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Why five-day entry system is a real must

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Why you can trust SCMP
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THE lack of runners at last week's first night meeting of the new season at Happy Valley put early-season programming into the spotlight and also focused renewed attention on our outdated entry system.

It would hardly have been over-optimistic to expect full fields at only the second meeting of the season but the first race saw a disappointing five runners. Later races did not fill, either.

The first race was over 1,800 metres and it was, quite simply, a programming error to have this distance event - as it is considered in Hong Kong - at this very early stage of the season.

Trainers will not push their horses early to have them ready for races like this and it is fully understandable. They have owners to please and a nine-month season to get through.

Climatic conditions in August and September are not conducive to getting horses ready for a first-up crack at 1,800 metres or beyond.

Again, however, it highlighted the system where the Jockey Club has made a rod for its own back by not allowing any flexibility at declarations.

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