York Going

I fear they might go ahead with it...an 8-9 race card each day would be an absolute disaster....

DRY NIGHT AT YORK

York enjoyed a dry night as the battle to save the Ebor meeting continues.
Officials at the track were forced to abandon the opening two days of the four-day fixture with the remaining cards resting on a noon inspection today.
However, clerk of the course William Derby has been slightly cheered by a dry overnight spell.
"It's a brighter day today and we have been dry overnight," said Derby.
"We are still heavy, waterlogged in places and we will have the 12 noon inspection.
"The forecast is for the possibility of a few showers into this afternoon and this evening so we will be monitoring that.
"We could just do with the sun to come out and chase some of the moisture out of the ground."
 
What Now ?

Newbury's meeting on Friday is an evening card which rules out terrrestrial coverage so that's probably a non-starter.

My view is the Group 1 and 2 races could be run anywhere but the Ebor ought to be re-staged in Yorkshire if possible. One option might be to stage a similar event at the Leger Festival - Doncaster has a good 1 mile 6 furlong distance so that would be a good curtain-raiser on the first day perhaps.

The main group races are the Juddmonte, Yorkshire Oaks and the Nunthorpe. The problem with the Juddmonte is the proximity to the Irish Champion while delaying the Yorkshire Oaks risks issues with the Vermeille.

Looking at what's coming up, the Nunthorpe could be run at Sandown on Variety Club Day perhaps though Goodwood on Saturday is another option.

The Juddmonte looks very difficult to re-arrange given the proximity of the Irish Champion while the Yorkshire Oaks could maybe go to Beverley this Saturday (not very likely) or Thirsk on September 6th (right county).

All in all, very disappointing for the course,
 
Corrected...

I sit corrected, SL, though my copy of the Racegoers Club fixture list suggested otherwise.

In which case, how much of the York card could be divided between Newbury and Newmarket on Friday ?
 
BHA ASSESS OPTIONS

Ruth Quinn, the BHA's director of racing, says races from York that could be saved are likely to be split between Newmarket and Newbury on Friday and Newmarket and Goodwood on Saturday.
She said: "We are getting somewhere and now we know what is happening, we can start prioritising which races we are going to save.
"In an ideal world we would save the three Group Ones, the four Group Twos and hopefully the Ebor as well.
"We also have the DBS Sales race and the consolation race for that is being run at Newmarket on Saturday so we would also want to find a home for that before the sales next week.
"We have spoken to Channel 4 about trying to secure coverage at Newmarket and or Newbury on Friday. They were already planning to cover racing on Friday so it is a case of getting the cameras moved.
"It is also possible that we may try to find a home for one of the races next Saturday if it makes sense from a race-planning point of view to wait that long.
"We also need to take into account the ground and the stabling issues at other courses."
 
York group races to be divided between Newmarket, Newbury and Goodwood?

From Sportinglife.com

BHA ASSESS OPTIONS


http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=racing/08/08/01/manual_165928.html Ruth Quinn, the BHA's director of racing, says races from York that could be saved are likely to be split between Newmarket and Newbury on Friday and Newmarket and Goodwood on Saturday.


She said: "We are getting somewhere and now we know what is happening, we can start prioritising which races we are going to save.
"In an ideal world we would save the three Group Ones, the four Group Twos and hopefully the Ebor as well.


"We also have the DBS Sales race and the consolation race for that is being run at Newmarket on Saturday so we would also want to find a home for that before the sales next week.


"We have spoken to Channel 4 about trying to secure coverage at Newmarket and or Newbury on Friday. They were already planning to cover racing on Friday so it is a case of getting the cameras moved.


"It is also possible that we may try to find a home for one of the races next Saturday if it makes sense from a race-planning point of view to wait that long.


"We also need to take into account the ground and the stabling issues at other courses."
 
Beverley on Saturday afternoon looks the ideal place for all 3 Group Ones, keeping them in Yorkshire!

In all seriousness, from the Sporting Life:

Ruth Quinn, the BHA's director of racing, says races from York that could be saved are likely to be split between Newmarket and Newbury on Friday and Newmarket and Goodwood on Saturday.
She said: "We are getting somewhere and now we know what is happening, we can start prioritising which races we are going to save.
"In an ideal world we would save the three Group Ones, the four Group Twos and hopefully the Ebor as well.
"We also have the DBS Sales race and the consolation race for that is being run at Newmarket on Saturday so we would also want to find a home for that before the sales next week.
"We have spoken to Channel 4 about trying to secure coverage at Newmarket and or Newbury on Friday. They were already planning to cover racing on Friday so it is a case of getting the cameras moved.
"It is also possible that we may try to find a home for one of the races next Saturday if it makes sense from a race-planning point of view to wait that long.
"We also need to take into account the ground and the stabling issues at other courses."
 
Christ knows Gareth, but I will be most pissed off if Newbury gets any races. Absolutely guaranteed to happen now I'm sure.
 
They will either have to put them all at the same course on one day or split them all up for jockey bookings. I personally think they should put 2 at Goodwood on Saturday with the Celebration Mile and 1 at Goodwood on Sunday.

Imagine the Nunthorpe run at Beverley though with their draw bias!
 
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