British Champions Day
Champions Day, sponsored by Darley Stud at Newmarket Racecourse, has long been the racing season's final Group- packed race day two weeks after the Arc de Triomphe and two-to-three weeks before the Breeders' Cup.
Over the years, British racing officials longed to create a day to compete with the Arc and Breeders' Cup weekends (both long-established events have two days of high-level Pattern racing).
The new Racing For Change hired Karl Oliver as its premierisation adviser.
Several weeks ago it was announced that Newmarket's Champions races would revert to Ascot and would be part of a British Champions Day finale to the Flat season in October.
Celebrations are on hold until the European Pattern Commitee can convene an extraordinary meeting on June 14, the day before Royal Ascot opens.
Funding pressure due to declining income from the levy on bookmakers' gross profits is the reason.
Racing Enterprises Ltd (which oversees Racing For Change) cannot provide the extra funds and prize money for a planned 35-event series.
No one is saying if Darley Stud is on board with the change of the Champions Day venue or if there are sufficient sponsors to provide prize money.
To boost prize money, some are urging that the fixture list be trimmed of lesser races.
And some trainers and owners are defecting to France where there is better funding, prize money and premiums for breeding and racing in France.
Qatar has extended its sponsorship of the Arc until 2022.
The Breeders' Cup is considering many options to assue its funding including fixing a permanent venue for the two-day event.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
Over the years, British racing officials longed to create a day to compete with the Arc and Breeders' Cup weekends (both long-established events have two days of high-level Pattern racing).
The new Racing For Change hired Karl Oliver as its premierisation adviser.
Several weeks ago it was announced that Newmarket's Champions races would revert to Ascot and would be part of a British Champions Day finale to the Flat season in October.
Celebrations are on hold until the European Pattern Commitee can convene an extraordinary meeting on June 14, the day before Royal Ascot opens.
Funding pressure due to declining income from the levy on bookmakers' gross profits is the reason.
Racing Enterprises Ltd (which oversees Racing For Change) cannot provide the extra funds and prize money for a planned 35-event series.
No one is saying if Darley Stud is on board with the change of the Champions Day venue or if there are sufficient sponsors to provide prize money.
To boost prize money, some are urging that the fixture list be trimmed of lesser races.
And some trainers and owners are defecting to France where there is better funding, prize money and premiums for breeding and racing in France.
Qatar has extended its sponsorship of the Arc until 2022.
The Breeders' Cup is considering many options to assue its funding including fixing a permanent venue for the two-day event.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
Posted by susan trevelyan-syke at 6/16/2010 7:35 AM 
Categories: British Champions Day, Ascot
Tags: Racing International Newmarket British Champions Day Ascot
Categories: British Champions Day, Ascot
Tags: Racing International Newmarket British Champions Day Ascot
European based and biased rating systems do not constitute the rest of the world. I should know.
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US handicappers rate US horses except international ratings compiled every four months (done by a world's cross section of handicappers including a US handicapper).
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