Butcher, Nicola Chilcott, Luk Chin, John Dickie, Peter Fraser, Garry Gillies, John Godfrey, Robbie Hughes, Charlie Hunter, Rob Lawson, Sean McCaffrey, Todd Mitchell, Kevin Shaw, Tony Shaw, Colin Webber, Bryce Wilson and Kelvin Wilson for their cash contributions to a successful series.

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Recent improvements at the Raceway have included 'spruce up" of the Presidents/VIP Lounge, that has included new carpet, paint and fittings as well as a revamp of the Alf Walsh Lounge and Dining area.

Trish Rabbarts, the resident caterer and proprietor of Cambridge Cuisine, and her staff have gone out of her way to present variety on the new race night menu that was well received at the meeting of July 23.

The dining area is in the process of a major makeover and received favourable comments from all that attended the most recent race meeting. A significant improvement is the recent completion of the dance floor that will prove a major asset to those hiring this area for functions.

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Friday night August 6 opens the new northern harness racing season, with one of Cambridge's feature pacing events the $15,000 Trillian Trust Cambridge Cup.

Since its inaugural running in 1925, the Cambridge Cup has been contested and won by some of the north's leading pacers. The race has seen a myriad of changes in its long history.

Initially it was run over two miles on the old grass track at the raceway however in 1957 the distance was altered to a mile and a half and the next year, 1958 it was 13 furlongs. In 1966 and 1967 it was over two miles again then reverted to 13 furlongs from 1968 and its metric equivalent of 2600 metres in 1973 until the new track was re-designed in 1996 and the distance has now settled at 2700 metres.

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The AGM of the Cambridge -Te Awamutu Harness Racing Club (Inc.) will be held in the Board Room at the Raceway on Tuesday October 5.

Nominations are called for four vacancies on the Committee of the Cambridge-Te Awamutu Harness Racing Club. Retiring by rotation and eligible for re election are; J.Coulam, W.J.Godfrey, B.J.Gordon and R.P.O'Connor. Nominations that must be on the prescribed form, available from the Secretary's Office, close with the General Manager at 3pm, Tuesday August 31 2004. 02 Aug 2004 by Kerry

When Elsu took out the $35,000 Waikato Times Flying Mile in January he was odds on to take out the raceway's 'The Horse of the Year' title.

Coming off an impressive Auckland Cup victory on New Year's Eve, Elsu smashed Christian Cullen's track record by half a second to establish a new Cambridge mark of 1.53.67. In so doing he added his name to an illustrious honour roll of previous winners that includes three-time winner Captain Harcourt as well as Orbiter, Young Quinn, Delightful Lady, Luxury Liner, Holmes DG, Christopher Vance and Christian Cullen.

For four months Elsu proved almost unbeatable on both sides of the Tasman as he claimed the title of this country's top pacer.

In a performance that equaled Elsu's, Zuri, the visitor from West Melton near Christchurch, wrote his name into the record book by setting a new national mark for a three-year-old trotter over the mobile 2200 metres journey.

In winning the Cambridge Trotting Stakes on May 6 in a time of 2:45.91, Zuri reinforced his claims to the title of 3yo trotter of the year. He blitzed his rivals with an all the way six and a quarter length win in his ninth career victory from only 13 starts. His effort may seriously challenge Elsu's claim to the Cambridge 'Horse of the Year' honour.

Three race meetings remain before the Raceway's season draws to a close, Thursday nights of June 3, July 8 and July 22.

Subject to entries there are three feature events still to be carded, the Cambridge Thoroughbred Lodge Cambridge Gold Cup (for 3 and 4yo pacers), the Cambridge 2yo Trotting Stakes and the Waikato Mares Championship.

One of the local highlights of the season has been the success enjoyed by Ollie and Irene Haines with their grand pacer Just An Excuse in winning the New Zealand Cup last November. Ollie, a resident of the Cullen Way subdivision adjacent to the track complex, is a former Cambridge Harness Racing Club President and Director of the Raceway.

