Racing Queensland has introduced two new race series for the Albion Park Harness Racing Club, each held weekly, effective the 1st of March.
The move, which comes after consultation with harness racing stakeholders, is aimed at providing an opportunity for local participants to race for attractive prizemoney on a bi-weekly basis while improving participation rates for Tuesday and Friday race meetings.
It is anticipated that the increased competition on track will translate to a more attractive wagering proposition for punters.
Sponsored by Kevin and Kay Seymour, there will be two sets of weekly Heat and Final Series:
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Friday $3,450 (R Penalty) Heats culminating in a $10,540 (C Penalty) Final the following Friday.
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Tuesday $3,450 (R Penalty) Heats culminating in a $15,540 (C Penalty) Final each Saturday.
Albion Park Harness Racing Club Chairman David Fowler welcomed the new races saying they have been highly successful in the past.
“This is a win for everybody involved. The heats and finals make for good racing and competition and that translates to good turnover. It’s great for the code and the industry.”
The weekly Friday Heats and Final Series to be known as the Pot Of Gold Series will be for C0 assessed horses only while the Tuesday heats and Saturday Final Series named the Rising Stars Championship will cater for a variety of classes from C1 and up.
Saturday Finals allocated for horses above C5 will be conducted for $14,950 attracting a C Penalty and a local Band Penalty.
With March programs already published each Heat and Final Series have been added to an existing program with no changes to the balance of the originally published program.
From April and onwards the Heat and Final Series will be built into each race program to avoid duplicating classes of race. Each series requires at least 16 acceptors to proceed.
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