The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) can confirm that due to the round course at Doncaster being deemed unraceable, as agreed by the BHA Inspectorate, the race programmes at their fixtures on Friday 25 April and Saturday 26 April are being amended.
Following a recent infestation of leatherjackets (which have already been treated), and the impact of the extraordinarily dry spring, areas of the round course at Doncaster require further remedial work.
Therefore, six of the seven programmed round course races across both fixtures are being abandoned, with the other – Race 11766 (Download The At The Races App Handicap, Class 5, 53-72, 1m) – being transferred from the round course to the straight mile on Friday 25 April. Two new straight course races will be added to each card to create six-race fixtures.
Two of the abandoned races are being rescheduled. Race 11765 (Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Fillies’ Handicap, Class 5, 56-75, 1m 2f) will now be run at Wetherby on Sunday 27 April, retaining its value of £8,500, as part of an eight-race card with no divisions.
Race 11771 (Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap, Class 3, 71-90, 1m 4f) will now be run at Southwell’s Premier Raceday on Sunday 27 April as an eighth programmed race. Reflecting the transfer of surface to the All-Weather, the race will now be run for £32,000 (originally £25,000), also bringing it into line with the rest of the Premier race values that day.
The four additional races at Doncaster will be added as follows:
Friday 24 April
7f 3yo 59-78 Handicap Class 4
5f 3yo 61-80 Handicap Class 4
Saturday 25 April
8f 4yo+ 46-65 handicap Class 6
5f 4yo+ 51-70 handicap Class 5
Doncaster Clerk of the Course David Attwood said:
“Remedial work on the affected areas of the round course at Doncaster are already underway, and we are really encouraged with the progress. We are confident that it will be back in use for racing on Saturday 3 May.
“Our thanks go to our colleagues at BHA, EBF and NTF for assisting in facilitating these moves and to all participants for their understanding.”
