Chief Stipe

CHAMPION Winx is on track for her return in the Chipping Norton Stakes next month after cruising home in a special barrier trial between races at Randwick on Saturday. View the full article

HORSES in some of Australia’s biggest races, including the Melbourne Cup, may have been illegally doped according to explosive text messages obtained by the Herald Sun. View the full article

ONE lucky punter has pocketed a whopping $33,307.50 after a TAB five-horse multi came sailing home on Saturday. View the full article

ONE punter has 114,000 reasons to cheer home Winx when she resumes in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes on Saturday. View the full article

CHAMPION mare Winx has raced into the record books at Royal Randwick on Saturday with a sensational win in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m). View the full article

CHAUTAUQUA’S celebrated race career is at the crossroads after he refused to jump away with the field again in a barrier trial at Rosehill Gardens this morning. View the full article

THE moment Hugh Bowman moved drew applause and audible gasps of relief from the Royal Randwick crowd. View the full article

CHAMPION sprinter Chautauqua’s career is at a crossroads after he again refused to leave the gates in a barrier trial. View the full article

A VETERAN horse jockey died Thursday, three days after a “sickening” accident during a race in Pennsylvania, officials said. View the full article

SUPERSTAR mare Winx has set stunning world record after surviving a rare scare to win the George Ryder Stakes for the third straight year. View the full article

WINX won’t campaign in England later this year with trainer Chris Waller keen to give the champion mare every chance to win an unprecedented fourth Cox Plate next spring. View the full article

On the heels of capturing the Aqueduct Racetrack winter-meet title, trainer Rudy Rodriguez has no plans to slow down this spring, entering three contenders for the $150,000 Excelsior Stakes (G3). View the full article

