Leeton Breeders Plate Debate

[Gtrain]

The crowds the race draws in that time period is far superior to any other meeting in the Riverina. Far far superior. The heats night is the best crowd night of any trotting meeting in nsw. I don't think any trainers "rush" their horses to get ready for it. You either give them a chance, they show it, or they go out to the paddock. Pushing back has been discussed for a long time, and will happen next year, but previously has been unviable as it clashes with other carnivals, or other 2yo races. When it's pushed back, are people just going to need their 2yos to run 1.58 instead of 1.59 and still be pulling out for the same reasons?
It's an art getting one ready. Ask Col Thomas, Peter Manning etc. I would love a dollar for every trainer who wished they had a horse in a 40k race but their horse wasn't good enough. That's no real statement. I want one in the miracle mile every year too.
The race is unique. Field numbers have struggled but go through the starters and compare it to the field you get at the Young Cup or the Wagga Pacers Cup. The vast majority are Riverina trained. Four from the last five winners have been. It keeps serious prizemoney in the area.
I also think you'll find that four from the last five winners lived in stables, where trainers are able to shelter horses a little from the heat.

[aussiebreno]

The crowds the race draws in that time period is far superior to any other meeting in the Riverina. Far far superior. The heats night is the best crowd night of any trotting meeting in nsw. I don't think any trainers "rush" their horses to get ready for it. You either give them a chance, they show it, or they go out to the paddock. Pushing back has been discussed for a long time, and will happen next year, but previously has been unviable as it clashes with other carnivals, or other 2yo races. When it's pushed back, are people just going to need their 2yos to run 1.58 instead of 1.59 and still be pulling out for the same reasons?
It's an art getting one ready. Ask Col Thomas, Peter Manning etc. I would love a dollar for every trainer who wished they had a horse in a 40k race but their horse wasn't good enough. That's no real statement. I want one in the miracle mile every year too.
The race is unique. Field numbers have struggled but go through the starters and compare it to the field you get at the Young Cup or the Wagga Pacers Cup. The vast majority are Riverina trained. Four from the last five winners have been. It keeps serious prizemoney in the area.
I also think you'll find that four from the last five winners lived in stables, where trainers are able to shelter horses a little from the heat.

I am in that crowd and know full well - although a lot of the crowd are Leeton locals it has been noticeably small in recent years since it go Sky status. Albury New Years only crowd that can compare to Leetons carnival in the Riverina. Just put the Leeton Cup on Boxing Day and make sure Billy Trembath and Reece Maguire have drives. The locals are still looking for somewhere to drink and can't name the horses anyway.
The Linden Huntley is no more so late Feb/early March would be a better fit. As it is they've changed it to clash with the Junee Cup...
The $6000 C races do not stand up in December, January. By March the 2yo races are beginning to stand up because more 2yos are ready and some are targeting Bathurst. Pretty simple I would have thought if you don't have the horse pool racing in December but have the horse pool racing in March (or August - any month) - what month are you going to get the bigger pool of horses for the heats?

Even President Punch says "a lot of them don't want to do it and worry about starting early"

Trainer Kahlefeldt says “I think it’s a great move, but I don’t think it will get a lot more – it will get a few more horses but it won’t be the numbers they got years ago.

“Foals are being born later and people are setting them for the bigger group ones.

“People get theit horses ready for Bathurst and then there is a flow on to the Breeders Challenge, APG and Breeders Crown.”

Kahlefeldt would like to see the date moved to be a lead up race for Bathurst’s two-year-old features, however changing the date isn’t being considered by the club.

http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/st...ash-injection/

Paul is actually one of the strongest supporters of the Plate and has had multiple runners in the heats a few times over the years. So if Paul is a supporter of the Plate but even he wants it pushed back because of Bathurst imagine how many other trainers are out there who would support the Breeders Plate if it was pushed back. The likes of Stephen Harris, Matt Harris, Trevor White, David Kennedy the list goes on.