Romford are to include a memorial race for two former popular owners on Friday night’s bumper 16 race card. In addition to the Mitch Millward Marathon Final, there will be a race named after Dick ‘Adageo’ Barfoot, who landed the feature event, the Coral Essex Vase, four years ago with Adageo Bob.
Racing manager Mark Arkell said: “The Dick Barfoot race was Mark Wallis’ idea and we managed to squeeze it in. We don’t stage many 16 race cards. We actually had enough entries for more races (there are 20 reserves), but are limited by the number of racing kennels, at 100.
“In general we are adding extra races onto most meetings at the moment. We are getting good crowds and it worth extending the meetings with the extra races.”
When it comes to selections for the big races, the grader is decidedly non-committal.
He said: “They are quite unusual that there are no local dogs in either the Essex Vase or Mitch Mitchward finals and both very difficult to call. They all have winning form here. There is a lot of experience among the trainers, and the only runner who appears to be slightly badly drawn is King Lennon in six. If I was forced to choose one, I guess if Sparta Master can break again like he did when he smashed the track record, I can’t see him being caught.”
“As for the marathon, I am not sure that is any easier. I was impressed by Drive On Betsy in the heats, and Ava Storm. I guess Burgess Honey will probably find the distance on the short side but they all have winning form here. If I was forced into a selection, I do like the look of Skilful Sandie, and she looks the most open to improvement.”
As far as local news is concerned, the track plan to stage their established set of Cat 1 events in 2020 with the Champion Stakes being moved back a week in preparation for a gala anniversary meeting to celebrate the first anniversary of the new grandstand.
Locals may also detect a gradual process of the four Ladbrokes Coral tracks sharing and adopting ideas with each other.
Arkell said: “Maggie from the Monmore racing office has been here this week and we are sending staff out too. The idea to see how the other tracks operate and hopefully pick up some good ideas.”
Among the bonuses for local owners is that the two former Coral tracks have copied the Ladbrokes venues by upping their A1 winner’s prize money to £200 with immediate effect.