The new season kicks off on Friday night August 6 with a mid-winter madness promotion that traditionally has proved popular with groups. Tickets, at $50, are available from Decima (07-827 5506) or decima@cambridgeraceway.co.nz. 21 May 2004 by Kerry

Patrons at Cambridge Raceway for the next meeting, September 12, will be pleasantly surprised with the revamp of the Skyline Lounge, on the top floor of the main grandstand.

"It was long overdue," said Raceway Board Chairman Ray O'Connor. "The Board approved the expenditure at its August meeting, subject to no unforeseen holdups the project should be completed in time for our next race meeting mid September."

"There's no doubting that the viewing provided from the top floor of the main grandstand is the best available on the racetrack and in the past this area used to be the most utilised on race nights. However since the Clubhouse Café and Sports Bar was opened last year it has assumed the area most frequented on race nights but that in itself has created new problems with the Clubhouse often bulging at the seams with patrons enjoying the atmosphere."

"By providing a revamped cosy environment in the Skyline Lounge its is hoped to create a better flow of course patrons throughout the lounges on racenight," said O'Connor.

The first part of the improvements to the main stand was completed several months ago with the installation of a lift to access the three levels of the Alf Walsh Stand. As a consequence on the top level, the Skyline Lounge, the central tote area has been removed to open the lounge up.

The current upgrade includes the installation of a new bar, the laying of 85 metres of carpet, new decorating and wall coverings and the revamp of the two existing totalisator areas. The ceiling has also been coated with an industrial insulation to alleviate the seasonal problems that occurred with condensation and humidity.

"We have been told that the project will be completed in time for the September 12 meeting, the only possible holdup is out of our control and involves the arrival of the carpet into the country, it is due early September," said O'Connor.

21 May 2004 by Kerry

Garrard's Horse and Hound NZ Limited, will be opening its retail shop at Cambridge Raceway, Friday, May 23.

Chris Garrard, the Queensland founder of the highly successful Australian chain of equine and greyhound supplies retail outlets is excited about their move into the North Island market.

"We opened our first New Zealand shop at Addington last year and have been looking for a suitable venue in the North Island. After visiting the Raceway late last year, I could see Cambridge was the ideal location given the number of horses in the area."

"The shop has been fitted out an is bigger than most of our retail outlets, probably on a par with Parklands on the Gold Coast," said Chris Garrard.

Trackside viewers will notice the Garrard's hoarding on the back straight fence similar to that seen when viewing Australian races on many of the Australian racetracks. Their presence in the local retail market has been eagerly awaited by many local trainers who have purchased high quality products from the Garrard's chain of stores when in Australia.

Ten of the eleven sections in the Cullen Way subdivsion have been sold and the Raceway is now considering its options regards furture section subdivions and investments.

To that end the Committee of the Cambridge-Te Awamutu Harness Racing Club recently held a two day strategic planning seminar discussing the direction of the club, its future within the industry and how it could best position itself and its resources to best serve harness racing.

With the aid of an exprienced facilitator steering the discussions the Committee formulated an action plan on how to best position the Club in the coming years. A business plan will be drawn up and implemented.

Club President Mary Corboy thanked those present for their frank and forthright discussions.

"It has been a vision of mine to look at our performance and where we are going," said Corboy.

"I can say that we all as a Committee have a clearer picture of where the Club is and how it can best function. We looked at how we could improve our office systems, pending improvements at the Raceway facility for our members and public, the possibity of future subdivsion, the Club's investments in the hospitality industry including the successful Clubhouse Sports Bar on the racetrack and how we could increase race stakes for our owners."

"Within twelve months I'm sure there will be big steps forward made by the Club and Cambridge Raceway."

After several years of fundraising the instalation of a lift in the main stand at the Raceway has been completed.

The lift was in operation for the recent May 8 racemeeting and will prove a great asset to elderly and disabled patrons. Aligned to the lift project was a requirement by Council to upgrade the fire detection support systems in the main stand, this has been completed at a cost of $67,000.

