The decision by the Port Pirie Harness Racing Club to run a dual race series last Friday night has been declared a huge success.
Former trainer Peter Lawrence, now a member of the Racing Department of Harness Racing South Australia, said all industry participants he had spoken with had been positive about the concept.
Neville Thomson, secretary/manager of the Port Pirie Harness Racing Club said he had received nothing but positive feedback.
During the ‘off’ season of harness racing in South Australia Mr Thomson took on an idea from the Maryborough Harness Racing Club in Victoria to run two rounds heats of a class during a meeting ensuring the club had two races on its program.
Such was the response to the club’s R1 to R2 race that the club was in fact able to run four races.
As the races were over 1609 metres, there was no extreme hardship on the horses and veterinary surgeons checked every post and pre-race.
The top points scorer from the heats would receive a $1000 bonus, second a $300 bonus and the third $200. That was in addition to any prizemoney won.
Results from the night ended with equal top points scorers with Toby Ryan’s Solanum Dulcamara and Itz Sportz Torque, trained by Ryan Hryhorec each winning one round and finishing second in the other collecting 21 points so the first and second bonuses were added together so the trainers each took $650.
Ryan also had Melegend run second in two heats earning 20 points and collecting the $200 bonus for third.
In another iniaitive, at its next meeting on Friday, September 23, the Port Pirie club will run a dual race series heats for C1 to C2 horses over 1609 metres with one heat at the beginning of the program and the second at the end of the night.
The top points scorers will qualify for a $5500 final at the club’s meeting on Friday, September 30.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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