Just 24 hours after the Ladbrokes announcement, Henlow promoter Kevin Boothby has confirmed that he will also be paying the £15 ‘trainer bonus’ to all visiting handlers in open races.
He said: “It has to be done. Things kick off on Sunday January 7 which features the Maiden Derby and all visiting trainers will get the £15 bonus. We are also planning a yearly bonus scheme, based on a points system, for the biggest graded kennels with £10,000 to the winner.”
The track have already announced that unconfined open race winners’ prize money will jump from £175 to £250 with maidens rising to £200 from £150. ‘Others’ will receive £50.
Boothby said: “I can see the Sunday afternoon opens being hugely popular and a lot of the top kennels have promised us runners. We can compete with anyone.
“The kennel strength is building nicely, we had another 70 dogs trial today. The new kennel block for 70 dogs is finished and is already occupied by 38 new dogs. You wouldn’t believe how many trainers have tried to join us, but if they have signed contracts elsewhere, we just can’t deal with them.”
