Bloody hell, those are shocking fields at Tauranga. A couple of 4 horse fields, one for $40,000, and a 6 horse field for $30,000. I thought the idea of the AWT was to stop this sort of thing? If a track looks suspect, quickly move the meeting to the AWT: never seems to happen. And look at the poor buggers eliminated and balloted in the SI all the time.
Its going to be a mess when Ellerslie and Te Aroha are closed for a year or so and they are relying on Tauranga to fill the gap.
What happens if this Counties meeting with 8 horse fields strikes a wet track? They could be down to 2 and 3 starters per race.