At least the sun came out. But the belated arrival of a glorious spring morning did little to diminish the trepidation among consignors before the first 2-year-old auction of the European season at Ascot yesterday–and, in very many cases, their fears proved to be bleakly justified. The clearance rate, 80% last year, plummeted to just 50%. In the pinhooking idiom, many a horse at the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot Breeze-Up Sale will only have managed “to wash its face”–after factoring in keep, labour and transport–by virtue of the rain that contributed to miserable conditions for young horses in the under-tack show the previous afternoon. Despite two six-figure lots, all the indices for the single-session sale were depressed. Of the 118 lots offered, 59 were listed as sold as figures were being updated last night. Despite the augmented catalogue–84 lots went through the ring last year, with 67 sold–the aggregate shrank to £1,422,900 from £2,041,600; while such horses as did change hands did so at a much lower rate, the median was down by 24% to £16,000 (from £21,000) and the average by 21% to £24,117 (from £30,472). Consignors can perhaps comfort themselves that this sector of the market is bound to be more exposed to the perils of overproduction than those they will be testing in some of the later sales. And they are also entitled to dismay that the testing conditions, for the breezes, arguably caused a loss of confidence in buyers nowadays stricken without the crutch of a stopwatch. But the fact is that the system is somehow being expected to move on a lot more horses this spring, many of them only as a last throw of the dice after failing to find a buyer as yearlings. Richard Pugh, Tattersalls Ireland Director of Horses in Training Sales, did not deny that it had been a difficult sale. “I would like to commend vendors, Ascot Racecourse and our own team who, in challenging and inclement conditions earlier in the week, successfully staged a breeze yesterday on ground which was less than suitable ground for this element of the sale,” he said. “The trade today has undoubtedly been selective. While it was pleasing to [achieve] the fourth-highest price on record at this Breeze Up for £120,000 and to have another six-figure lot, we have to acknowledge that trade today was very challenging and polarised. We will analyse today’s trade in full once the breeze-up season has concluded and in consultation with our vendors and purchasers, we will respond to that feedback.” Excelebration Colt Comes Good for Dunsany… None of that alters the fact that this sale, though candidly aimed at those looking for functional speed on a limited budget, has produced several graduates of authentic elite calibre. And if the bigger spenders clustered around the same minority of horses–as usual–then the top lot of the day suggested that hope might still spring eternal. For the £120,000 secured by a son of Excelebration (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) showed what can be done, on those occasion when everything falls into place. Picked up by Dunsany Stables for €22,000 at the same firm’s yearling sale at Fairyhouse last September, the February colt had evidently caught clockers’ attention in his breeze. Whatever that might have meant, in the circumstances, there was no gainsaying the additional impression lot 49 made in the ring as an individual. He is now on his way to George Scott, who was standing by as Alex Elliott signed the docket. “It was very hard on those horses yesterday,” Elliott said. “We loved the way he went through that ground, he’s a big strong horse and, while this sale is usually associated with five- or six-furlong horses, this one has the profile, on pedigree and physique, of one who will get seven.” “The one horse we came to bid on,” confirmed Scott. “So it’s mission accomplished. He’s for the Excel Racing syndicate that has been doing so well already this season. They won the Spring Mile at Doncaster and the Rosebery, while we’ve got Another Batt (Ire) (Windsor Knot {Ire}) who won a good prize for them in Turkey last year.” Excel, operated by Paul Fisher and the Southampton and England striker Charlie Austin, now has a string of 19 spread across four trainers. Their new recruit is out of an Oasis Dream (GB) Juddmonte cast-off, who won several races in Greece; the second dam is stakes winner Wooden Doll (Woodman), third in the G1 Prix de la Salamandre and in turn out of G2 Lowther winner Kingscote (Ire) (Kings Lake). The sale represented a fine touch for Dunsany’s Carol Benson and her sons Danny and Jordan. “We’re over the moon,” she said. “My dad’s not so well but I’ve just spoken to him and that has really perked him up. We always thought he was a nice horse, but so much can go wrong in the breeze–there’s no excuses out there, no second chance, and it was pulling hell out of the horses yesterday.” “I used to do this with Joanna Morgan back in the day and four years ago we said we’d give it a go, with a five-year plan,” Benson said. “We’ve been lucky enough so far, selling them all, but this is something else.” Danny rode for Ger Lyons during his days as a Flat apprentice and it was Lyons who won a listed race at Naas last year with another Dunsany breezer, Doctor Geoff (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}), before selling him on to Hong Kong. Morley Strikes for Swiss Spirit Son… The other six-figure transaction concerned a colt by Swiss Spirit, sold to Tom Morley–an owner with Stuart Williams–for 100,000gns. Sold as lot 123, he was consigned by Cristiano Martins of C.A.J. Stables after failing to find a home at 28,000gns in Book 3 at Tattersalls last October. While everyone will be hoping for very different going in June, Williams and Morley saw enough in his breeze to hope that he will be back over the road for the royal meeting. “The ground was quite heavy, but we liked the way he breezed,” the Newmarket trainer said. “Tom has a formula, far too complicate for me to understand, and he liked the pedigree and the figures. But it was more the aesthetics of how he breezed, combined with the [speed] figures we got for him. Hopefully he can come back here in June.” Whatever Morley’s formula might have favoured in between, the colt’s fifth dam is Blue Note (Fr) (Habitat), who produced two Group 1 winning juveniles to Danzig in Zieten and Blue Duster. Kodiac Popular at Ascot… The poster boy for this sale last year was G2 Gimcrack S winner Sands Of Mali (Fr) (Panis {Fr}), consigned by Con Marnane’s Bansha House Stables and purchased by Matt Coleman of StroudColeman for £75,000. As a satisfied customer, Coleman returned to Marnane’s consignment for a February colt by the prolific Kodiac (GB) (Danehill) at £88,000. Lot 95 produced a taking breeze in the conditions–and backed that up, not only with his stylish build, but also with an interesting page. His dam, a winning daughter of Giant’s Causeway, is out of a Seeking the Gold half-sister to Poet’s Voice (GB) (Dubawi {Ire})–whose untimely death a couple of weeks ago, aged just 11, followed such an excellent season for his juveniles. One way or another, this colt was well bought at 41,000gns out of Tattersalls Book 2 last October. “He’s actually for a client of Anthony [Stroud], but he’s on his way back from Dubai,” Coleman said. “So I don’t know who will train him. But it’s obviously been a lucky sale for us so let’s hope that continues.” “This is a gorgeous colt,” Marnane enthused. “He just got a little bit sore in that ground yesterday but he’s a stunner, a horse for the future.” Marnane nonetheless agreed that the breeze-up circuit was making an inauspicious start. “The better horses are selling,” he said. “But the cheaper horses are very hard to move. There seem to be very few people prepared to take a chance on them, and a definite lack of foreign buyers. But there are so many horses now, from all these broodmares, you wonder where they’re all going to find homes.” Gale Force Ten Juvenile Makes £75k…. Those who persevered with the clock were said to be particularly keen on lot 25, a Gale Force Ten (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) colt consigned by Church Farm & Horse Park Stud. He was initially knocked down to Sean Quinn, who bought Group 1 winner The Wow Signal (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in the same ring, for £70,000. Apparently this fell short of the vendors’ expectations, and a private sale of £75,000 was subsequently agreed–with the amicable consent of all parties–with Stephen Hillen and Richard Hughes. “He’s going to Richard for a new syndicate,” Hillen explained. “I’ve bought a couple of horses from Roger [Marley, of Church Farm] in the past, including [G1SW] Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). This horse did one of the quicker times, he’s big, strong and athletic, and he looks ready to run.” The same respected Church Farm/Horse Park partnership had consigned the previous horse through the ring, lot 24, a colt by Dandy Man (Ire) (Mozart {Ire}). He raised £50,000 from Pam Sly, the only trainer to have won a British Classic with a breeze-up graduate in G1 1000 Guineas winner Speciosa (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). “Everything I buy off Roger wins!” she explained. “I’ve known the boys since they were boys. Roger used to ride for me, years ago, and I ask him what’s what. And he says this will do a job.” For the full results, click here. View the full article

