Diamond Geezer
Gone But Not Forgotten
- Joined
- May 2, 2003
- Messages
- 13,884
From RP
Instead of running from March to November, it is understood the championship will now start on Guineas weekend at Newmarket in May and finish on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot in October
The new look is expected to formally announced in the next few days, although the news fixtures such as the Betway Lincoln meeting at Doncaster and the Craven meeting at Newmarket at the start of the Flat turf season, and the Racing Post Trophy and Betfred November Handicap at Doncaster at the end of the campaign will not be part of the new championship has not gone down well with horsemen.
Jockey Luke Morris, known for his hard work and the number of rides he takes, said the period when the Flat season starts in March until Guineas weekend in May would be irrelevant and Lambourn trainer Jamie Osborne suggested it would complicate and already complicated system, while his counterpart Brendan Powell described it as "madness".
Johnson is seemingly not a fan either and wrote on his website on Sunday about fixture clashes resulting in top jockeys missing important fixtures.
He added on Monday morning: "So you can now brace yourself for the departure of our top jockeys, to sunnier, more lucrative, climes in early October. They may, or may not, return for the Craven meeting but you can take it that the majority will only ride in Britain for six months of the year. Another great idea from the folks at Racing For No Change."
Great British Racing, the promotional body that took over duties from Racing For Change, has been looking to make changes for some time and jockeys are understood to have supported the plans, which will include a prize for most wins in a calendar year.
Instead of running from March to November, it is understood the championship will now start on Guineas weekend at Newmarket in May and finish on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot in October
The new look is expected to formally announced in the next few days, although the news fixtures such as the Betway Lincoln meeting at Doncaster and the Craven meeting at Newmarket at the start of the Flat turf season, and the Racing Post Trophy and Betfred November Handicap at Doncaster at the end of the campaign will not be part of the new championship has not gone down well with horsemen.
Jockey Luke Morris, known for his hard work and the number of rides he takes, said the period when the Flat season starts in March until Guineas weekend in May would be irrelevant and Lambourn trainer Jamie Osborne suggested it would complicate and already complicated system, while his counterpart Brendan Powell described it as "madness".
Johnson is seemingly not a fan either and wrote on his website on Sunday about fixture clashes resulting in top jockeys missing important fixtures.
He added on Monday morning: "So you can now brace yourself for the departure of our top jockeys, to sunnier, more lucrative, climes in early October. They may, or may not, return for the Craven meeting but you can take it that the majority will only ride in Britain for six months of the year. Another great idea from the folks at Racing For No Change."
Great British Racing, the promotional body that took over duties from Racing For Change, has been looking to make changes for some time and jockeys are understood to have supported the plans, which will include a prize for most wins in a calendar year.
