| I'd like Tony Mestrov and his team to explain the reasoning behind the grading procedure put in place for Richmond Straight track. Scratching the surface I am wondering how much consideration was put into it. Because it does not appear it will do long term what it was set out to do. Mestrov stated the track will give dogs the opportunity to compete and be competitive when many of these are not competitive on circular tab tracks or facing injuries that hinder turning a circle. The second part I tend to agree in part. However, making prize money at $1,500 a win and country status did he not think the issue of grading was to be a problem? how much consideration was given to this? I will provide one example because it is my dog and I do not wish to cast aspersions of other owners/trainers. Bluestone Sophie, now well over 4 years old and predominately raced her earlier career on country tracks and broke the potts park 320m track record. Has faired moderately in masters racing of recent. If no masters race exists at Richmond Straight and nominated she is currently graded as a grade 1 bitch. Yet certain 3rd grade dogs at Richmond this week have won large chunks of prize money and contested better quality races. Clearly there is a grading dilemma regarding metro dogs who have never contested Country meetings and clearly metro class and those that have bounced between country racing and what was old tab c class. I think it's a fair argument and the mind boggles how the grading could have been implemented as Country when the prize money carried is of provincial standard. If the grading is not rectified how can poor struggling dogs with poor circle form compete when we have this gap? Was it not the idea to provide straight track racing for struggling dogs and supposed safe racing? I'm sure the smaller trainers would be happy to be graded better if not racing for less money. We do not all need to race for $1,500. It makes sense that when grading races we see competitive fields not races that have a glaring $1.10 favourite. It's in our best interest to have races graded better as it engages the punter to wager with good odds offered and for trainers a better chance of prize money. Just my thoughts, perhaps it needed further planning just like the straight track itself, before jumping in the deep end.
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