Max Fields of 14 on Tsogo Sprint Raceday

In a concerted effort to eliminate any possible “crowding” on the inside rail, and to ensure a fair winning opportunity for all, Gold Circle has taken the decision to limit the fields of the four Grade 1 Sprints at the Tsogo Sun Sprint Carnival Raceday to 14 runners and to bring in the far side rail by 4 metres. The famous Jackpot of Grade 1 sprints is set to take place at Scottsville Racecourse on Saturday ,4 June and entries are due this coming Friday, 20 May 2016.

“There is no doubt that moving the inside rail has resulted in much fairer racing,” said Gold Circle Racing Executive Raf Sheik. “We want to do everything we can on this day to ensure the integrity of our Grade 1 races and eliminating the perceived better going on the inside goes a long way to achieving this,” he added.

While the decision to limit the fields to fourteen runners may be met with dissatisfaction in some quarters, there is no doubt that the move will be welcomed by the majority of riders. Anthony Delpech was quoted recently as saying, “with the rail moved in by four or five metres, racing down the straight is a pleasure much fairer for all concerned. Draws are no longer a major factor and interference has been minimised.”

the changes that are happening in KZN are becoming detrimental for racing maybe next year July field down to 14 ??? as well or else teh turf gets cut up badly??? :whistle:

Clearly not ideal as would like as many runners as safe in the big ones . However this is far better than having top horses not running, or losing out to inferior ones because of heavy draw bias.

This is actually a joke or is nobody interested in a solution, just all happy to accept the manure fed as caviar???

Why the hell do GC just not fix the track or is this a question that has escaped everyone? We are now limiting Grade 1's up the straight....FFS people

The more i watch the re-runs of last years JULY the more i cringe, we have reduced the top race in the country to a "dodgem car race" on a narrow track where any horse can win. Not because of MR or Handicap but a Course Handicap...

We accept the nonsense spewed out as to the reason for change but nobody is held responsible for having to find a solution that would avoid these problems.

This shit makes about as much sense as having a tooth removed because you have pain in the toe. Keep it up GC, great job

How long have we been moaning and "whinging" TS ? Greyville pen 27 for tonight with .5 mm of rain, now tell me that track is not f..... ?? How long was Scottesville closed for drainage ?? Why couldnt the straight be fixed at the same time for the bias ?? On and on and on...........tg for the poly !!!!!!

Neigh, i have never known a business that continually ignores its problems and makes changes to accommodate problems that nobody wants to solve.

The tracks in KZN are shocking and yet there is no concrete plan to rectify or remedy the situation besides POLY racing.

Quoting Tiger shark "The more i watch the re-runs of last years JULY the more i cringe, we have reduced the top race in the country to a "dodgem car race" on a narrow track where any horse can win. Not because of MR or Handicap but a Course Handicap...
"
Agree. Was taken aback at the extent of the bottle neck in the 1900 last night. Field was really compressed coming into the straight and a few runners had no chance to make runs until very late. Result was fair to be honest but good horses not being able to get into top gear at any stage like in last years July is a farce.