The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and Lingfield Park racecourse have confirmed that a replacement race for the British Stallion Studs EBF Gillies Fillies’ Stakes will be run at its fixture on Saturday 16 November, following the cancellation of racing at Doncaster tomorrow.
Entries for the race close at noon on Monday 11 November with declarations at 10am on Thursday 14 November. Original entries will not be carried over.
Paul Johnson, Head of Racing and Racecourse for the BHA, said:
“We are pleased to be able to reschedule the EBF Gillies Fillies’ Stakes, which is an important end-of-season Listed opportunity for a number of fillies.
“As in all cases when a high profile fixture is under threat, the BHA has been investigating options to save those races which are of importance to the programme and can feasibly be replicated elsewhere.
“This process involves liaising with the racecourses and determining which, if any, courses are in a position to stage any of the lost races. Unfortunately no realistic option was available to retain the November Handicap in anything like a similar form, and there is an alternative option in the race programme for horses that were engaged in the Wentworth Stakes. As such the decision has been made to restage only the British Stallion Studs EBF Gillies Fillies’ Stakes.
“Although it is quite unusual for us to restage Listed races, the specific circumstances here and the willingness of ARC and the sponsor to continue to support the race have meant that it will move to Lingfield Park next Saturday.”
Jon Pullin, Racing Director for Arena Racing Company (ARC), said:
“We would like to thank BHA and the European Breeders Fund for their assistance in allowing us to restage the Gillies Fillies Stakes at Lingfield next Saturday, which we hope will offer connections the chance to run in an important end of season Listed race.
“We were obviously very sorry to lose the November Handicap meeting at Doncaster but our thoughts are, of course, with our customers and staff who have been affected by the flooding in the local area.”
