TAB introduces a new product for customers to bet on from Monday, 4 December – harness racing, a form of horseracing in which the horses race in a specified gait and usually pull two-wheeled carts or sulkies.
Harness racing in this country is being launched with races from Sweden on Monday lunchtimes and on Tuesday evenings.
Harness racing kicks off tomorrow, when four harness races from Sweden will be screened live in TABs and on Tellytrack from 1.15pm to 2.03pm.
Harness races can be conducted in two gaits – trotting and pacing. The difference is that a trotter moves its legs diagonally with the right front and left hind, and then the left front and right hind striking the ground simultaneously. A pacer, on the other hand, moves its legs laterally with the right front and right hind, and then the left front and left hind striking the ground simultaneously.
In continental Europe, including Sweden, races are conducted exclusively at a trotting pace.
TAB will offer Win, Swinger and a Daily Double (when applicable) on Swedish harness racing. The Win and Daily Double pools will be commingled.Points to note:
* Races are run over 1640m, 2140m, 2640m 3140m, 3640m and 4140m. In handicaps horses with earnings over the first specified amount run 20m further and those with earnings over the second specified amount 40m further.
* Races are started in two ways – auto start (with a car) or volt start. In volt starts draws 1, 3, 6 and 7 are favoured.