Gort Na Corrib’s open race victory on Thursday night marked a quirky landmark. The 31.01 winning time was the slowest that would have won a 515 metre open at the track this year. Here are a few more fun facts and stats for the open race geeks . . .
* Hove have staged 412 open races so far in 2015, an increase of four compared to the equivalent period last year. 47 of the total were ‘maidens’.
* Hove host the third highest number of opens in the country behind Romford and Sheffield and roughly 10.7% of the national total.
* The split: 515m-169 (41%), 475m-89 (22%) 285m-77 (19%), 695m-62 (15%), 515mH-11 (2.5%), 740m-2, 930m-2.
* Sizzlers Eagle is the most prolific open winner having won half of his 18 open race attempts (plus a couple of graded races).
* Westmead Hawk is the leading open race sire with 33 victories, one ahead of Ace Hi Rumble.
* Leading open race trainers 39-Paul Young, 38-Kevin Hutton, 37-Seamus Cahill
* A time of 29.78 will win 90% of all 515 metres opens at the track. The sprint and six bends equivalents are 16.17 and 41.44.
* Dogs to have won opens over 515m and 695m with their fastest times: Mossvale Ace 29.82/41.73, Swansalolna Diva 30.20/41.44, Teejayspowerhawk 30.23/41.62
