Planning is underway to ensure we are ready to resume racing at the earliest appropriate opportunity. This includes the development of a provisional fixture list to help trainers prepare for resumption, as outlined in the latest industry update, which we will begin to publish next week.
As part of this planning, a sub-group of the Flat Pattern Committee is preparing a suitable Pattern and Listed programme, which will prioritise the Classics and other flagship races for horses most likely to provide a future fundamental role on behalf of the breed.
Under our best-case scenario planning (and subject to advice from public health authorities), the aim is to rescue a number of lost Pattern and Listed events from the early part of the spring and stage them during the second half of May and early June if possible.
Our ambition would be to stage the Flat Pattern and Listed races listed below, should the timeline and circumstances of recommencement allow. Any other Pattern or Listed races that had previously been scheduled to take place before the end of May will be abandoned and not rescheduled. A full list of abandoned races is also provided below.
It is possible that the races listed below may not be staged at their traditional venues and may need to be hosted at alternative racecourses. Again, this is dependent on wider circumstances, the available fixtures and the public health guidance in place at the time.
It is also likely that racing will be restricted to domestic (GB trained) runners only, initially at least until 30 May, in line with a similar approach taken by other international racing jurisdictions. France has confirmed that no foreign runners will be permitted until 1 June; with Germany last night extending its restriction on foreign runners until at least 31 May (from 22 May).
We must emphasise that this provisional plan is based on our best-case scenario and may need to be adjusted according to when and under what circumstances racing is safely able to recommence.
Provisional plan for the last two weekends in May:
Weekend 1
Pavilion (6f 3yo Group 3)
*Nell Gwyn (7f 3yo f Group 3)
*Craven (8f 3yo cg Group 3)
*Greenham (7f 3yo cg Group 3)
*Fred Darling (8f 3yo f Group 3)
Brigadier Gerard (10f 4+ Group 3)
Conqueror (8f 4+ f Listed)
Pinnacle (12f 4+ f Group 3)
Sagaro (16f 4+ Group 3)
Aston Park (12f 4+ Group 3)
Paradise (8f 4+ Listed)
(*Note: It would not be the intention to stage the Greenham and Fred Darling on the same day as the Craven and Nell Gwyn. Also note distance change of the Fred Darling to 8f)
Weekend 2
Lockinge (8f 4+ Group 1)
*Palace House (5½f 3+ Group 3)
Yorkshire Cup (14f 4+ Group 2)
Dante (10f 3yo Group 2)
Musidora (10f 3yo f Group 3)
Cecil Frail (6f 3+ f Listed)
Spring Trophy (7f 3+ Group 3)
Middleton (10f 4+ f Group 2)
(*Note: Distance change of the Palace House to 5½f)
Provisional plan for the first weekend of June
2000 Guineas (8f 3yo cf Group 1)
1000 Guineas (8f 3yo f Group 1)
Coronation Cup (12f 4+ Group 1)
Pretty Polly (10f 3yo f Listed)
Newmarket (10f 3yo cg Listed)
Bronte Cup (14f 4+ f Group 3)
Please note, based on this best-case scenario planning, Royal Ascot would still be scheduled to take place in its existing slot, commencing on 16 June, with the Derby and the Oaks held in early July.
List of abandoned races up to the end of May
March
Doncaster Mile (8f 4+ Listed)
Cammidge Trophy (6f 3+ Listed)
Magnolia (10f 4+ Listed)
April
Further Flight (14f 4+ Listed)
Burradon (8f 3yo Listed)
Snowdrop (8f 4+ f Listed)
Feilden (9f 3yo Listed)
Earl of Sefton (9f 4+ Group 3)
European Free Handicap (7f 3yo Listed)
Abernant (6f 3+ Group 3)
Lansdown (5f 3+ f Listed)
John Porter (12f 4+ Group 3)
Blue Riband Trial (10f 3yo Listed)
Sandown Mile (8f 4+ Group 2)
Gordon Richards (10f 4+ Group 3)
Sandown Classic Trial (10f 3yo Group 3)
King Richard III (7f 4+ Listed)
Nottinghamshire Oaks (10f 4+ f Listed)
Chelmer (6f 3yo f Listed)
May
Daisy Warwick (12f 4+ f Listed)
Jockey Club Stakes (12f 4+ Group 2)
Dahlia (9f 4+ f Group 2)
Chester Vase (12½f 3yo cg Group 3)
Cheshire Oaks (11½f 3yo f Listed)
Ormonde (13½f 4+ Group 3)
Dee (10½f 3yo cg Listed)
Huxley (10½f 4+ Group 2)
Buckhounds (12f 4+ Listed)
Lingfield Derby Trial (11½f 3yo cg Listed)
Chartwell (7f 3+ f Group 3)
Lingfield Oaks Trial (11½f 3yo f Listed)
Kilvington (6f 3+ f Listed)
Royal Windsor (8f 3+ cg Listed)
Duke of York (6f 3+ Group 2)
Westow (5f 3yo Listed)
Michael Seeley (8f 3yo f Listed)
Marygate (5f 2yo f Listed)
Newbury Fillies’ Trial (10f 3yo f Listed)
Carnarvon (6f 3yo Listed)
Fairway (10f 3yo Listed)
King Charles II (7f 3yo Listed)
Leisure (6f 3+ Listed)
Rothesay (10f 4+ f Listed)
Heron (8f 3yo Listed)
Temple (5f 3+ Group 2)
Sandy Lane (6f 3yo Group 2)
Height Of Fashion (10f 3yo f Listed)
Henry II (16f 4+ Group 3)
National (5f 2yo Listed)
Cocked Hat (11f 3yo cg Listed)
Tapster (12f 4+ Listed)
Festival (10f 4+ Listed)
John of Gaunt (7f 4+ Group 3)
Achilles (5f 3+ Listed)
About the Flat Pattern Committee
The Flat Pattern Committee advises and makes recommendations to the BHA Board on matters relating to maintaining and improving the programme of Flat Pattern and Listed races.
To facilitate planning for the resumption of racing during the covid-19 pandemic, the FPC has set up a sub-group to help ensure that a suitable programme is delivered for the horses that are most likely to provide a future fundamental role on behalf of the breed.
Membership of the FPC’s sub-group:
Lydia Hislop (C)
Emma Berry
Andy Clifton
Julian Richmond-Watson
Harry Charlton
Philip Freedman
Ruth Quinn
Simon Crisford
William Haggas
Charlie Liverton
