Open Class Racing
At the Harness Industry Forum meeting on 6 June 2014, members discussed the race programming schedule for August to December 2014. It included a recommendation for no open class discretionary handicaps or free for alls from 1 August to 14 September. Tasracing provided figures on open class racing for the same period for the previous two years. Racing options was also identified for horses assessed no faster than C10. Horses assessed up to C10 regularly make up 50% of open class race fields. HIF members endorsed a recommendation for no open class racing from 1 August to 14 September.
In the two weeks following the meeting, three trainers contacted Tasracing. All stated there should be sufficient horses to schedule open class racing during that period. A trainer provided a list of open class horses that he believed would be available to race from 1 August to 14 September.
Over the last six weeks all scheduled open class races have been conducted. The details are:
Date Club Race Details Acceptors Starters
22 June TPC Free For All 7 6
29 June LPC Disc Hcp 7 6
6 July TPC Disc Hcp 6 6
13 July LPC Free For All 6 6
20 July TPC Disc Hcp 8 6
27 July LPC Free For All 7 ?
A total of 16 individual horses have contested the six open class races from 22 June to 27 July. Eight are assessed C8 or slower and the other eight are assessed C10 or faster.
Also, another open class horse (C19) trialed at Hobart on Wednesday 23 July in preparation for a return to racing.
After considering the information provided by trainers, open class races over the last six weeks and the open class horse that trialed this week, Tasracing believes there is sufficient reason to program open class races from 1 August 2014 to 14 September 2014. The races will be subject to the conditions of the Tasracing Harness Race Funding Policy, which can be viewed at http://tasracing.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/HPOL0001-Harness-Race-Funding-Policy-vs3-eff-1-Jan-2014.pdf
The open class races will be:
3/08 TPC EHC03081411 – MS $7,000. Free For All. PBD/M. 2579 meters.
10/08 LPC LNC10081411 – SS $7,000. Disc Hcp. RBD. 2200 meters.
17/08 TPC EHC17081411 – MS $7,000. Free For All. PBD/$L. 2090 meters.
24/08 LPC LNC24081411 – SS $7,000. Disc Hcp. RBD. 2698 meters.
31/08 TPC EHC31081411 – SS $7,000. Disc Hcp. RBD. 2090 meters.
7/09 LPC LNC07091410 – MS $7,000. Free For All. PBD/C. 2200 meters.
14/09 TPC EHC14091410 – MS $7,000. Free For All. PBD/$L. 1609 meters.
August – C5/C10 Pacers
The August 2014 race programs were discussed at the recent Harness Industry Forum. The following changes to published race programs were approved. The changes are in bold type:
3 August – Hobart
EHC03081409 – (MS) of $7,000(CP). C6 to C10. PBD/C. 2090 metres. MC and NDC allowed within race for barrier draw purposes only.
10 August – Launceston
LNC10081409 – (MS) of $7,000(CP). C5 to C9. PBD/C. 2200 metres. MC and NDC allowed within race for barrier draw purposes only.
17 August – Hobart
EHC17081409 – (MS) of $7,000(CP). C5 to C8. PBD/C. 2090 metres. MC and NDC allowed within race for barrier draw purposes only.
24 August – Launceston
LNC24081409 – (MS) of $7,000(CP). C6 to C10. PBD/C. 2200 metres. MC and NDC allowed within race for barrier draw purposes only.
31 August – Hobart
EHC31081410 – (MS) of $7,000(CP). C5 to C9. PBD/C. 2090 metres. MC and NDC allowed within race for barrier draw purposes only.
Please contact me if you require more information.
Kevin Neilson
Code Development Manager Harness
62 129316 or k.neilson@tasracing.com.au