Cape Town’s trainers have been issued with an unpalatable ultimatum and they are united in their belief that they must produce more runners to avoid the axe falling. But they are far from agreed as to how this should be achieved.

They have been informed by Phumelela boss Rian du Plessis and Kenilworth Racing chairman Chris van Niekerk that fixtures will be reduced and/or stakes dropped in races with less than eight runners if they do not produce an average of at least 12 runners per race.

This average, considered essential for betting turnover, has fallen from 12 to ten in the last three seasons.

Brett Crawford, a member of both the Cape trainers’ committee and the programmes committee, said: “I think the trainers need to ask themselves what should be done because there are certainly enough horses in Cape Town to make up the numbers.

“The problem is basically at Durbanville as people are not prepared to run horses there from bad draws. I am not sure what we can do – maybe some sort of incentive – but we need to sit down and discuss it.”

One trainer who asked not to be named was adamant that the draw for stall positions should be made after declarations and not, as at present, when entries close – “This is the way they have it in every other racing jurisdiction. The authorities know it would solve the problem but they won’t do it.”

It was tried a few seasons ago but many trainers were against it, hence the change back to the original system. Also horses drawn wide had a tendency to suddenly go off their feed, start coughing or develop sore shins!

Justin Snaith has a different solution, saying: “There should be nominations for ten races and you then run the eight with the biggest fields. Problem solved.”

Another trainer maintained that the fault lies with the programmes which are not mapped out quite as often, or with as much local input, as they used to be. They are now done twice a year instead of every four months when they were “closely allied to the horse census and demographics – and depending on how well races filled – and the Cape Town handicapper was also involved.”

It might be possible to ease some of the Durbanville problem in races from 1 000m to 1 400m by siting the stalls 20-25m out from the rail instead of right up against it. This would reduce the advantage of those drawn low, particularly if the stalls were set at a slight angle so that all horses started the same distance from the beginning of the bend. The course is wide enough to do this.

Owners are adamant that trainers must come up with a solution. One said: “I pay R 10 000 a month plus vet’s fees and I would rather see my horse racing once during the month, even if only for a chance of finishing third or fourth, than staying in his stable.”

Michael Clower