The Cambridge Raceway Board and the Harness Racing Club are now looking at a major revamp of the Skyline Lounge that would provide members with a modern and comfortable facility on racenights. 21 May 2004 by Kerry

Friday night's $35,000, Group Two Waikato Times Flying Mile has drawn the best field ever assembled for the country's premier mile sprint.

In a capacity field of 12, plus two emergencies, nearly all of the country's leading pacers have accepted including super pacers such as the recent Auckland Cup winner Young Rufus, New Zealand Cup winner Gracious Knight and defending race champion Holmes DG.

Add to these Facta Non Verba, Pocket Me, Pic Me Pockets and All Hart and punters can expect fireworks when the mobile gait folds.

The Waikato Times Flying Mile has a rich history since its inception in 1966 when the brilliant pacer Orbitor won the inaugural event. Since then list of previous winners reads like an honour role of some this country's leading pacers such as Great Adios, Holy Hal, Garcon Roux, Arapaho, Young Quinn, Captain Harcourt, Delightful Lady, Our Mana, Luxury Liner, Christopher Vance and Christian Cullen.

Friday night's winner will righfully add their name to this great list.

While much of the attention will focus on the Waikato Times Flying Mile, the supporting events on the night's programme lack nothing on the score of quality.

The $40,000, Elliott Futurity Final has attracted a great field of quality three and four-year-old pacers with rising superstar Just An Excuse looking to extend his great record.

Part-owned by former Cambridge President Ollie Haines, Just An Excuse has fashioned an enviable record in recent months, his seven wins coming from only nine starts, win number eight promises to be his biggest yet in spite of his 30 metres handicap.

Another feature on the evening will be the scheduled HARNESS PUNTER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION which is being run on races three through to race 12 inclusive.

A $500 entry form is being charged with the winner getting to hold onto the annual challenge trophy as well as recieving an Interdominion Finals Night package that includes air fares, accomodation and course VIP tickets.

With 12 races scheduled as well as a couple of amateur drivers heats and miniature pony races their will be plenty for course patrons to focus on as the country's leading free-for-all pacers go head to head at Cambridge Raceway, January 10 2003. 21 May 2004 by Kerry

Winter is upon us and the raceway is easing down for the season with only two more harness meetings, both combined with a full 10 race greyhound programme, and four stand alone greyhound meetings left before August 1.

All in all there has been some great moments at Cambridge this season with the undoubted highlight being the two appearances of Lyell Creek earlier this year.

The brilliant trotter has gone on to campaign with distinction, allbeit without much luck, in Europe and has proved to everyone that he is up with the very best of his gait in the world.

The next harness meeting at Cambridge will feature the $15,000 Cambridge Cup, a listed race which failed to draw enough entries when originally scheduled, March 8.

Established in 1955 for three and four-year-old-pacers, the special handicap event has been run every year since and it will be a pity if, for the first time in its history, the race fails to get off the ground this season. The list of previous winners includes some of the this country's former great age-group pacers including Tobias (1966), Roydon Scott (1975), Ben (1983) and Chuin (1990).

The Raceway's harness season concludes on Friday night, July 20, and early restaurant bookings confirm that this is the one night of the week that harness patrons love to attend the races.

The feature event on the night will be a newly instigated race for mares, the $10,000 Waikato Mares Championship, the Cambridge-Te Awamutu Harness Racing Club is hopeful trainers will support the race.

Congratulations go to former Club President Ray O'Connor and his partners who include fellow committeeman Sandy Yarndley, for the wonderful run of sucess they have enjoyed in recent months with their star two-year-old filly Hot Shoe Shuffle. The Morrinsville-trained filly wound up her juvenile campaign with a gutsy second in the Aus$200,000 Breeders Crown Final at Bendigo, Sunday 10, giving her connections who were on hand to witness the performance a great thrill. Her clashes with Elect To Live in the three-year-old fillies features next season will be eagerly awaited.

Cambridge Raceway Limited is still evaluating the options regards the pending stand upgrade.

