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BHA to scrap low-grade races with four runners or fewer BHA to scrap low-grade races with four runners or fewer
(about 2 hours later)
The British Horseracing Authority took a first step towards halting the historic decline in field sizes on Tuesday when it announced a three-month trial of new powers to delete races from the programme after the final declarations have been made.The British Horseracing Authority took a first step towards halting the historic decline in field sizes on Tuesday when it announced a three-month trial of new powers to delete races from the programme after the final declarations have been made.
Between January and March 2015, all races of Class 4 or below which attract 10 entries or fewer at the five-day stage will be flagged up as being “at risk” by the BHA. If the final declared field is four runners or less, the race will be scrapped unless there are no “broadly similar” options within the next seven days. Between January and March 2015 all races of Class 4 or below which attract 10 entries or fewer at the five-day stage will be flagged up as being “at risk” by the BHA. If the final declared field is four runners or less, the race will be scrapped unless there are no “broadly similar” options within the next seven days.
In 2014, a total of 16 races would have been removed from the programme as a result of the new rules, which are part of a package of measures designed to tackle a long-standing problem. The number of horses in training has dropped by about 1,600 since 2008, while around 650 races have been added to the schedule in the same period, while between 2005 and 2013, the average field size across all codes from nearly 11 runners per race to just 9. This year 16 races would have been removed from the programme as a result of the new rules, which are part of a package of measures designed to tackle a long-standing problem. The number of horses in training has dropped by about 1,600 since 2008 while around 650 races have been added to the schedule in the same period. Between 2005 and 2013 the average field size across all codes has fallen from nearly 11 runners per race to nine.
The BHA will also conduct a targeted removal of about 70 all-weather races from the January-March “pinch point” which is particularly susceptible to small fields. About 100 jumps races, mostly steeplechases, will also be removed from the schedule, while there will be a general rule that no meeting should consist of more than seven races.The BHA will also conduct a targeted removal of about 70 all-weather races from the January-March “pinch point” which is particularly susceptible to small fields. About 100 jumps races, mostly steeplechases, will also be removed from the schedule, while there will be a general rule that no meeting should consist of more than seven races.
As yet, there are no plans to extend the new power to delete races beyond the trial period on the all-weather circuit, but it could yet form a template for a similar scheme for some jumps races at some stage. As yet there are no plans to extend the new power to delete races beyond the trial period on the all-weather circuit but it could yet form a template for a similar scheme for some jumps races at some stage.
“This is never going to apply to Group or Graded races, but only to races of a certain standard and below,” Robin Mounsey, the BHA’s spokesman, said on Tuesday. “This is never going to apply to Group or Graded races but only to races of a certain standard and below,” Robin Mounsey, the BHA’s spokesman, said on Tuesday.
“The point of the restricted trial is to ascertain whether the process works, first of all. If it is a feasible idea to see whether you could implement a system which carried out the deletion of races at short notice effectively without undue and unfair convenience to trainers and owners. “The point of the restricted trial is to ascertain whether the process works, first of all – if it is a feasible idea to see whether you could implement a system which carried out the deletion of races at short notice effectively without undue and unfair convenience to trainers and owners.
“The key is communication when a race is flagged up as being at risk, and how it works between us, owners and trainers. We will also need to look at what happens to those horses that would have been running in that race, because that’s something that we would be looking for them to do. For the trial to be a success, it needs to bolster other races as well.” “The key is communication when a race is flagged up as being at risk and how it works between us, owners and trainers. We will also need to look at what happens to those horses that would have been running in that race, because that’s something that we would be looking for them to do. For the trial to be a success, it needs to bolster other races as well.”
The National Trainers’ Federation said that it would support the trial despite some reservations. “The NTF has never been a fan of short-notice race removal,” Rupert Arnold, the NTF’s chief executive, said. “However, the BHA did listen to horsemen’s concerns and the criteria for the trial of short-notice race removal represent a measured approach, the outcome of which will be monitored closely.” The National Trainers’ Federation said it would support the trial despite some reservations. “The NTF has never been a fan of short-notice race removal,” Rupert Arnold, the NTF’s chief executive, said. “However, the BHA did listen to horsemen’s concerns and the criteria for the trial of short-notice race removal represents a measured approach, the outcome of which will be monitored closely.”
Richard Hughes’s third consecutive success in the Flat jockeys’ championship was finally confirmed on Tuesday when Ryan Moore sat out two rides at Lingfield due to illness, his last engagements in Britain during the current campaign.Richard Hughes’s third consecutive success in the Flat jockeys’ championship was finally confirmed on Tuesday when Ryan Moore sat out two rides at Lingfield due to illness, his last engagements in Britain during the current campaign.
“Winning this obviously means more to me than Ryan but it still feels sweet, especially winning it for a third time,” Hughes said.“Winning this obviously means more to me than Ryan but it still feels sweet, especially winning it for a third time,” Hughes said.
“There have been so many good days this year but if I had to pick one out I’d say Toronado coming back and winning first time out at Royal Ascot was very sweet. That was a great training performance.” “There have been so many good days this year but, if I had to pick one out, I’d say Toronado coming back and winning first time out at Royal Ascot was very sweet. That was a great training performance.”
Moore will now travel to Australia to ride Adelaide in this weekend’s Cox Plate, before flying on to California for the Breeders’ Cup meeting and then to Japan and Hong Kong.Moore will now travel to Australia to ride Adelaide in this weekend’s Cox Plate, before flying on to California for the Breeders’ Cup meeting and then to Japan and Hong Kong.
Barry Connell, one of Ireland’s leading owners over jumps, said on Tuesday that Adrian Heskin will replace Danny Mullins as his retained jockey with immediate effect.Barry Connell, one of Ireland’s leading owners over jumps, said on Tuesday that Adrian Heskin will replace Danny Mullins as his retained jockey with immediate effect.
“It’s purely a business decision,” Connell said. “We just took a review of the last six months or so and I’ve decided I’d like Adrian to ride for me.“It’s purely a business decision,” Connell said. “We just took a review of the last six months or so and I’ve decided I’d like Adrian to ride for me.
“Danny is a good personal friend of mine and remains a good personal friend. Adrian has never ridden for me before, but he comes highly recommended.”“Danny is a good personal friend of mine and remains a good personal friend. Adrian has never ridden for me before, but he comes highly recommended.”