Wimbledon’s switch to Racing Post Greyhound TV has helped eased the pressure on the track’s kennel strength.
Racing manager Gary Matthews said: “We have anywhere between 125-135 dogs available and we need 138 for our commitment to 22 races each week. We obviously need open races to fill the gaps and the move to RPGTV on a Thursday night has definitely helped. A lot of owners find it difficult to get racing midweek, but they can now watch their dogs without being here.
“We are certainly filling a lot more opens than previously. The downside of course is attendances which are about as quarter of what they were when we raced on a Friday. Saturdays are very good though, no complaints.”
The William Hill Springbok is due to close a week on Wednesday (17th), and the Wimbledon grader is hopeful of attracting the requisite 36 runners.
He said: “It might be tight, but based on the trialstakes, we shouldn’t be too far away, and I am convinced we are in for a brilliant Derby this year. There is so much uncertainty about the place with a lot of people asking if this will be our last ever Derby. That of course creates extra interest, including from Ireland.”
Richard Rees continues to dominate the local graded scene with a near 25% strike rate of 26 winners from his first 106 runners. The star of the kennel is Ashburn Lark (Droopys Scolari-Dalvina, Feb 13) with the fastest graded run of the year to date, 28.74 (-20). Kennelmate Rinkies Lad (Money Talks-Rinkies Rose, Oct 13) has also been in good form and has won his last two A1s with a best of 28.86 (calc).
