A Derby bid, new lighting, open race competitions and the return of crowds.
After the most frustrating of years, the action will be coming thick and fast and Towcester and Henlow between now and the New Year.
The big news is the confirmation from Kevin Boothby that Towcester will definitely apply to stage the 2021 English Derby and that Star Sports have agreed to continue with their sponsorship should the track secure the fixture.
Boothby said: “Ben Keith has confirmed that if I make the application, I will have his support. That is fantastic news and I can confirm, as I have said from the beginning, that I will definitely be applying for it through GBGB.”
In fact, open racing is scheduled to become a regular feature. Things kick off this month with heats of three Cat 3 sweepstakes on Tuesday September 22 with the finals the following Sunday.
Boothby said: “With Monmore closed we have additional meetings and with our kennel strength being deliberately limited, I thought the Tuesday would be a good opportunity to have the first of the opens.”
The Sunday meeting will be supplemented with additional opens over all distances (270m, 500m, 712m) including maiden, bitch and puppy events.
In fact, Sunday September 27th is the revised date for the readmission of the public, a plan that was originally scheduled to take place this Sunday.
Boothby said: “We’ve held discussions with the council and we are clear to open under some strict conditions.
“We will have a maximum of 450 people through the gate, and the public will be kept separate from the trainers. Basically, should there be a Covid flare-up among the customers, it would mean we would be shut down, but racing could continue. The nightmare is an outbreak among the trainers.
“The public will be allowed into the restaurant, Bar 4,000 and exec boxes. The food will be simple, pizza and chips, all boxed, for the bars and hog roast and dessert for the restaurant, again all boxed to reduce risk. The trainers will be in the marquee.”
Barring any setbacks, the track intend to open Saturday night racing from November 7 and kick off with a bang!
Boothby said: “At this stage, I would like to open with a Night Of Stars meeting with open races throughout. Since I took over last October, a string of people have said that they would like to support us and have just been waiting for a date.
“Here is their chance, I’m looking for sponsors for all 12 races on the night and make it a real spectacle.”
Work is well advanced to have Towcester TV broadcasting on the Saturday launch with viewing available by a monthly subscription.
Boothby added: “The details are being worked out, but it will probably be around £20 per month. I am planning to follow the Night Of Stars meeting with a Cat 1 event with another one staged every month going forward.”
They’ve arrived
The arrival of 75 state-of-the-art lights should soon restore Towcester to its position as the most visually striking track in Britain.
Boothby said: “This has been on-going since February and it was such a relief when the transporter came onto the site.
“I can’t speak highly enough about Cree Lighting. It would have cost them a fortune to replace all the lights and have them flown in.
“There are 15 batteries each for five lights and work is already underway getting them fitted. When you think how good the originals were, they were fitted seven years ago. These are the improved versions, I really can’t wait to see them all lit up.
“We have also started to lay the Astro Turf. The place is going to look amazing – despite what you might read on the forums.”
Boothby is considering making this year’s Star Sports Derby Final meeting an exclusive meeting for members of the newly formed National Greyhound Supporters Club.
He has already staged sponsored meetings at both Henlow and Towcester for the new organisation.
He said: “I am still to discuss it with founder David Mitchell, but with Nottingham being restricted on capacity, we could stage a meeting here and beam the Derby Final onto the big screen. It would be a great opportunity to get all the members together for the first time.”
Meanwhile there is also plenty going on at Henlow. The track are due to stage their Maiden Derby at the end of September (36 greyhounds – £3K to the winner).
Boothby said: “We are a lot more restricted space wise at Henlow than Towcester, but by careful planning we will be able to invite all the owners along. The general public will not be admitted.”
