Sunday afternoon opens at Sheffield will become the new norm from January.
There will be new routines for many tracks starting in in the new year and the Sheffield racing office are among those who are having to readjust their thinking
Racing Manager Andrew Mascarenhas said: “We are racing Tuesday and Thursday morning, Friday and Saturday evening, the latter being a non-media meeting, and Sunday afternoon.
“To be honest, the four days in a row, Thursday to Sunday, isn’t ideal, particularly since the introduction of the four day rule.
“We are planning open races for every Sunday afternoon from January 7 onwards. The first meeting will include the start of a dual distance competition and we are advertising for ten opens in total.
“Overall, the open race entries haven’t been very good recently, despite the fact that we pay more prize money than most. I have no idea why.
“On the plus side, the restaurant is sold out until the New Year and we are even taking bookings for the first Sunday meetings.”
– The recent charity meeting in aid of Sheffield Retired Greyhounds raised just short of £9,000.
Andrew said: “It was a good effort and will go to a great cause. I gather they are around the ‘90 rehomed’ mark for the year which is pretty good in challenging times.”
– Handicap racing has been temporarily suspended at the track following a recent void race.
Andrew said: “The handicap traps are being refurbished and fitted with new springs. It will probably be next weekend at the earliest before we are ready to use them again.”
The Christmas party season is well underway and as always, nobody does it better than Romford.
GM Karen McMillan said: “It certainly was another busy one with just under 1100 customers on the Saturday and over 800 on the Friday , as said both restaurants (total 250 guests) are nearly fully booked up to Christmas and our Boxing Day event has been fully booked for a couple of weeks.
“We have just gone live with our New Years Day Breakfast which I am sure will be another sell out – Romford is definitely the place to be on a Friday & Saturday night”
Expect a big glut of open race fixtures on the site during the day.
Doncaster and Crayford will publish their supporting cards for Saturday’s BGBF British Bred Leger and Ladbrokes Gold Collar Finals respectively while Towcester will be announcing the fields to support Sunday’s RPGTV Puppy Derby Final card.
Entries close at noon for all meetings.
King Memphis is now third favourite for next year’s English Derby following his track record breaking run on Sunday.
The top of the market is split between Links Maverick and De Lahdedah who are both trading around the 20-1 mark with Memphis next in at 25s.
33-1 Glenvale Bill, Ballinakill Alf,
40-1 Droopys Flytline, Churchfield Syd, New Destiny, Romeo Command, Coolavanny Hoffa, Ballinabola Ed.
50-1 Clona Duke, Clonbrien Treaty, Crafty Shivoo, Hollow Man, Newinn Syd, Slick Sabo, Swords Rex
KING MEMPHIS sets a new track record of 28.66 in the RPGTV Puppy Derby semis. King Combs (blue jacket) chases his litter brother home (having run a fine race himself from off the pace). Photo: © Steve Nash