Mon, 02 Apr 2018 Dennis Ryan James McDonald makes the first step back from disqualification riding trackwork at Randwick this morning. James McDonald has experienced the highs and lows of racing, but when he returns from disqualification to ride trackwork at Randwick this morning, he’ll have just one thing on his mind. The past two years have been a sobering time for the 26-year-old jockey, who left New Zealand as a champion to win two Sydney premierships complete with a contract with the global powerhouse Godolphin, only for it all to come crashing down. A $1,000 bet on a Godolphin horse he rode to win in December 2015 came back to haunt him, with the upshot an 18-month disqualification that, despite appeals to Australia’s highest legal authorities, meant he was to spend 16 months in racing’s wilderness. That is now all behind the gifted jockey. Last month Racing New South Wales cleared McDonald to resume trackwork and trial riding from April 3 as a six-week preparatory period for when his penalty ends on May 15. With that now in sight, McDonald has one end-goal. “I just want to get back to where I was,” he told www.theinformant.co.nz in a candid interview on the eve of his return. “Since getting the all-clear to start trackwork it’s been amazing the amount of support I’ve had from trainers and owners. “I’ve been working out at the gym three or four days a week and doing other fitness work in between, so now it’s matter of getting back in the saddle. “Not having ridden for so long I’ll probably be a cripple tomorrow night, but I’m ready for it, I’ve got a whole new focus. “I’ll be riding trackwork every morning tjhis week and on Friday I’ll have my first trial rides. There are 14 heats at Rosehill and I expect to be riding in every one of them. “Chris Waller is right behind me and it looks like I’ll be riding mainly for him at the trials, along with other trainers like Gai Waterhouse, John O’Shea and the Snowdens. “I had thought about kicking off in New Zealand, just to get my eye in, but with the support I’ve had already it looks like it will be here in Sydney.” It’s a big relief to McDonald that his weight has remained stable during his time on the sideline, currently walking at around 58 kilograms and expecting to be down to 56kg once he swings back into action. “When I got stood down there was a lot of talk that it would be the end for me,” he said. “My weight has been a challenge – up to 60 kilos walking at one stage when I was last riding – but I’ve kept active and it’s great that I’ve got it under control. “It’s good to know that when the time comes I’ll be able to get down to at least 54kg when I need to.” McDonald admits that his time out has given him a fresh perspective, both in reflecting on the past and looking to the future. “Why did I do it? Just stupidity, temptation, it was a mistake that I’ll always regret,” he says. “You learn from your mistakes though, and now I’ll be leaving no stone unturned to get back to where I was. “I’m looking forward to riding freelance, that’s something I haven’t done in my time over here. My goal is to get back to where I was in the pecking order, back to number one, and I’ll be doing my best to do it as soon as possible.” *The full interview with James McDonald will be published in the weekly edition of The Informant, on sale Thursday.

