One Step Closer - World Cup vision takes a great leap forward

June 5th, 2008 by Andrew Georgiou

A HARNESS racing World Cup is another step closer to reality following the release of a preliminary race date for the event.

To be raced for $1million among the best eight horses in the world, the World Cup will be conducted on April 19 in 2009 immediately after the Watpac Inter Dominion Carnival in Brisbane.

It has also been confirmed that Menangle Park's new 1400-metre circuit and facility will play host to the inaugural World Cup of harness racing.

"The Directors of the Club confirmed their commitment to this exciting new concept last week and now it will be down to finalising the concept with Queensland and the mastermind behind the World Cup, Kevin Seymour" NSWHRC Chief Executive John Dumesny said.

"We have strong support from the HRNSW Board Members led by Chairman Graeme Campbell, who realise this is not a Club event but an event which will be a major boost for the profile of the sport not only in NSW, but in Australia and also internationally.

"Graeme Campbell has had positive feedback from the Sydney Major Events and we have a substantial sponsor."

The Sydney Major Events Corporation which has State Government backing, this year committed $750,000 to the thoroughbred industry which will continue for a further two years.

"The World Cup is the type of promotion to put NSW right back in the most prominent place on the harness racing map," Dumesny stated.

"Combined with other great initiatives of HRNSW such as the Carnival of Cups, the opening of the world standard Menangle Park track by the Club and the most cohesive approach by the Clubs in many years to almost every matter through the HRCC, the future is looking extremely bright in this State."

The World Cup's visionary, Kevin Seymour AM, has said previously that it would be a great desire of his to find out exactly who has the best horse in the world.

Currently, whenever a new star pops up in either Australia, New Zealand or the northern hemisphere, there are those from that particular part of the world that jump quickly to suggest that their champion is the best of the best.

Seymour's desire is to entice representatives from all parts of the globe to the $1million World Cup, which may also carry a huge $1million carrot if the world record on a 1400 metre track is broken.

"If the premium for insuring against the $1million is acceptable to the Club, we certainly will have a world record bonus to add to the attractiveness of the World Cup," Dumesny said.

"Other bonuses will be investigated such as winning both the Watpac Inter Dominion Final and the World Cup or going through the Inters and World Cup undefeated."

A mile race on the spacious track with the best of the best will all but confirm who rightly holds the mantle of world champion.

"I believe we have some of the best horses in the world," Seymour has been quoted as saying in the past.

"This race will pit our best against New Zealand's best against the best the rest of the world has to offer.

"We'll finally get to see who is fit to hold the mantle of world's best."

Acting Albion Park Chief Executive Damian Raedler will leave for the northern hemisphere this week in order to sell the concept of the World Cup, and Inter Dominion, to connections of North America's finest pacers.

A general list of conditions has been released regarding eligibility for the World Cup, which is sure to make competition fierce for spots in the elite eight-horse field.

The first is that the eight invitees will be selected with two each representing the northern hemisphere, New Zealand and Australia, with the final two spots to be at the discretion of the World Cup convenors.

Secondly, all eight horses will begin off the front row of the 1609 metre event, with the barriers to be chosen under the random barrier rule.

Thirdly, $1million in stakemoney will be distributed with $550,000 going to the winner; $200,000 for second; $120,000 for third; $80,000 for fourth and $25,000 from fifth to eighth.

Details of other World Cup conditions such as travel subsidies and emergency starters will be discussed when Raedler returns from his USA and Canadian tour of duty.

"An issue which was raised was the affects coming through a gruelling Inter Dominion might have on the horses going into the World Cup, however, after discussions with several respected northern hemisphere trainers, a short freshen after the Inters will have the elite pacers right back at the top of their game," Dumesny said.

Another issue which is still not clear is what quarantine restrictions will be imposed.

"The entire racing industry awaits the Federal Governments release of the Callinan Report into the EI outbreak which, depending on the findings, may impose stricter controls on the import of horses into Australia," he said.

"We would like to be able to establish a Quarantine Station on a suitable track so that the northern hemisphere horses can retain optimum fitness and therefore have a shorter stay in Australia as they will not lose fitness during what is normally a six-week layoff.

"We have proven we can accommodate such a facility when we set Harold Park up during EI for the Inter Dominion horses.

"I believe we have the expertise to accomplish a satisfactory quarantine facility."

The World Cup promotional flyer can be viewed by clicking here.