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GREYHOUNDS: Oxford ring the changes
Oxford racing manager Gary Baiden has been forced to implement a new grading system - due to the loss of the stadium's Wednesday BAGS meeting.
With a surfeit of greyhounds, every grade from the bottom A9 up to the top grade A1 will have at least 40 runners in each category to grade from.
It means that many hounds will have been downgraded prematurely to enable them to have a level balance of runners and according to the racing office, will lead to more competitive races.
Oxford have had to turn down requests from Wimbledon to take part in inter-track races during their heavy Blue Square Derby period, and Baiden has even e-mailed other tracks asking for inter tracks because of the high number of greyhounds currently available at Sandy Lane.
Although there are no plans to higher the grading time, the option remains open and will be reviewed next month.
The current crisis has led to more Oxford trainers opting to go open racing.
Meanwhile, trainers are being restricted to just seven runners for trials over the 450 metre trip, but trials over 595 metres, where they hope to stage three stayers races per meeting, are unchanged.
ALTHOUGH Paddy Curtin holds sway at the top of the Trainers Championship, Ian Wills five-timer at Sunday's BAGS meeting indicates there will be a much closer affair this year.
Curtin on 95, currently holds a nine point cushion as at the end of March.
Full list (with March winners and overall in brackets): q=fCurtin 37 (95), Wills 27 (86), Angie Kibble 27 (80), Michael Peterson 22 (68), Maurice Massey 21 (64), Terry Kibble 18 (56), Ron Bicknell 18 (54), Johnny Mayo 22 (55), Gloria Stringer 19 (54), Gilly Hepden 19 (53), Tony Magnasco 15 (43), Robert Hannan 7 (35), Paul Clarke 11 (33), Terry Atkins 5 (17).
IT appears the Retired Greyhound Trust are being selective when it comes to financing the homing of greyhounds.
Take the case of the 12 hounds that trainer Tony Magnasco and owner Max Piccinelli sent to Italy. They had to finance it all.
SEVERE Arthritis has cost the life of 13-year-old former Oxford runner Burwood Lily. She was formerly owned by Carol Hancox and had to be put to sleep.
THE Angie Kibble-trained Lundy Grand incurred the wrath of the stewards after winning by six lengths and finding 50 spots last Saturday. The stewards are to hold a preliminary inquiry.
THE passing of retiring trainer Gloria Stringer's range to other trainers at Oxford is continuing with Pearly White, Shelgrove Kelly and Shelgrove Spice joining Terry Atkins range.
5:47pm Friday 25th April 2008
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