With the current reintroduction of racing over 277 metres at Tara Raceway, the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club has restricted this distance to two races on a program – a Maiden and a non-penalty Masters (for older greyhounds).
However, this has raised an issue when it comes to the Greyhound Racing SA Masters time standard – implemented to ensure a greyhound doesn’t continue to keep winning race after race.
The current Masters policy states that when a greyhound breaks the Masters time standard it will be ineligible for a Grade 5 Masters event at that distance and track until such time as it has recorded two unplaced runs at the track and distance in other races before being reconsidered for a Masters.
But with no other 277 metres events being run at the track for Masters greyhounds (3¾ years and upwards) GRSA Racing Manager Shaun Mathieson this week suggested a couple of options for the MGGRC committee to consider.
“We’ve determined that the Masters 277 metres time standard is 16.64 seconds. However, if a dog runs quicker than that time it can still contest a Masters the following week,” he said.
“But if it breaks the time standard again then the dog will miss a week over the 277 metres, more than likely racing over 400 metres.”
Mathieson said a dog would be kept out only if it broke the time standard consecutively – and he believed that would be hard to do.
“This will stop a dog sitting in these races and winning easily for weeks on end. It should also help to alleviate any complaints.”
The racing manager also said he and GRSA grader Greg Barber had looked at flattened prizemoney for Masters races.
“This would give all runners some prizemoney and reduce the first prize incentive. However, there would be no restriction on how many races a dog could win. In other words, there would be no time standard.
“To be honest, Greg and I like parts of both options. From a personal point of view I’m thinking a combination of both.”
Members of the MGGRC will discuss the Masters policy at tomorrow’s Tara Raceway race meeting.
Meanwhile, Moorak owner Robert Chuck and Worrolong trainer Steve Bartholomew will be hoping their winning run continues tomorrow when Galactic Horizon contests the Winning Post Supplies Grade 5 final (400 m).
The daughter of Paddy Whacker x Galactic Rumball staged a great battle with Bay Me in a heat last week, eventually winning by a length in a quick 23.15 seconds.
Then, on Sunday night, litter brother Galactic Zeus brought up his fourth win from only seven starts when holding on to narrowly defeat Woodside Lawrie over 395 metres in 22.43 seconds at Murray Bridge – the same track that he will race at again this Sunday night.