PENALTY [62] The end result is a total fine of $14,000, which is to be equally apportioned across both respondents. As such, Mr RJ Dunn is fined the sum of $7,000. Mr JR Dunn is also fined the sum of $7,000. COSTS [63] The RIU have indicated they are not seeking any costs, which is a generous position to adopt. While these charges have been dealt with on the papers, there has been a cost to the JCA. Each Respondent is ordered to make a partial contribution to JCA costs, that sum is set at $500 each. ORDERS [64] The disqualification of the four horses in question (RISHI, HAYDEN’S MEDDLE, BILLY BADGER and BILLY BADGER) has already been made under the provision of Rule 1004D, which was directed in an Order of the Judicial Committee dated 24 February 2018. Signed at Palmerston North this 28th day of March 2018. Mr Tangi Utikere Chairman non-raceday-inquiry-riu-v-r-j-dunn-and-j-r-dunn-written-decision-dated-28-march-2018-chair-mr-t-utikere.pdf

Assuming a potential snowstorm Friday night doesn’t put a damper on things, a full field is set to go postward in Saturday’s GII Toyota Blue Grass S. The conversation about contenders must start with $1-million KEESEP yearling Good Magic (Curlin), who broke his maiden emphatically in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar en route to Eclipse Award honors. Heavily favored in the GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth on seasonal debut at Gulfstream Mar. 3, he settled for a non-threatening third with no obvious excuse. A pair of sophomores who were last seen at Tampa boast strong recent form and past success in Lexington. Quip (Distorted Humor) was named a ‘TDN Rising Star‘ for a second-out allowance romp stretching out over this strip in October. Seventh with trouble in an extremely productive running of the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Nov. 25, he added to that event’s productivity himself with a 19-1 upset in the Mar. 10 GII Tampa Bay Derby. “It is a big advantage that he has spent so much time at Keeneland,” trainer Rodolphe Brisset said. “We know he likes the track. Since we came back, he knows he is in familiar surroundings… He is acting very good and we like how he is training.” Flameaway (Scat Daddy), second in the Tampa Bay Derby after annexing the GIII Sam F. Davis S. there in February, took a rained-off renewal of the GIII Bourbon S. in the Keeneland slop last October. Dale Romans boasts wins in the 2012 and 2016 Blue Grass, and saddles Free Drop Billy (Union Rags) for this one. The Albaugh Family Stables colorbearer will look to complete the same double his connections’ Brody’s Cause (Giant’s Causeway) completed when he took the 2015 GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity in the fall and following year’s Blue Grass. Doug O’Neill played spoiler in last year’s Blue Grass with the star-crossed Irap (Tiznow), and has two chances for an upset this time around with GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks one-three finishers Blended Citizen (Proud Citizen) and Arawak (Uncle Mo). View the full article

Dial 1-844-TVG-PDJF this Sunday, April 8 with your tax deductible donation to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) and Mike Smith or another Hall of Fame rider just might be taking your call. The first PDJF telethon, hosted by the TVG Network in association with Betfair, will run from 1p.m.-7p.m. Hall of Fame jockeys Javier Castellano, Pat Day, Ramon Dominguez, Sandy Hawley, Chris McCarron and Alex Solis will be among those waiting for your calls and donations. They will be joined by other active or retired Thoroughbred jockeys and top Quarter Horse riders Cody Jensen and Eddie Garcia as well as PDJF beneficiaries in manning the phone banks at the TVG studios in California and Keeneland Race Course in Kentucky. View the full article

Thursday Racing Wrap – a bit of something for everyone Article Author Racenet 05 April 2018 0 Comments It’s a potpourri of racing news as this Thursday we get ready to be pitchforked headfirst into the opening day of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday. THE HOT SEAT Which young female jockey, who hails from a town made famous by bushranger Ned Kelly will have her biggest moment in the saddle on Saturday? READ MORE WINX TO SPARKLE ON SATURDAY The big crowd for the first day of The Championships will not only get to see some damn good horse races, they will also get to see the mighty mare stride out. READ MORE ANOTHER GROUP I FOR NEWCASTLE TRAINER? Ben Smith is still adjusting to the title of Group I winning trainer but can he do it again with his favourite horse? READ MORE THE DONCASTER ROUGHIE OVER THE ODDS? David Hayes has the outsider in the Doncaster Mile but he reckons the bookies must have rocks in their heads and the odds are three times what they should be. READ MORE TOP BETS FROM THE ARMCHAIR PUNTER FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 1 The Armchair Punter is betting early to build a bank then he's looking to unload late on the Sires’ Produce and Doncaster Mile. READ MORE TOP BETS FROM CLINTON PAYNE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 1 Big Clint is loving the fact the sun is shining and he's ready to bet up on a Randwick track which is certain to be good. READ MORE WHAT ARE THEY BACKING? Have a gander at the early betting trends for the opening day of The Championships. READ MORE SOMETHING FOR THE BATTLERS Take a look at Racenet’s assessment of the contenders for the Country Championships Final at Randwick on Saturday. READ MORE JOCKEY IN STRIFE Which Queensland hoop is in hot water again and has been suspended for another month? READ MORE GO FRENCHIE Which jockey was flying the French flag when he rode a winner at Hawkesbury on Thursday. READ MORE

