The added money event is set up to play out over a three week period with two preliminary legs run June, 23rd and 30th with the final July 11th carrying a estimated purse of $125,000. per division, sex and gait, making this the second $500,000. injection into the local Ontario Sired racing community by Georgian Downs this year alone.

The concept of the series is geared towards older Ontario Sired horses, ones that were either standouts in their respected OSS divisions or ones that are just starting to blossom into high caliber race horses later on in their racing carriers.

The eligibility conditions for the Masters read rather simple, 4-year-olds and upward, Ontario Sired. Nomination Fee, $1000. Canadian. Very straight forward and very to the point.

Mr Roberts line of thinking when the Series was being created, know doubt focused on providing a racing series that would highlight Ontario Breds after their sophomore year in the OSS program was complete, with a secondary objective to rekindle an identity between familiar racehorse and on site gambler, or perhaps even reach out into the local community and create a individual horse following. Which is a great idea and a valid attempt to promote the industry.

But unfortunately the reality of the situation is, with a wide open condition on the series, the entire box isn't over flowing with entrants and it seems the iron tough Ontario Bred Free For All horses have all come out to suck up the lucrative cash on offer and what we the betting public are getting as a finished product is, well, lets just call it short fielded, repeat racing, where the race flow is minimal and drivers are content to sit and have an all out sprint to the wire in the pacing divisions and on the trotting side of the page, numerous breakers and heavy favorites that are actually racing down in class.

There is nothing more boring or less appealing from a dollar value perspective available to gamble on or watch than short fielded races of high end horses on a big track. Sadly in the Masters Series this year, the first round action has been just that, short race fields in all four divisions.

Surprisingly, this week in round two, for the Mares Trot division of the Masters Series the race office received 13 entries but then opted to split the class creating two short fielded races of 6 and 7. It's to late to change it now but it would have been interesting to see the difference in the handle if they would of carded a 13 horse race and compared it to last weeks bet on the same class.

This in my mind translates into a great opportunity bypassed with the chance for some fabulous get off the rail and race, sizzling action, with a variable plethora of odds attraction on the tote board for the always game and eager Ontario punter to delve into and come up with a winner has now, unfortunately, been missed because of complacency of product on the track.

Don't get me wrong what Chris Roberts and Georgian Downs are attempting to do is a great idea but as always great ideas need that little bit of tweaking in order to turn them into fantastic innovations.

Last week in the opening round of the Masters we saw Mr Saratoga in the pacing horse division hang on to win over Bigtime Ball in a rapid 1:50.2.

Bigtime Ball was bet down to .55 cents on the dollar and opted to race from the backfield in the race getting away 6th were he remained until the outside race flow started approaching the half way point.

Still sitting 6th but now parked and following 3rd over without advancing cover, Paul McDonnell, his driver had no choice but to tug on the right line and did so, unleashing a three wide bid to the front, from well before the three quarters in 1:22 . 3 Bigtime Ball never cleared his cover in front of him until mid stretch and was beaten by a diminishing half length, by the race orchestrator Mr Saratoga.

Presidential Ball the bobtailed speedster, draws the rail tonight and is a lock winner.

In the Mares Trot, Frenchfrysnvinegar cut out a win mile in 1:57 flat after four of the eight starters self destructed by making breaks in stride. This could have contributed greatly to the rise in entries for this division. Countess Stormont ran second while Zorgwijk Heavenly picked up the show money.

Free For All horse trotter Define The World enjoyed the drop in class and quickly disposed of Meadowview Matty in a retake the lead situation approaching the half, to go on and take down the victory in his $20,000. division for trainer Jon Bax and owner Al Libfeld of Pickering Ontario.

The Masters Series resumes action tonight July 30th at Georgian Downs Post Time :07:25 Eastern, with all of last weeks division winners back into go.

Robert LEATHAM