Entain are to offer to pay ‘also ran’ prize money to the four greyhounds balloted out of next Saturday’s Ladbrokes Stayers Classic Final at Monmore.
The semi final had voided after the late opening of the traps and the local management took the decision to ballot the six runners for the two places in the final. The alternative would have been to restage the semi final. However, even prior to the introduction of the new ‘four day rule’ it was a rare occurance for runners to be asked to contest three staying races in the course of a week.
To make matters worse, the two hounds who had seemed set to finish first and second, despite the trap issues, Antigua Suger and Narcos Tata, did not make the cut in the ballot. Those two places went to Chelms Cub and Great Name That.
Entain’s Ian Smyth said: “The end result is far from ideal and I have huge sympathy for the connections of those who have lost out and can only offer my sincere apologies. As a goodwill gesture we will be paying connections of the four eliminated greyhounds the £1000 run money that the final attracts and, subject to being able to find space on the calendar, will be inviting them to an invitational race with a prize of £2500 alongside the winner and runner up in next weeks final.”
