The nature of GBGB open race scheduling has left tomorrow’s televised Towcester meeting as a little ‘understated’.
How many racegoers will have spotted that the meeting carries more than £38,000 in prize money and that the feature event, the British bred Derby, has category one status?
Racing manager Chris Page said: “The meeting had to be fitted into the calendar at the last minute, and this was one way of doing it.
“So the big race carries win prize money of £5,000 plus £500 to the breeder, while the also-rans each earn £500 with a further £200 going to their breeder.
“The supporting card is absolutely outstanding, so despite the scheduling of the meeting, we couldn’t be more pleased.”
The greyhound meeting is part of a full day’s racing which will kick off with the thoroughbreds – both are sponsored by Totepool – with a bridge of other events designed to prevent racegoers from slipping away between the meetings – including Christmas and food markets.
Things have come a long way in the 54 weeks since the Northamptonshire racecourse staged its first dog card.
The local runners have just started benefitting from the GBGB ‘£5 a runner’ bonus plus the additional Christmas bonus and Owners Bonus races.
Page said: “It has been a great year and so much about that is down to the Towcester management.
“They tackle every opportunity with the mindset of ‘why can’t we?’, when so much of the industry seems to be think ‘why bother?’”
Towcester would like to again remind all trainers that kennelling for the meeting commences at 4.55p.m.and will finish at 5.40p.m. Trainers arriving before 4.40p.m. will not gain admittance to the racecourse, but will be held at the back entrance, due to a brief firework display occurring at 4.30p.m. Trainers are also reminded that paraders should wear black trousers and shoes.
