While most tracks are actively looking to recruit new trainers, Peterborough are prepared to turn them away writes Floyd Amphlett.
Track spokesman Con Baker said: “We are not saying ‘never again’ but at this stage, we have decided to concentrate our efforts with our existing trainers.
“We now have 26 handlers at Peterborough following the departure of Mick and Heather Dimmock to Towcester – and they go with our best wishes by the way.
“But as things stand, our racing strength is 320 and we only need 250 dogs per week. If we appoint new trainers, there will be an increasing number of dogs not getting a run.
“Conscious that resources are limited, we need to ensure that they are not spread too thinly.”
Following a trend formerly only practiced by tracks supplied exclusively by professional trainers, Peterborough offer a sliding scale of ‘runner money’ in addition to prize money.
For trainers with less than 15 runners in a month, that works out at £3 per runner, provided they have raced.
Above 15 runners, trainers need only commit to ‘available’ runners. So anyone with a constant race strength between 15-19 runners, the monthly bonus is £250.
There are another three bands rising incrementally up to the top band, ’35 plus’ runners who are entitled to £750 per month.
Baker said: “We try to be quite flexible and would not drop a trainer down to the lower band if it was just a temporary blip for example.
“Our big providers are Sharon Saberton and Phil Ward who on average supply us with between 30 and 40 runners each per week.
“Several more are in the twenty region or above: Paul Braithwaite, Phil Broome, Bob Creckendon, Simon Cull, Richard Devenish, Enid Gowler, David Pruhs, Wendy Scoles, Sarah Spillane, Les Steward, David Ward, and Roger York.
“Our intention is to stay loyal to the trainers still with us, we do not want to get caught up in dual attachments.”
