By MICHAEL GUERIN
STOCKHOLM - The Freak Show is about to go live in New Zealand.
In a boost for the harness racing industry, the TAB will now screen Lyell Creek's battle for world trotting supremacy live on Trackside on Monday morning.
The TAB had originally organised to replay the Elitlopp from Sweden only later on Monday but are able to upgrade their coverage by working in unison with Sky Australia, which is taking the race live thanks to financial assistance from Harness Racing Victoria.
"It is a great result for us and we realise how big a deal Lyell Creek is to racing people," said TAB spokesman Joe Locke yesterday.
"We would have been disappointed to miss the race so the developments late this week have been very positive."
The coverage will be available only to those who receive Trackside through the digital service and will not be screened on the UHF frequency. The coverage will start at 2.45 am and finish at 3.15 am.
Because the Elitlopp consists of two heats run two hours before the final, Trackside will not be able to show those races live.
So their coverage will start with replays of the heats, followed by live phone interviews from the Solvalla track and then the race itself.
Lyell Creek has to overcome an outside barrier draw and finish in the first four in the first heat to make the final.
New Zealanders wanting to financially support Lyell Creek can get as much as 10-1 for him to win his heat with Australian sports betting giant Centrebet, which is betting on both heats and the final.
Lyell Creek's horror draw is the main reason for his double figure odds in his heat, in which defending Elitlopp champion Victory Tilly is a $1.40 favourite.
Racing: Big race goes live
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