Racing: Bonus scheme to boost fields

While the Auckland track provides the best stakes in NZ they often struggle with small fields. File photo / Jason Dorday

Alexandra Park officials are moving to secure more horses as their baffling battle against lower stakes offered by other tracks continues.

While the Auckland track provides the best stakes in New Zealand they often struggle with small fields, while meetings held at Cambridge the same week attract more horses racing for less money.

Cambridge can admittedly draw on the Waikato horse population and is closer for Central Districts trainers, but the main reason some trainers steer clear of Alexandra Park is they believe their horses can't win there.

Which is one reason the Auckland Trotting Club has introduced the ATC Accumulator, to reward horses who regularly race at Alexandra Park.

The bonus scheme began last Friday and any trotter who races 15 times, or pacer who races 12 times, at Alexandra Park in a one-year period and wins at least one race will receive a $5000 bonus. That will be split $2500 each to the trainer and owner registered on the night of the qualifying start, providing other criteria have been met.

The bonus means the connections of a battling lower pacer who turns up 12 times a year at Alexandra Park would effectively earn another, separate winning stake should they snare a win.

That not only gives trainers a reason to race their horse but a reason to keep racing them until they achieve a qualifying win.

Ironically, Alexandra Park won't struggle for numbers this week as they end the season with a rare double header on Thursday and Friday night. They will race under the lower-stake Kumeu banner on Thursday night but the meeting has still attracted winter trotting star One Over Da Moon to the main trot off a 50m handicap.

The Friday meeting Auckland Trotting Club has to end the season sees champion filly The Orange Agent take on older pacers as part of her prep for the Breeders Crown next month.

One of New Zealand's leading studs has secured a genuine world record holder for stud duties down under.

Alabar Stud will stand 1:46.8 miler He's Watching, winner of the 2013 Meadowlands Pace and the equal-fastest miler ever.

The champion pacer was only retired over the weekend and adds to Alabar's already impressive stallion roster headlined by Art Major, Mach Three and new trotting sensation Majestic Son.

A multiple track record holder all over North America after stunning 2- and 3-year-old seasons, He's Watching is rated the fastest horse ever driven by champion US reinsman Tim Tetrick.

He's Watching will stand at $6000, which looks great value for a horse of his credentials.