Racing: Points system to change for Addington Interdoms

The Interdominions will be run under a changed points system in Christchurch next year, giving heat winners a passage directly into the final.

New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club chief executive Shane Gloury confirmed the series would be run over two rounds of three heats, but instead of all horses earning points only the first six across the line would be awarded them.

"Horses will get six points for winning, down to one for finishing sixth," Gloury told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"The change to two rounds means we needed to change the points to give all horses the chance to make the final.

"Under the old system, a horse could afford one bad night in three and make up for it, so the change is aimed to keep that chance there for horses which might be knocked down in one set of heats."

The Addington Raceway can run up to 14 runners in races and Gloury said the club would decide if it would run heats of 12 or 14 runners later in the year.

"We will have 14 in the final," he said. "We are aiming to have the biggest night of harness racing in New Zealand on final night.

'We are committed to running the trotters at the same time, so it will be three big nights of racing."

Gloury said Blacks A Fake was at the top of the club's priority list and he would talk to the champion's owners in the next couple of months.

He could try to entice the Queenslander over for the New Zealand Cup in November.

"He is the greatest horse we have ever seen in harness racing and we would love to have him in Christchurch," Gloury said.