Inför V86® (jackpot): The racetrack CEO has a nice prospect
He works as the CEO at Åmål Racetrack daily. But Tomas Eklund also has a nice prospect in his own stable.
He got his much-anticipated first win of the year in his last start. Now the hopes are to do it all over again on V86®.
A relatively easy solution on V86® last week, meant that there was no payout for six winners found.
The last card of the year is being split between Solvalla and Åby this Wednesday and it comes with a jackpot, just in time for Christmas. A possible sole winner can take home SEK 19 million.
Tomas Eklund, an amateur trainer from Åmål, makes the trip to Åby with his 7 Explode (V86-5). The 4-year-old had a great start to his racing career last year, with six wins in twelve starts. The current year has been filled with bad luck, until his most recent start. The gelding finally made it to the winner's circle for the first time this year after an impressive victory at Färjestad.
"Yes, exactly. He has been good all year but has had too much bad luck and lost a couple of photo finishes. But, as I said, he has raced just as well this year and we hope that the bad luck is behind us now. I trained him last Friday and had no complaints" says Tomas.
Does Explode feel like a horse with a lot of potential?
"Yes, he does. He made a couple of breaks there back in the summer and fall, but that was when he raced with a bit less weight upfront, I think he benefits from the fact that everyone is racing with shoes now in the winter".
Finally got a win
After the much-anticipated victory in his last start, the aim is set at V86.
The Wednesday race is the final of the amateur series that has been raced all year, with SEK 100,000 to the winner. Explode starts from the excellent post seven in this volt start race.
"That was good. He can leave pretty well and is normally safe, so that feels good. The lead is not necessary, he races well with any trip, but it would be nice if he could get the lead".
He raced on V75 this past summer. What does his future look like, is that something you have planned for him now as well?
"I haven't planned that far ahead yet, it's winter and you have to consider all the traveling, so we take one start at a time with him and then we will see. But he raced in V75 at Axevalla this summer, did well and finished fifth, so he won't embarrass himself there".
A racetrack willing to try new things
Tomas Eklund has a long and solid background in the trotting industry and as of February 1, the Dalarna native is the CEO at Åmål Racetrack. He can soon sum up his first year at the helm.
"It has gone very well, I think, even if the times are tough for the entire country now. But we are trying to keep the activity and owners up and running. It's a lot of work. We are working hard to get more horses entered to our races, but we often race against other tracks, but overall, I think it's been a good year".
And Åmål Racetrack is one of the best tracks in the country when it comes to attendance?
"Yes, not many racetracks can say that. But you can tell that the horsemen also enjoy coming here when there's a good crowd at the track".
In Åmål, they have not been afraid to try new things over the years. At the 800-meter track, they have had one entire race day where they run the races the opposite way, something they are the only track in Sweden doing. If the plans come together, more innovations are coming next year. Åmål is hoping to be the third racetrack in Sweden, after Åby and Skellefteå, with a passing lane.
"We are planning two race days next year where we run the races the opposite way, two weeks in a row, in August. We are also looking at adding a passing lane, but a lot of that has to do with cost. It requires some blasting work in the mountains, so we await that, but in the meantime, we assume that is going to happen next year" says Tomas.
What are the horsemen's reactions to a passing lane at Åmål?
"A bit of both, some are very positive while others say it's not needed. But overall, I think it's mostly positive".