![](https://www.britishhorseracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/The-Birch-flies-at-the-open-ditch-in-The-188Bet-Pete-The-Feat-Veterans-Handicap-Chase.jpg)
- New series open to horses aged 10 and above and rated up to 125 will culminate in £50,000 final at Newbury on 21 March 2020
- Series is solely for conditional jockeys
- New races aim to create higher profile opportunities for developing riders and valuable and competitive contests for lower level older horses
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today announced a new series of veterans’ chases which will take place during the 2019-20 Jump season.
The new series is aimed at older horses at a lower level, primarily those with a rating of up to 125, to ensure a larger portion of the veteran population have opportunities to be competitive for enhanced prize money. It is distinct from the existing series which operates at Class 2 level for horses rated up to 150.
The new series will also be for solely for conditional jockeys to give more frequent and higher profile development opportunities for those riders to partner with experienced horses.
There will be 12 qualifiers across the 2019-20 Jump season at distances between 2m4f and 3m with ratings varying between 0-120 and 0-125. These will be spread geographically around the country with the series culminating in a final at Newbury on 21 March 2020 to be run for £50,000.
Stuart Middleton, Racing Operations Manager at the BHA, said:
![Stu Middleton, Racing Operations Manager at The British Horseracing Authority](https://www.britishhorseracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MugsBHA14a.jpg)
Stuart Middleton
“Following the success of the original Class 2 veterans’ chase series, we are excited to introduce this new series aimed at the veteran chasers rated just below that level. The £50,000 Final at Newbury in March should prove a genuinely significant target for these stalwarts of the winter game and we very much appreciate Newbury’s considerable support towards the series.
“We are also delighted to be able to offer a significant prize for the many talented upcoming riders amongst the conditional jockeys’ ranks. Teaming these riders up with seasoned campaigners offers an appealing combination, whilst providing an easily identifiable difference between this and the existing Class 2 series.”
The series is one of a number of new initiatives being launched during the 2019-2020 Jump season, including the Racing Post ‘Go North Weekend’ announced earlier this year. It has been announced that a juvenile hurdle and two-mile chase category, to take place at Musselburgh on 20 March Carlisle on 22 March respectively, have been added to the three-day series of fixtures which also includes Kelso on 21 March.
The details of new and existing series for the 2019-20 Jump season, including those such as the Challenger Series, can be found here and have also been produced as an insert into last week’s Racing Calendar.
Notes to editors:
1. Confirmed qualifiers for the new series thus far are as follows with the 2020 races to be added in due course:
Date Venue Rating Band Distance
12/11/2019 Huntingdon 0-125 3m
15/11/2019 Newcastle 0-125 2m 4f
24/11/2019 Uttoxeter 0-120 3m
03/12/2019 Lingfield 0-125 2m 4f
13/12/2019 Doncaster 0-125 3m
31/12/2019 Warwick 0-120 3m