A month to the day after starting his new job, ‘Romford Rob’ Abrey is itching to light the blue touchpaper for a spectacular summer of open racing at Hove.
The new Racing Manager said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed the first month. So many people have been in touch to wish me good luck and the trainers have been very supportive.
“There is so much to look forward to, starting in April with the Brighton Belle which is a Category One for the first time. We will be running it alongside the Seasons Scaffolding Puppy Cup, sponsored by Steve Eason, and now worth £5,000.”
Before then, and perhaps sneaking under the radar are a series of £500 minor opens next Thursday (March 16) including a seniors race (March ’19 or older)
Rob said: “These races tend not to fill, but maybe with a bit of publicity, we might draw attention to them. It is something I would really like to succeed. If there was sufficient interest, we could even look at staging some Category Three races for veterans.”
In July, the track stage a ‘super’ double Cat One event, a £20K PGR Regency over the 695m course and the Coral Sussex Cup over the 515 metres.
Final night will also include the final of the Springbok, being held at the Sussex track for the first time, but actually downgraded to Cat 2 status.
Rob said: “It makes sense really. How can you compare it with Grand National or National Hurdle in terms of status? It seems to make more sense to make it an 18 runner competition worth £5,000 to the winner. As previously, it will be limited to hurdle novices with no race wins before April 16 and qualification will be done on times.
“I think it will add an extra dimension to final night and compliments the big four and six bend finals.”
As for thoughts that the new grader is ‘anti jumper’ . . . . far from it.
He said: “I am not, but there aren’t many hurdlers around and you can only work with what is available.
“In fact, I was reading the Star’s ‘Remember When’ pages, which I have always loved, and was thinking about the Greyhound Express’s Merit Hurdle race, a kind of ‘Select Stakes’ for hurdlers. Could we re-introduce it? It would make a great third event to run alongside the George Curtis/Ballyregan Bob Memorial and the Olympic later in the year.”
Hove are advertising for a new trainer and are looking for applicants ‘with more than 20 dogs’.
Rob said: “We are not massively short of numbers, though like most tracks, there is a seeding inbalance in certain grades. But we didn’t replace Richard Yeates when he left for Oxford or Alma Keppie when she retired, so a few extra runners will fill that gap.”
