Do you have a two-year-old pacer? Would you like it to have an extra start and race for more money than usual before the Northlands Park fall meet ends on December 21? Then ASHA has a deal for you!
It’s called the Showdown Series and it’s set for Wednesday and Thursday evenings, December 17 & 18. The idea is to bring together all the two-year-olds on the grounds and help the racing secretary put on stronger racing cards on those two nights.
The top eight nominees, as determined by money won, will race in the 'A' division. The next eight nominees will race in a 'B' division. The top group will race for a purse of $13,000, which is about double what those horses would normally race for in an overnight.
The colts will go on one night, the fillies on the other. No trainer will be allowed to have more than one horse in each division.
(HRA)
I have wondered for years
I have wondered for years when the Standardbred tracks and Race Secretaries would start supporting the yearling buyers (and breeders) of the Industry - by raising the level of purse monies for 2&3-year-old Maidens etc.
There is - and always has been - FAR too much money paid to the claimers. Compare the risks:
I could buy (part of) a $50,000 yearling two months ago, and add another $20,000+-
before finding out if the horse is good enough to race in a $17,000 Maiden at WEG or a $7,700 Maiden at Kawartha. OR ...
I could claim (part of) a $40,000 horse and race the next Friday for a $26,000 purse ... or claim a $12,000 horse and race the next Monday for $10,000.
WHY (as with T-breds) don't the Maidens go for $50,000 - giving the potential yearling buyer some justification for doing so????