HFW lends to WTD change

Last year The Red Mile announced the long-standing two-heat format of the Kentucky Futurity would change in 2008, and now the World Trotting Derby has announced an immediate change to also eliminate its two-heat concept, a decision prompted by a Horseman And Fair World article "Is Heat Racing On Its Way To Extinction?" that appeared Nov. 15, 2006.

Although the Kentucky Futurity will change next year to an eliminations-final format contested over two Saturdays, the World Trotting Derby will be contested this year as a single one-mile dash, with only the top-12 money-earners in 2007 among those entered eligible.

“The issue was brought to the forefront with The Horseman And Fair World story about heat racing that appeared last year,” Du Quoin manager of pari-mutuel wagering Jim Hannon said. “I am a traditionalist and me, Jim Hannon, didn’t want it, but the story made a case for making a change.”

Hannon said the story was also read by Du Quoin director of racing Phil Langley, and the two conferred on presenting the changes to the Illinois Dept. of Agriculture for its approval for this year’s $550,000 (est.) race on Saturday, Sept. 1, with the companion $125,000 (est.) filly division also included.

“We wanted to continue with the World Trotting Derby, and knew that the field sizes over the past few years have been declining,” said Hannon. “In order to gain more horses and more interest, we knew we had to get more horses to participate, and the only way we knew how to do that was to go to this format. We had talked to many different trainers and owners who have participated, and one of the reasons they no longer wanted to participate was having to go two heats at that time of the year.”

Hannon added that all starters will receive a portion of the purse at least the equivalent of a half of one percent of the purse.

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