By Duane Ranger
North Island junior reinsmen and women will get more driving opportunities over the next month-and-a-half.
An initiative from the North Island Trainers and Drivers Association will see the juniors competing in a six-race series running at six meetings starting at the Waipa meeting at Te Awamutu on December 28 and finishing at Tauranga on February 5.
“The Association wanted to give the juniors more opportunities. The series will run on a points system and at this stage we are working on vouchers for prizes.
“We have a bit of sympathy for the juniors out there. There’s not a lot of opportunities for them and hopefully this series will get them a few drives and a chance to accumulate points for national and Australasian competitions next year,” said Association Chairman, Todd Macfarlane.
He said the points would be allocated: five for first, four for second, three for third, four for fourth, and then one point for every other driver who lines up.
“If this proves successful we might look at promoting this Series annually. We just wanted to give something back to the industry and our committee believed this was the best option,” Pukekohe-based Macfarlane said.
He said the Series would be run on both grass and all-weather tracks.
“It will give the young men and women a chance to get out in the middle more and at this stage of their careers, that’s all they need to improve. They are our future and we are pleased to be involved,” said Macfarlane.
“We also want to pay a tribute to Harness Racing Waikato and Kerry Wells (Racing Manager) for supporting this concept. I think he also realises that juniors need more opportunities,” he added.
The six race Series will be staged at:
Waipa (December 28), Cambridge Raceway (January 13), Rotorua (January 15), Cambridge Raceway (January 20), Thames ( January 21), and Tauranga (February 5).
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
