For photos from the Meadowlands contact Lisaphoto@playmeadowlands.com

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Thursday Musings - Interdominions Format Change

I am happy to report session three of the Lexington Select yearling sales shows a sold 6.9% increase; the first 'real' increase of the sale.  Session one had an increase, but realistically it was skewed by the purchase of one yearling.  Could the trend continue?  Time will tell.  One thing for sure, quality is selling and horses with less than perfect conformation are being punsihed.

I have to wonder how much community outreach tracks have with the young people in their area.  It seems to me offering field trips of 4-H, girl scouts and boy scout troops to the track in the morning during qualifying or training sessions is a low cost activity.  Have them come to the races, offer a few trinkets and juice and donuts and let them watch and learn about the standardbred and racing.  For an on-hands experience, use a bomb proof older horse and let the children touch them.  Even school groups may be interested in such tours.  With school budgets severely stretched, a free field trip may appeal to them.

The 2013-15 InterDominion finals will be held in NSW with the Tabcorp Menangle track hosting the 3,000 meter finals with a purse of $750,000 (AUS) the first Saturday in March.  The format for the InterDominion will change with seven preliminary races being contested throughout Australasia with the dash winners automatically being awarded a berth in the final.  Then the seven highest point earners in the eliminations will then qualify for the final but the seven heat winners will be given the ability to select their own post positions.  I like the idea of  'win it your in', but must confess I am not a fan of allowing horses choose their own starting positions.

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