Are Trainers and Owners prefering the Polytrack?

Just noticed that the first meeting after Spring treatment and with 8 races down the straight at Scottsville, there were 505 nominations but at the following meeting at Greyville, there are 707 nominations in 8 races. A big change from when the poly first opened. Is there a swing towards poly for any reason?

My take would be that with race 0ne being a Maiden Juv over 800m and the rest having a distance range from 1000-1200m you cannot compare with Greyville which has a distance spread of 1400-2000m which caters for a great deal more horses.

Just comparing when we started on the poly we were getting noms in the 300+. Everyone cried for grass but lets see if the trend continues. Last weeks noms in the 2000m maiden the trainers were canvassed about changing the race from the poly to the grass and the majority said no.

It's quite simple, just ask GC to open nominations for two full meetings with the same distances on poly and grass and see what happens.

They would never do that because the program does not allow the same races on consecutive meetings. Previous meeting at Greyville 581 nominations. As I said earlier and what made me think was the ruling that the majority wanted the 2000m maiden on the poly and not the turf.

Craig bud, you cant compare right now,cause that is, what is available to trainers/owners or you could leave your horse in the box for 2 months. :evil: Compare it in a months time after a few grass meetings have taken place. I am glad about the success of the poly for GC, trainers and owners. What about stayers ? What about preparing horses to raid that need grass races ? What about horses that perform in yielding going on grass ?
All Im saying is a good balance needs to be achieved and that is not forthcoming. The program needs to be amended and in over a year.......same old same old. Total imbalance due to bad planning.

What about the punters Craig ?

Can you find out how the pools stand these days ?

I am just asking a question. I really thought that the race would be changed to the grass and that is a staying race. 6 months ago I have no question in my mind that it would have been changed. Not now though? Apparently they are happy with last few months trading.

Volume of noms in KZN is not a measuring tool whilst the noms are free...

Louis, why is Haddington now with Mdk?

Sorry, I know its not part of this thread, was just wondering... I seem to remember you mentioning it had a bright future.

As neigh eludes to, what's the point of having a horse or horses which are best on the turf in Durban. It's like buying a Maserati in Greenland in the winter,

Louis, I think if the noms are free on both surfaces it is relevant. Just putting it out there that the noms on the polytrack have increased, is it for any other particular reason or are horses pulling up sounder, connections seeing that most horses run well on both surfaces, trainers have stopped using the poly as an excuse for bad runs, connections have realized it is here to stay or what? When Scottsville is in full use again it will be easier to see if the trend continues. It was just interesting to see.