Looks like racing is back Start weekend 23-24 may and weekend 30-31 may The line ups will have racing fans salivating.
Provisional plan for the last two weekends in May Weekend 1 – May 23-24 Pavilion (6f, 3yo, Group 3) Nell Gwyn (7f, 3yo, f, Group 3) Craven (1m, 3yo, c&g, Group 3) Greenham (7f, 3yo, c&g, Group 3) Fred Darling (1m, 3yo, f, Group 3) Brigadier Gerard (1m2f, 4+, Group 3) Conqueror (1m, 4+, f, Listed) Pinnacle (1m4f, 4+, f, Group 3) Sagaro (2m, 4+, Group 3) Aston Park (1m4f, 4+, Group 3) Paradise Stakes (1m, 4+, Listed) Weekend 2 – May 30-31 Lockinge (1m, 4+, Group 1) Palace House (5½f, 3+, Group 3) Yorkshire Cup (1m6f, 4+, Group 2) Dante (1m2f, 3yo, Group 2) Musidora (1m2f, 3yo, f, Group 3) Cecil Frail (6f, 3+, f, Listed) Spring Trophy (7f, 3+, Group 3) Middleton (1m2f, 4+, f Group 2) Provisional plan for the first weekend of June 2,000 Guineas (1m, 3yo, c&f, Group 1) 1,000 Guineas (1m, 3yo, f, Group 1) Coronation Cup (1m4f, 4+, Group 1) Pretty Polly (1m2f, 3yo, f, Listed) Newmarket Stakes (1m2f, 3yo, c&g, Listed) Bronte Cup (1m6f, 4+, f, Group 3
There ought to be some bread and butter racing during the week if they are stuffing the weekends with all these Pattern races. A lot of small trainers and owners will give up if it’s just top races.
That not be such a bad thing. The problem with racing, especially flat racing, is there’s too much of it, and most is of a desperately poor standard. Anyone remember Banded (Bandit) Racing?
That may be true but you can’t go from semi-skimmed to cream and not expect a huge fallout: mainly jobs. We need a mix. Like you I’d prefer not to have such a large amount of class 5/6 races but that’s not how the industry is set up. By all means move in the direction of higher quality. Interesting to read Beckett’s comments on Rust. A poor show if Rust amended the agreed comments to the government.
The industry will be lucky to survive. They are just trying to fulfill their obligations to the breeding industry.
Possibly starting on May15th now looks a cracking line up for the first month, especially the Guineas. I think the Derby will be at beginning of July - will be still aiming to go along as usual
Swathes of no-hopers in that Guineas betting. William Hill have Lipizzaner in their 2000 Guineas betting at 66/1. The colt is only 2YO for christ's sake. In The Derby lists Volkan Star is quoted by several firms and is as low as 33/1 with Ladbrokes. If he wins it I'll give you the money myself. His "Pedigree Chums" were cut off last October, so unless they are going to try to sneak him in with a pair of prosthetic knackers fitted he will not be allowed to run.
Not sure where else to post this -1986 King George, Dessie's first victory in the race as an unfancied outsider at 16/1. All the old voices here, Graham Goode, Lord Oaksey, Big Mac. Enjoy.
