Scheme aims to attract top gallopers

Press, 20 February 1986, Page 38

Scheme aims to attract top gallopers

PA Tauranga The Bay of Plenty Racing. Club has introduced an incentive scheme to attract top-class gallopers to its meetings in March and April. In conjunction with the Paeroa and Auckland Racing Clubs, the club has mapped out a lead-up programme for trainers eyeing the $lll,OOO Castlemaine XXXX Easter Stakes, run over 1600 metres, at Ellerslie on March 29. The Bay of Plenty Racing Club secretary/manager, Mr Don Hancock, says the build-up starts with the $7500 St Patricks Easter Trial Handicap, run over 1200 metres at Paeroa on March 15. This is a weight-for-age event. The winner of this race gains a free start and exemption from the ballot

for the $30,000 weight-for-age Racing Personalities Stakes, run over 1400 metres at Tauranga on March 22. “By free start we mean the horse is given a free nomination and acceptance to run in the Racing Personalities Stakes,” Mr Hancock said. “Their float fees for the horse getting to Tauranga and the losing riding fee will also be paid, but any percentages of stakes won to the jockey and trainer will have to be paid by the owner.” The winner of that then gains free entry and exemption from the ballot for the class one Castlemaine XXXX Easter Stakes. “The weights for the Easter are declared on March 20, so if a horse wins the Racing Person-

alities Stakes under weight-for-age they will not be open to a rehandicap,” Mr Hancock said. The winner of the Racing Personalities Stakes also receives a free start and exemption from the ballot in the Owens 15th Japan/New Zealand International, run over 1600 metres at Tauranga on April 19. The stake of this race has been increased to $60,000, a jump of $20,000 from when it was last run in 1984. The Japan/New Zealand International Trophy race was to be run for a stake of $50,000 last year but because torrential rain forced the abandonment of the meeting, the race was never staged.