Probably the Len Smith mile Kevin, and some of the martians would find no problem with that either.
Chance at 1st prize is better than being an also run or retired in terms of paying the performer. Stagger Lee and Stewart horse change the equation - but they werent the horses they were trying to get in the race.
Had it been a C6+ no better than M2 for $5000 at a midweek country meeting would you be ok with it?
Probably the Len Smith mile Kevin, and some of the martians would find no problem with that either.
Greg Sugars was a Champion harness racing person
This 5k race is likely a Supplementary race given they got enough noms of "like" class. Ironically it may produce the biggest % profit on the night based on tote income compared to prizemoney paid out.
Doubt the winner does an M front despite it being an M race as the rules state an M penalty race must be worth more than I think $14,999
No doubt some of those horses were not at the "retirement stage" as suggested based on their recent form. So we assume it was a supplementary race because they don't advertise it. The time wasn't slow either. If solarsonic and Stagger Lee are not better than Grins rendition I will eat my hat.
Not a bad result all round, $1.80 favourite in a 6 horse field for a Stewart runner. Like Kyle said, only a country penalty and quite possibly a profitable outcome for HRV/the industry.
No one forces you to nominate for a supplementary race, pays for a few weeks training fees instead of trialling or being an also ran as Breno suggested. Pick up a C class race you can't get back if you win an M.
For the better class/in form horse like Stagger Lee and Solarsonic it's a bit like the quality 3yo's returning and running in a C0. If you win through your sires campaign without grabbing a C0/C1 first you've lost that opportunity. A loophole (another thread) but in this case $1.80 v $1.04.
Don't really see the need to list it on the card as a supp race, let your eye be your...when you're having a dabble.
Thanks for copying that Wayne, as previously stated my problem with it is the prizemoney - paying those who put on the show. Even that that small field with 2 standouts attracted over 2/3rds of the turnover that the $20k race before it did.
I think if the $10k tier really exists then this should be a $10k race
Greg Sugars was a Champion harness racing person