Page has almost finalised details for the Premier League which will be held over seven months between May and November.
The opening round is set for May 2 when 12 trainers will each supply four runners split between eight races.
Each race carries a winner’s prize of £500 plus a points bonus. At the end of the year, the six highest points scoring trainers will be invited to a final meeting with a £5,000 first prize.
The twelve top trainers from 2014 were invited to participate. Pat Rosney and Charlie Lister declined. Jimmy Walker stepped in before he too withdrew.
Page said: “We are nearly there. I am just waiting to hear back from Elaine Parker. If she doesn’t participate, then Jim Hayton almost certainly will. We also have Eric Cantillon in reserve.”
The budget for the competition is just over £73,000.
Graded marathon racing could be made to work it if was given a kick-start.
So says Towcester racing manager Chris Page who has ambitions to introduce graded six-bender to his own track in the coming months.
He said: “Every racing manager knows that there are six bend runners, or even four bend dogs, who would almost certainly stay a marathon, if the opportunities were available.
“The problem is, you get a dog qualified, it doesn’t get a run because you don’t have enough dogs in a similar position at the same time and potential marathon runner gets overlooked.
“It is easier to do nothing than be innovative and we end up with ‘same old, same old’ graded racing.
“I don’t think it would take a lot to set things in motion. I would suggest that the GBGB donates £500 to each track for a one-off race with the winning getting the GBGB money.
“The also-ran money could be paid out of the money the track is saving by not putting on a graded race.
“I don’t know whether the races could be staged as ‘invitations’ or ‘sweepstakes’, but you wouldn’t want to make it too difficult with red tape.
“Once you make a start with a first race, it would be up the racing office to persevere in encouraging more of the same.”
Page is now satisfied with his kennel strength which stands at around 320 greyhounds.
He said: “We need 260 runners, plus 20 reserves, and the rest to give flexibility in the grading.
“We have a box full of Irish card awaiting the finalisation of registration documentation.
“What is particularly pleasing is that we are now attracting new owners that are specific to Towcester, and new to the greyhound industry, in addition of those who came from other tracks.”
One for the notebook: Coolavanny Gold (Droopys Scolari-Coolavanny Angie, Jul 13), trained by Derek Law.
Page said: “He is in the Mark and Derek Maiden Puppy Stakes Final on Saturday and was beaten in his heat.
“He looks very green and still isn’t trapping, but I haven’t seen the sort of pace that he possesses in a long, long time. From ten yards to the third bend he is absolutely phenomenal.
“He has a 28.35 on his card, but if he puts it all together, he is going to do some time!”
