With no open race competitions in the calendar Henlow’s Paul Mellor is bracing himself for the summer runner shortage.
He said: “We have nine more on the kennel strength this week and fifteen pulled off. We have a lot of hobby trainers who obviously have to put work first. But at this time of year, there are holidays too.”
By far the biggest owner at the track is promoter Kevin Boothby, who owns, alone or in partnership a huge collection of around 40 ‘Savana’ runners.
Mellor said: “Without Kevin’s dogs, I doubt we would still be in business. Occasionally somebody will moan, but in eleven years here, he has never interfered once with the grading, and he knows that in many cases his dogs are making up the numbers. His percentages are rubbish.”
The track will persevere with their Sunday night opens but are looking forward to the best graded competition in racing, the £5,000 Westmead Hawk Memorial.
Mellor said: “We are just waiting to confirm with Bob Morton that he is sponsoring again this year, but if all goes to plan we will run it in August.”
Mellor confesses that he cannot remember a runner quite like recent Mini Derby winner Blackrose June (Droopys Cain-Dromana Linda, Sep 13).
He said: “Not only has she won over all three distances, her sectionals (1.68 – 428m), (3.63-460m) (8.72-550m) are virtually records in their own right.”
