A interesting little article on ATR today...
A walkover is likely in the partex-direct.co.uk Novices' Hurdle at Worcester this evening after trainers decided to boycott the race due to low prize money.
The contest falls below the level set out in the Horsemen's Group tariff by £900 yet, after being warned of possible action, the course haven't altered the total.
Twelve horses have been declared but a movement organised by trainer Charlie Mann, which has the backing of the likes of Nicky Henderson, David Pipe and Donald McCain, means only one horse is likely to go to post.
Mann told The Times: "Twenty-two trainers, including all the top names, agreed to the boycott. I have been delighted by the response and we have all entered decent horses on the basis that they will not take part. The likelihood is that we will leave one horse in the race, so that the prize money from a walkover will be pooled to pay the fines we get.
"We had planned a similar boycott at Fontwell recently but they acted to get the race concerned up to tariff, so we didn't do it. Worcester only had to put up an extra £900 to avoid this but chose not to do so."
He added on Sky Sports News: "The general public probably don't think there's much of an issue because they only see the big races where the prize money is fine. We need a decent return because without owners and trainers there is no product.
"Bookmakers' profits are at an all-time high yet without us they don't have a product. This could have been avoided for the sake of £900 so we hope it has a big impact. We will do it again next week if we have to, we're sticking together 100% on this.
Worcester is owned by the recently amalgamated Arena and Northern Racing Group and Ian Renton, director of the new company, said: "It is disappointing that trainers have targeted such a well-meaning course which is doing all it can in the circumstances.
"Since the downgrading of the levy in 2009, Worcester has suffered a 60% reduction in daily contributions. We have put virtually all our income into prize money and we aim to meet the tariffs in all races next year."
Philip Hobbs, the next president of the National Trainers' Federation, said: "I'm a little uncomfortable and would rather not go to these lengths, but we needed to do something. Arena have recently had an enormous rise in their media rights income but prize money continues to fall. They can definitely do better."
Them bad boy bookies making all that money and nowt been pumped back into the racing... We seem to get at least a couple of stories like this every year now...!!!
I bet the bookies open a book on which horse will be the only runner to... Making more money...