Costings have been completed and currently consents are being applied for, it is likely progress will be made in the next four weeks on this matter. 21 May 2004 by Kerry

The long awaited upgrade to the upper level of the members stand at Cambridge Raceway is scheduled to commence at the end of April.

Matamata contractors, Stanley Construction, are overseeing the project which will see the Cambridge members facility redesigned into a modern, comfortable, air conditioned trackside viewing lounge.

The present main stand at the Raceway was opened in 1976, it was considered ahead of its time at the stage and was certainly the jewel of the country racing tracks in this country.

In the interim years patrons expectations regards comfort have changed immensly, trackside television coverage, phone betting and stricter drink driving regulations have kept many former regular race goers at home in their lounges.

Membership has declined nationwide and in an attempt to respond to this the tenant clubs at Cambridge will be offering a facility second to none which will be the envy of many race tracks in this country.

The refurbishment will include the glassing in from end to end of the upper level of the members stand behind which will be a lounge offering patrons a panoramic view of the racetrack from individual tables, a corporate box, new bar, new VIP area and the installation of a lift to service all three levels. Especially for the elderly and disabled patrons.

The Cambridge-Te Awamutu Harness Racing Club will be funding the expected half-million plus project through the sale of sections from its new subdivision, Cullen Way.

The 11 section, elite subdivision, has been on the market for the past three months and the first house is currently under construction.

Garry Stanley, co-proprietor of Stanley Construction, expects the refurbishment to take around 12 weeks to complete. This should see the new facility in full operation for the beginning of the new racing season in August.

LYELL CREEK PROMOTION CULMINATES THURSDAY APRIL 5. After race seven on Thursday night some lucky on-course patron will become a registered part owner in the Lyell Creek syndicate.

The Cambridge-Te Awamutu Harnesss Racing Club purchased a share in the Lyell Creek syndicate to offer as an on-course promotion at its meetings over March. To date there have been 10 winners drawn out of the competition box which was eligible to any patron over 18 years who entered by writing their name and address on the back of of a minimum $10 tote ticket.

All the winners drawn to date and those who will be drawn after race 5 on Thursday night will go into the ballot to draw a horse in race seven.

The Lyell Creek share will be transferred to the person who draws the winner of race seven.

RACES POSTPONED THROUGH LACK OF ENTRIES It appears that the higher the stake on offer, the more likely it will be that the race will struggle for nominations.

As strange as it may seem, this is often the case and this was further emphasised this week when the Cambridge-Te Awamutu Club had to postpone the $17,500 Cambridge Gold Cup for three and four-year-old pacers and the $12,500 Cambridge Trotting Stakes for three-year-old trotters.

The pacing event attracted only five nominations and the trotters race only two.

This scenario is not unusual with club's often left pondering the logic of trainers who flock to support $2,000 novice races but often bypass higher staked events.

The common perception is that the higher the stake the more difficult it is to win the event yet times recorded in many novice events and the quality of the fields suggest that this is bunkum.

Often races at Cambridge will attract a full field yet higher staked events for the same class at Alexandra Park will sometimes struggle for numbers.

Do trainers make unilateral decisions regards racing committments of their horses without consulting owners?

Many owners are successful business people and I'm sure if consulted would rather race for higher stakes than lesser.

The end result this week is that the Cambridge-Te Awamutu Harness Racing Club had budgeted to offer $30,000 for two races but has substituted two lesser staked events of around $10,000 through a lack of nominations.

NRM SPONSORED WORKOUTS, APRIL 7.

NRM in conjunction with the Cambridge-Te Awamutu Harness Racing Club will be sponsoring a barbeque and refreshments at the Saturday Workouts, April 7, commencing 9.30am.

The goodwill gesture is a token of appreciation for the support local trainers and owners give both NRM and the Club, it is hoped a large turnout will be on hand.

To date this season the average numbers of horses at the workouts has been 23 however in the past month that number has risen to 30, this is seen as a positive indication that horse numbers are increasing in the north, a trend which has been confirmed at recent race meetings. 21 May 2004 by Dave