The LAsT Of The InTer DOm TrOTlambethmedia.com/Edge/november.10.articles/Pages32-38... · 2010. 11. 4. · The Panderosa – Matts Filly – Matts Scooter Full sister to World Champion

the view downunder ~ harold howe

november 2010 • the harness edge

The SouThern hemiSphere’S Leading STud FarmS

Alabar BloodstockTongala, [email protected]

www.alabar.com.au

Alabar (NZ) Ltd.PukekoheNew [email protected]

Ask most people in the Southern hemisphere or their neighbours in the north for that matter, who

won the 2010 inter dominion Champion-ship and chances are they would answer quite correctly that it was Blacks a Fake. and therein lies the problem.

Blacks a Fake did win the pacing component of the event but what about the trotting side of the ledger? why does Sundons Gift’s victory often get over- looked? admittedly, it was Blacks a Fake’s fourth inter dom victory but it was also the second for Sundons Gift.

“it was clear that the public is confu-sed by there being two inter dominions

The LAsT Of The InTer DOm TrOT

After difficulty finding venues to host the trotting component of the Inter Dominion, organizers have decided to do away with the event after 2012 and replace it

with one that should attract more attention and host tracks.

the view downunder ~ harold howe

the harness edge • november 2010

and the brand is diluted,” said andrew Kelly, chief executive of harness racing australia.

“For those reasons, and after lengthy discussions within the industry, the deci-sion was made earlier this month that the inter dominion trotting Championship will end after 2012 and be replaced by a new race that will create its own unique identity.”

to put this in perspective, it would be a bit like woodbine entertainment Group declaring that the $1 million Canadian trotting Classic would be rebranded in order to gain greater recognition. it is not a small decision.

there emerged a large communica-tion problem over this decision in austra-lia and new Zealand. after the different members of the inter dominion Council issued their own press releases, a firestorm of criticism emerged in both countries but without any real justification.

“i’m a bit baffled at the criticism but obviously people did not understand the information that was released. the inter dominion Council is the custodian or care-taker of the event and something had to be done and the resolution that came

forward was a very practical approach that will signal the efforts being made to enhance trotting in this part of the world.”

the trotting event was launched in 1948, 12 years after the inter dominion Pacing Championship began. like the pacing event it was moved each year as part of a six track rotation involving australia and new Zealand.

however, over the last several years problems emerged with a number of the host tracks not willing or financially able to fund the trotting component. to the credit of harness racing victoria, that body stepped in the last two years and conducted the event when the other host tracks showed no interest.

“what people are failing to realize is that when harness racing victoria did step into the void it meant cancelling their own $150,000 australian trotting Championship. So racing was denied one major Grand Circuit event for the

trotters,” points out Kelly.“this year the trot will take place at

addington raceway in new Zealand so the australian trotting Championship will be back on the calendar. i’m not being critical of harness racing victoria, far from it. they were gracious in taking on the inter dom trot but they also have budgets to work with like everyone and the atC fell by the wayside.”

the inter dominion trot carries a $300,000 (nZ) purse this year and next year will be staged in Perth at Gloucester Park where the pot will be $200,000 (au). But after that it will be anyone’s guess. tracks will be required to tender for the races.

“there’s a lot of work that has gone into this decision and is still ongoing. ideally, the council would like to see a consistent venue, format and date in order to have the trotting event establish its own place in racing,” noted Kelly.

Sundons Gift has won two of the Inter Dominion events for trotters. He is the first Australian trained trotter to reach the one million dollar mark in life earnings and represented his country in the Elitlopp in Sweden last year. His Inter Dom win this year may be viewed through the link on the photo.

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november 2010 • the harness edge

the view downunder

“Perhaps it will be designed to have an international fla-vour by being placed at a time that foreign horses could be brought in to race. that’s all being debated now but there is a strong commitment to trotting, make no mistake about that.”

however, the tentative plan is that tracks will be required to make a three year commitment in the tender meaning 2013 to 2015. Speculation is that the australian state of new South wales is the frontrunner. in the very near future racing in that state will be flush with cash from the sale of harold Park (estima-ted to be $120 million) and there is a desire to give the new track tabcorp Park Menangle another big name event. the rebranded inter dominion trot could be exactly what the doctor ordered.

“i’m sure it has been noticed the last few years that there have been several australians who have been making some big investments in america buying quality trotting yearlings. we are very aware of their efforts to grow trotting in this part of the world and we’re trying to do our part to invigorate it as opposed to destroying it as some incorrectly suggest,” said Kelly.

“what may emerge is that the trotting event is staged in december whereas the pacers stay in the March/april time-frame. But regardless, it is essential that the trotting race ope-rate under its own umbrella and brand itself.”

at this stage it has yet to be given a name but the event custodians are looking for something unique and distinctive.

Blacks A Fake is the most celebrated Inter Dominion winner having captured the pacing event a record four times. The son of Fake Left, trained and driven by Natalie Rasmussen, has won over $4 million in his celebrated career and has been named Australia’s Horse of the Year three times. To watch one of his Inter Dom triumphs, click on the video link on the photo above.

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The Harness Edge • November 2010

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