The Whangarei Racing Club is thrilled with over 520 nominations for the five $60,000 finals that constitute ITM/GIB Northern Region Winter Championships on Saturday July 16.
The contest to qualify for the finals begins on Saturday May 21 at Te Rapa and finishes at the same course on July 9. In total there are over 60 qualifying races at seven different courses in the northern region.
Stephen Marsh has led the way with nearly 80 nominations for the five series with Andrew Forsman nominating 27 and Shaun and Emma Clotworthy with 24 nominations. Chris Gibbs has the highest nominations for a Ruakaka based trainer with 20 nominations.
Nominations have been received from as far as Hawkes Bay and New Plymouth.
For those who missed the opportunity, late nominations will be accepted by the Racing Bureau up to 4pm on 13 May at a fee of $50.
Great opportunities exist for all classes of horses in the Winter Championships. There will be a final for – open class sprinters; open class stayers; a progressive final for the intermediate class horse who is progressing through the ranks starting with only one win at May 3rd; and separate finals for three-year-olds and two-year-olds run at set weights and penalties.
To be in one of the finals the horses need to have earned points in the qualifying races across the northern region race meetings.
Horses which start in any of the qualifying races will receive points on the following basis: 1st – 9pts, 2nd – 7pts, 3rd – 5pts, 4th – 3pts, 5th – 2pts, every other runner 1pt.
All details of the races and the list of nominations can be viewed at https://ruakakaracing.co.nz/itmgib