Returning from a five-month layoff in a grade 1 stakes is not a typical move for most horses, yet trainer Mark Casse has no qualms about the spot he chose for Awesome Slew's 5-year-old debut. View the full article

Gulfstream Park shattered total handle records during its 89-day championship meet, which was highlighted by the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and $1 million Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1). View the full article

On the heels of capturing the Aqueduct Racetrack winter meet training title last weekend, trainer Rudy Rodriguez has no plans to slow down this spring entering three contenders for the $150,000 Excelsior Stakes (G3). View the full article

Bisphosphonates–a class of drugs that prevent the bone-density loss–might have some therapeutic value for older racehorses, but speakers at the Conference on Equine Welfare and Racing Integrity warned of the potential harm caused by such treatments for young horses such yearlings and 2-year-olds. That was among the takeaways from Wednesday’s Animal Welfare Forum of the Association of Racing Commissioners International’s annual conference, being held through Friday at the Hotel Hot Springs. The related discussion included how parimutuel racing’s regulators might address abuse of bisphosphonates and at what stage should horses come under the jurisdiction of a racing regulatory authority. ARCI members are the only independent entities recognized by law to license, make and enforce rules and adjudicate matters pertaining to racing. Dr. Sue Stover, a professor at the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, said the rational for giving young horses bisphosphonates is to ward off stress fractures, joint problems and some abnormalities. “Ultimately it was just the silver bullet of preventing all these problems,” she said. However, Stover said that bisphosphonates in young horses actually interfere with the development and growth of bone, reduce bone’s ability to heal and makes bone more susceptible to cracks. John Campbell, the legendary harness-racing driver who retired to become president and CEO of the Hambletonian Society, said the standardbred industry has had “great luck” using bisphosphonates to treat young horses with distal cannon-bone disease with “no adverse affects that I can see.” ARCI president Ed Martin urged racing regulators to start working on a model rule as to when jurisdiction over a horse begins, which could allow them to address the concern over bisphosphonates. “I think it would behoove all of us to work on a model regulatory policy so we have uniformity in terms of when the horse should come under the jurisdiction of the racing commission,” Martin said. “When we talk about out-of-competition testing or questioning the use of certain medications, the first thing somebody is going to say is, ‘You don’t have jurisdiction over this horse, and you don’t regulate the practice of veterinary medicine.'” Identifying Risk & Protective Factors in Horses Dr. Scott Palmer, the equine medical director for the New York Gaming Association, discussed identifying risk factors in racing, including those at “boutique” meets such as Saratoga, Del Mar and Keeneland, with the inherent demands to get owners’ horses to those races because of their exceptional purse money and prestige. Palmer cited some risk factors as being on the “vets” list for an infirmity, not racing at two, trainer change, switching to a different track’s surface and dropping in class. He said protective factors also must be identified. Palmer said changes that have established themselves as diminishing risks would not all be popular and could require a change in mindset, such as writing fewer cheap claiming races, limiting the claiming purse to twice the value of the horse, consolidating race meets, biosecurity and limiting the number of stalls given the large outfits. Also mentioned: continuing education for veterinarians, trainers and assistant trainers, along with increased scrutiny of horses seeking removal from the vets list after a long layoff. Dr. Rick Arthur advises the California Horse Racing Board on equine medication and drug testing, veterinary medicine and the health and safety of horses under CHRB’s jurisdiction. After a rash of fatalities in 2016, Del Mar’s actions included allowing only horses having timed workouts to be on the track for the first 10 minutes following a renovation break and giving up a week of racing to allow additional time to get the track in shape for the meet after the property was used for the San Diego County Fair Arthur cited a study that determined horses scratched by a regulatory veterinarian did not race back for 110 days on average, while the average horse ran back in about 40 days. “The bottom line is we’re actually identifying the right horse,” he said of vet scratches. “The real issue is: are we identifying all the horses we should?” Sports Betting: “Amazing Potential” Horse racing, professional sports leagues and casinos are awaiting a U.S. Supreme Court decision this spring on New Jersey’s challenge to the constitutionality of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which has made sports betting illegal except in Nevada and a few other states. The consensus of a conference panel was that sports betting could be on us extremely quickly and that racetracks and states, as well as racing regulators who in some states might oversee betting on sports, must be prepared. Alex Waldrop, CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, said one advantage for horse racing is that the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978 allows bets to be made across state lines, which paved the way for simulcasting into commingled pools. “We have some leverage,” he said. “If sports waging goes forward, you won’t be able to bet across state lines” without passage of enabling federal legislation. View the full article

