Marlborough Cup to be Run Under Jockey Club Regulations
Published: 21 December 1998
a joint Jockey Club / British Horseracing Board Working Party that the responsibility for the regulation of Timber Racing in Britain should come under the jurisdiction of the Jockey Club. As a result, from 1999 the Marlborough Cup and its accompanying preliminary races will be run under “The Jockey Club Regulations for Timber Racing.”
It has also been agreed that in order to regulate the sport a “Jockey Club Committee for Timber Racing” should be established. It is intended that the control and administration of Timber Racing be run along similar lines to Arab Horseracing. The Jockey Club Committee will approve the regulations and other matters relevant to the running of timber races. The British Horseracing Board, in consultation with the Jockey Club, will grant fixtures, while the day to day administration will be carried out by the newly formed Timber Racing Board, whose Chairman is Konrad Goess-Saurau, owner of Barbary Castle, the home of the Marlborough Cup.
The Jockey Club Committee for Timber Racing will be chaired by Gurney Sheppard. Andrew Parker Bowles and Chris Collins will also represent the Jockey Club on the Committee. Konrad Goess- Saurau and Nick Cheyne will be the two Timber Racing Board representatives.
Gurney Sheppard, Chairman of the Committee, said: “This is an important step forward for timber racing in this country and I am confident that the arrangements will work very well. The Marlborough Cup is now established and recognised as an international event and the Jockey Club is pleased to be able to formalise its links with the sport.”
Konrad Goess-Saurau, Chairman of the Timber racing Board, said: “I am delighted that after four years the Marlborough Cup has been accepted by the racing authorities. This official recognition raises the profile of the Marlborough Cup, and is a just reward for those who have worked hard to promote the event.”
Notes for editors:
1. The Marlborough Cup was first run in 1995. Previously applications had to be made to the Jockey Club annually for exemptions to be granted that would prevent the Marlborough Cup and its qualifying races being considered “flapping races.”
2. The Marlborough Cup this year will be worth £30,000.
3. Last year’s winner was Symbol Of Success, ridden by Richard Johnson and trained by Dai Williams.
4. In 1997 the American owned, trained and ridden Saluter won both the Virginia Gold Cup and the Marlborough Cup, landing a $100,000 bonus in the process.
For more information:
Marlborough Cup Office & Timber Racing Board – 01672 511700
