HARNESS racing body BOTRA Tasmania has launched a membership drive to restore dwindling numbers.
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At its peak, the non-profit organisation representing breeders, owners, trainers and reinspersons had almost 200 members.
However, committeeman Barrie Rattray said yesterday that numbers had dropped to about 130.
‘‘We’re aiming to get back to at least 200 and we’d really like 300,’’ Rattray said.
‘‘So we have come up with some incentives to encourage new members and get previous members to rejoin.’’
The incentives include discounts, exclusive to members, from some of the best studs in Australia and New Zealand.
BOTRA has also secured service fees to three top sires which it is offering for tender.
They are Highview Tommy (stands for $3300, bidding starts at $1750); Sutter Hanover (stands $1500, bids from $600) and Major Bronski (stands $1320, bids from $500).
BOTRA Tasmania was formed five years ago and represents participants at all industry levels.
It has held discussions with Tasracing on matters such as programming, stakemoney, yearling sales and health and safety.
BOTRA members also attend Harness Racing Advisory Board meetings and are available to represent participants at Appeal Board hearings.
Jockeys fund
ALL gate taking from tomorrow night’s meeting at Mowbray will be donated to the Carly-Mae Pye and Caitlin Forrest appeals.
Both jockeys died tragically last week – Pye after a trackwork fall at Rockhampton and Forrest after a race fall at Murray Bridge. Pye was 26 and Forrest 19.
TTC chief executive Bruno Calabro said the deaths highlighted the dangers faced by jockeys.
He urged people with an interest in racing to show their support by attending tomorrow night’s meeting and helping the club make a worthwhile donation to the two trust funds.
In a further contribution, Tattsbet will match gate takings. Tattsbet donated its ‘‘take’’ from the win pools on Saturday’s Rockhampton races, plus another $7000.
Donations are still being accepted at all Tote outlets.
Two races at tomorrow night’s meeting have been named in memory of the jockeys.
Equal second
GARETH Rattray finished a close third in the Australian Drivers Championship at Globe Derby on Saturday night.
The series was won by Queensland’s Peter McMullen with 57 points from West Australia’s Gary Hall on 53.
Rattray, Chris Alford (Victoria) and David Harding (South Australia) all earned 52 points, with Rattray declared officially third on a countback.
His best results in the six heats were a win on a $2.40 second favourite and a second on a 100-1 outsider.
Cleaning up
THE Cleaner continues to capture the imagination of punters betting on Saturday’s Cox Plate.
Tattsbet yesterday reported bets of $6000 at $14, $4000 at $12, another $4000 at $12 and $3800 at $12.
The Cleaner’s price is now into $10.
Last week, Sportingbet also reported an avalanche of support for the horse, mainly from smaller punters.
“Every man and his dog wants to hold a ticket for The Cleaner,’’ Sportingbet’s Andrew Brown said.
‘‘At the moment, we’ve written three times more bets for him than what we have for the favourite Fawkner.’’
Lucky pickup
MARK Yole went to Mowbray on Sunday night not expecting to have a drive – and left having won the main race.
Yole picked up the drive on $14 chance Greysteel in the Free-For-All when Adrian Duggan couldn’t make it to the track due to transport problems.
The Zeke Slater-trained Greysteel led all the way to record his sixth win since coming to Tasmania.
Yole has driven him nine times for four wins including the Launceston Mile and City Of Launceston Cup in 2012.