SANDHURST AREA
NEWS
Improvements at Hackwood Park Racecourse
Trainers, riders and owners walked the Hackwood circuit on Monday 8 March evening to inspect the changes made to the Hampshire course over the winter.
Unanimous approval was expressed at the re-alignment of both bends while the extra width added to two of the seven beautifully presented fences was a vote winner.
Said Alresford trainer Victoria Collins, ‘It is plain to see that both the turn at the bottom and the sharper top bend are going to ride better than they have in the past.’ Collins also expressed satisfaction with the underfoot conditions. ‘It is good level ground that has obviously been well prepared – I will certainly have runners at the three meetings this spring’.
Penny Lownds, training at Morestead, walked round with partner Michael ‘Curly’ Holdforth who rides most of her runners. ‘It is obvious that a lot of work has gone into Hackwood Park during the closed season,’ she said
‘Apart from the two turns widening the fence after the top bend is a great improvement. It used to take horses by surprise because it was partially obscured by a tree but now it is in full view as you swing off the turn. At the bottom end of the course where the two and a half mile races will start, the first fence has been widened which will suit the younger horses running in those races.’
Clerk of the course Bill Wellings has masterminded the improvements on the track which has assumed a very professional profile since he took over three years ago.
‘I think jockeys – and horses – will also appreciate the more inviting open ditch,’ he said. ‘We have covered the take-off rail in heavy orange plastic so that it looks like the ditches on NH courses. All we need now is warm weather and some rain to encourage the growth of grass.
Among the group of 30 course walkers were riders Simon Cobden, Emily Harbour and Clare Wills as well as Holdforth and they all voiced approval. ‘We will definitely be here for the meeting on Sunday 21 March,’ said the latter, ‘and as long as the horses stay healthy we’ll be back on Bank Holiday Mondays 5 April and 3 May.’
The 2010 Hackwood and Tweseldown Trainers Championship
Prizes: £750 to the Winner, £250 to the runner up.
Points awarded as follows:
6 points for a winner
5 points for a second
4 points for a third
3 points for a runner
No horse to earn more than one set of points on one day (eg. walk over, fall at the first, race void etc)
If there is a tie then £500 each (etc) and no runner up prize.
Horse to be associated with Trainer published in race card. If none, then attributed to owner.
Leader board to be updated for each race card.
Hackwood Park Point-to-Points by Robin Gray
Hackwood Park, Basingstoke, which stages three point-to-point meetings annually, has had a makeover in preparation for the new season starting on 21st March 2010.
Both top and bottom bends have both been realigned and meet with the approval of the British Horseracing Authority’s senior inspector Richard Linley.
"It is obvious that Bill Welling, Clerk of the Course, has addressed the problems and the track is certainly improved as a result", said Linley. "I also measured all the fences and none will exceed the height allowed by the Rules."
Welling is exploring the possibility of watering the course, lack of rain having resulted in small fields last season. "‘With no local source, water will have to be brought in, which is very expensive", said Welling, "but we have to make the effort because walkovers and two or three runner races are unacceptable – people pay to park their cars and enjoy picnics and we have to make every effort to give them value."
Further Hackwood Park dates are
Bank Holiday Monday – 5th April 2010
Bank Holiday Monday - 3rd May 2010
