Today's Sydney Morning Herald spelt out what we have all been wondering for a long time. What has happened to field numbers of a Saturday at Randwick? Looking at the fields in Brisbane at a normal meeting, its standing room only ... but in Sydney?
Max Presnell (Sydney Morning Herald) writes:
Winner and Losers.
WATCHING four races with fewer than eight starters at Royal Randwick on Saturday prompted the question of whether a stand-alone Saturday at Scone wouldn't be a better option? Sure, the country club would have to meet Saturday criteria, but the loss of betting revenue because races have so few runners should not be slotted into the "that time of the year" pigeon hole.
Obviously the Australian Jockey Club is disappointed, putting up $65,000 per race in prizemoney, $10,000 more than for most of Saturday's Caulfield races, which were better patronised.
Sydney metropolitan meetings last week on Monday and Wednesday were a drain on the major punting day, raising the bugbear of too much racing. Programming initiated by Racing NSW doesn't seem to be filling the Saturday void. "On normal, non-carnival race days Sydney's first two races rarely have more than seven acceptors. How about throwing these races open to non-metropolitan trainers?" writes Colin Bruce from Keiraville. "Alternatively if trainers are not prepared to 'fill the card' then rejig the prizemoney [so it goes to] the first four [in races with] with seven runners; six runners [only the] first three; five runners first two. The punter is penalised in these races so why not the trainers and owners?" Radical, perhaps. I prefer more stand-alone Saturdays such as at Hawkesbury or the Gold Coast where a sense of occasion prevails and it's not just another drab, dull Saturday.
Max Presnell (Sydney Morning Herald) writes:
Winner and Losers.
WATCHING four races with fewer than eight starters at Royal Randwick on Saturday prompted the question of whether a stand-alone Saturday at Scone wouldn't be a better option? Sure, the country club would have to meet Saturday criteria, but the loss of betting revenue because races have so few runners should not be slotted into the "that time of the year" pigeon hole.
Obviously the Australian Jockey Club is disappointed, putting up $65,000 per race in prizemoney, $10,000 more than for most of Saturday's Caulfield races, which were better patronised.
Sydney metropolitan meetings last week on Monday and Wednesday were a drain on the major punting day, raising the bugbear of too much racing. Programming initiated by Racing NSW doesn't seem to be filling the Saturday void. "On normal, non-carnival race days Sydney's first two races rarely have more than seven acceptors. How about throwing these races open to non-metropolitan trainers?" writes Colin Bruce from Keiraville. "Alternatively if trainers are not prepared to 'fill the card' then rejig the prizemoney [so it goes to] the first four [in races with] with seven runners; six runners [only the] first three; five runners first two. The punter is penalised in these races so why not the trainers and owners?" Radical, perhaps. I prefer more stand-alone Saturdays such as at Hawkesbury or the Gold Coast where a sense of occasion prevails and it's not just another drab, dull Saturday.
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