Trainer Bruce Negus will remember the Dunedin track as a venue that created opportunities that were not possible elsewhere as its 110-year run comes to an end tonight.
He has trained 140 winners at the track, second only in modern records to Graeme Anderson and Cran Dalgety.
In its heyday, Forbury Park hosted the 1965 Interdominion Championships.
However in the past two to three decades it has provided important opportunities for horses that were not highly competitive at metropolitan tracks.
“It has been a great place to race the sort of horses I’ve had,” Negus said.
“If they couldn’t quite get placed at Addington they could place at Forbury and the slightly shorter straight meant they didn’t have to be quite as tough.
“If you got an economical run it helped your chances at Forbury,’’ he said.
He is also concerned about the loss of opportunity for people to watch harness racing.
“The students used to turn up quite regularly for a social occasion,” Negus said.
“If there is no other introduction to harness racing they will never know about it in any other jurisdiction in their lives.
“There will be a lot of people that have had an interest in horses [from watching them at Forbury Park] that they wouldn’t have garnered elsewhere.
“I hope the Forbury Park Trotting Club won’t lose that fraternity, because they could be lost forever.”
Negus said he will miss the trainers, drivers and club officials.
“I did love going there and for the eight years I was in Waikouaiti, it was easy to support it.
“It was always good fun and the people were always very hospitable.”
Negus has big chance of adding to his 140 wins at Forbury Park tonight with Dashtothebeach (race 8) and Dreaminsover (race 10).
“Dashtothebeach hasn’t raced for a while and she hasn’t had a trial, but I have been happy with her.
“It looks a good race for her and she has got a good draw (3) so I am expecting her to go well.”
Dreaminsover gives Negus a decent shot at winning the final race at the track
The pacer went a huge race for third after working hard in his last visit to Forbury Park and subsequently ran a tidy fifth at Addington.
“I would say Dreaminsover is just as good of a chance as Dashtothebeach is.
“He has got a good draw (3), he has got a good driver (Ricky May) and he seems to be getting better.”
Negus also starts Moment Of Kaos (race 6), Myrcella (race 7) and Sundons Flyer (race 9) tonight.
- By Jonny Turner