Post Malone and ODESZA will perform at the 2018 Budweiser InfieldFest Concert at the GI Preakness S. May 19. Tickets can be purchased at Preakness.com starting at $90 for general admission. In addition to InfieldFest, guests in the Preakness Village will enjoy upgraded facilities, featuring glass chalet suites. A new two-story glass structure next to the Winners’ Circle will host celebrity and VIP guests of the Stronach Group Owner’s Chalet. Guests in the Sky Suites and Turf Side Terrace will also enjoy upgraded facilities. View the full article

‘TDN Rising Star’ Verbal Dexterity (Ire) (Vocalised) is bound directly for the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas without a prep run, trainer Jim Bolger has announced. The Vocalised colt looked every inch a Classic contender after winning the G1 National S. last September, but could only finish fourth behind 2000 Guineas favourite Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on his final juvenile appearance. Bolger is adamant his charge is better than he showed on Town Moor and appears quietly confident he will make his presence felt at Newmarket on May 5. Speaking in an At The Races stable tour, Bolger said, “The plan is to run him in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and he won’t have a run before then. I’m very happy with him at the minute. He has done well over the winter. He was a very mature-looking 2-year-old, but he has continued to grow well into himself. I think he’ll stay at least a mile and a quarter and he seems versatile with regard to ground. View the full article

Fresh on the news that the Ebor H. receives a purse hike, the British stayers’ programme was further bolstered by the announcement that The Cesarewitch H., held over 2 1/4 miles in October at Newmarket Racecourse, will have its purse increased to £500,000 in 2018. In 2019, the Cesarewitch would be run for £750,000 and in 2020, it will reach £1 million, with these changes developed in a partnership between the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and a full range of industry stakeholders. The racecourse also announced that prizemoney will increase by 10% in 2018, bringing the total up to £10.85 million, a gain of over £1 million from 2017, courtesy of valued sponsors and investment from The Jockey Club Racecourses. The QIPCO Guineas Festival on May 5-6 is worth a record £1.7 million, the Dubai Future Champions Festival in October grosses over £2 million in prizemoney and the average prizemoney per race across the 39-fixture programme is almost £40,000. Other races to receive an increase in prizemoney are: the 2600-metre G3 Bahrain Trophy up 50% to £150,000, rising to £200,000 in 2020; the G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. and G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. were both upped to £275,000 each, from £200,000; and the G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. was increased to £125,000. “We are delighted to announce that the total prize fund being competed for at Newmarket Racecourses during 2018 will be £10.85 million, a valuable 10% on 2017,” said Jockey Club Racecourses East Region Regional Director Amy Starkey. “We are maintaining our investment in prizemoney for all our top races, while making a significant commitment to the racing industry’s support for stayers, including doubling prize money this year for The Cesarewitch which will ultimately become a £1-million race by 2020. We have also embraced the BHA’s Race Incentive Fund (RIF) and Appearance Money Schemes (AMS) for the Class 4 and 5 races that we stage, and have effectively invested in prizemoney across all race classes.” Added British Horseracing Authority Chief Executive Nick Rust, “The phased prizemoney boost to the Cesarewitch announced today creates a further sizable uplift in the value of the stayers’ programme and provides another significant incentive to keep staying horses in training here in Britain. As a sport we want to stage world class racing and a £1m Cesarewitch from 2020 will provide another boost to our increasingly strong and valuable programme for stayers.” View the full article