Northern Racing take positive approach to lost fixtures.
Like many racecourse owners, Northern Racing have been badly affected by the excessive rain which has fallen during August. Indeed, Northern Racing's two courses of Newcastle and Chepstow have already lost 5 meetings between them during the last few weeks.
However, as Tony Kelly, CEO of Northern Racing has pointed out today, it is not just owners, trainers, and jockeys who will suffer as a result of these cancellations. The loss of funds to the Betting Levy during a time of economic slowdown will certainly affect the long term funding of future racing.
To ease these potential funding fears, Tony Kelly is today offering to stage extra fixtures on Northern Racing courses during the remainder of 2008. In addition, he is suggesting extending planned meetings from six race to eight race cards.
At Racingsight, we believe this is a strong and positive idea, and we urge the BHA to give the suggestions their earliest consideration.
New Approach to undergo specialist training.
Because he lost his chance of victory by running too freely in the early stages of Saturday's rearranged Group One Juddmonte International Stakes, New Approach is to undergo special training to encourage him to settle into his races.
Trainer Jim Bolger believes if he can persuade New Approach to switch off in the initial stages of a race, he will be a lot closer to Duke of Marmalade when the two reoppose in the Irish Champion Stakes next month.
Lynch does move to America.
Further to our article last week, we can now confirm, Fergal Lynch, the jockey at the centre of the recent Panorama corruption television programme, has left the UK to pursue a riding career in the USA.
Montmartre confirmed as Arc absentee.
Trainer Alain Royer-Dupre has confirmed Montmartre will not be fit in time to compete in this year's Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.
Confirmed big entry at first day of Ayr two day meeting.
The spate of recent race meeting cancellations has proved a positive for Ayr's two day meeting which starts on Wednesday 27 August. The first day of the meeting has eighty seven entries, including six horses from the major Middleham stable of Mark Johnson.
The bad weather in August has left most trainers trying to catch up on running plans for their sidelined horses, and it is possible, if the weather relents over the next few weeks, the smaller midweek meetings will reap the benefit of increased runner numbers and better horses attractin larger crowds.
