Fontwell has launched a new eleven-race series of chases which will conclude with a £40,000 final on Friday, March 28.
The middle-distance chase series will feature races from 2m1½f to 2m5½f, with the ten qualifiers starting from next month and run as Class 4 and 5 races. All horses who finish in the first eight in any qualifying race will be eligible to enter the final.
Philip Hide, Fontwell's clerk of the course, said: "We are delighted to announce this new chase series aimed at the grassroots of the sport, with a final pot worth £40,000.
"This series will provide a decent target for trainers to aim at with horses that we hope to see regularly throughout the season and underlines our commitment to our much-valued participants.”
Death of racing broadcaster and presenter Chris Barnett at age of 64
Racing broadcaster and presenter Chris Barnett, who called horse and greyhound races for SIS for many years on its betting shop broadcasts, has died at the age of 64.
Errol Blyth from SIS said: "Chris started with us on the German-speaking commentary service but soon branched out to work in retail services. Chris was professional, dependable and flexible and worked at our three sites in London, Salford and Milton Keynes. During his time at SIS he also became part of a syndicate owning greyhounds trained by Bernie Doyle."
Barnett was also a regular presenter and roving racecourse reporter for Betfair/Timeform Radio, including outside broadcasts at the Cheltenham Festival. David Stewart, senior producer for the former channel, said: "Chris was a regular and popular member of the team who was consistently reliable and over the years refined his presenting and interviewing skills alongside his commentary talent. He will be sadly missed by us all."
Chris Barnett interviewing Frankie Dettori
Barnett also worked for TRP and presented all 277 episodes of The Punter Podcast for CITY AM alongside pundit Bill Esdaile, who said: "I had the honour of working with Chris over the last four years. I've never encountered anyone braver. He struggled with his health throughout that period but never once moaned about his plight. He was a true gentleman and I shall miss him enormously."
Away from racing, Barnett was a passionate Chelsea fan who loved both music and spending time with his family. including dog Bowie. He leaves his wife Sam, a daughter, and four stepchildren.
Callum Shepherd to appeal against 18-day Kempton ban
Callum Shepherd is set to appeal against the 18-day ban he received for failing to ride out to the winning post at Kempton last Wednesday.
The rider, who has endured a turbulent year after being jocked off the Derby hope Ambiente Friendly but winning aboard the now-sidelined Isle Of Jura at Royal Ascot, said he "simply did not stop riding" Thorntonledale Max in the 7f handicap when interviewed at the time.
The three-year-old eventually shared the spoils with Flavour Maker, with the print of the photo-finish also subject to contention. Thorntonledale Max's trainer David Simco*ck has decided not to appeal against the result having consulted the horse's owner and the integrity department at the BHA.
Shepherd's ban coincides with the Sprint Cup at Haydock, St Leger fixture at Doncaster and the Ayr Gold Cup meeting.
Jim Old's 34th charity golf day raises over £21,000 for Injured Jockeys Fund
Champion Hurdle-winning former trainer Jim Old believes more than £21,000 was raised for the Injured Jockeys Fund at the recent 34th staging of his annual golf day.
A team made up of Sir Anthony McCoy, Mick Fitzgerald, Richard Hughes and Jim Faulkner won the overall price at an event supported by the Sir Peter O'Sullevan CharitableTrust.
Forty-four teams took part in the competition held at the Marlborough Golf Club.
Arc signs US deal for Doncaster St Leger meeting winners
A deal to facilitate St Leger Festival winners competing in big North American races through a ‘win and you’re in’ system has been completed.
The partnership between Arena Racing Company and 1/ST, North America’s leading thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company will give successful horses an invitation and free entry to some of the top contests in the US.
A victory in the May Hill Stakes will grant the winner an opportunity to run in the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park on January 25, while the same will apply to the winner of the Flying Childers Stakes for the $750,000 California Crown Eddie D Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park on September 28.
The deal will not just mean horses travelling westwards across the Atlantic as the All-Weather Championships are also set to receive a boost.
For the first time, qualification for the £1,000,000 finals day at Newcastle on Friday, April 18, will open up to horses who have run three times that season on an artificial surface in the US, and the winner of the Carousel Club Handicap at Gulfstream Park in January will receive free entry to the All-Weather Championships Mile Final.
Brendan Parnell, director of media and international at Arc, said: “In extending the qualification criteria for the All-Weather Championships, and the link with Gulfstream Park, we hope we might look to add some further international interest in the £1,000,000 Good Friday fixture, alongside the long standing Irish and French participation.”
Robin Grossmith remembered with race at Epsom on bank holiday Monday
Robin Grossmith will be remembered at Epsom on Monday when the Robin Grossmith Memorial Handicap (3.17) is run in honour of the former leading bookmaker.
Grossmith, who died in June last year at the age of 74, was a major figure in on-course bookmaking, both as a layer and as a campaigner for improved conditions for his colleagues through his roles as chair of the Rails Bookmakers Association and managing director of the Federation of Racecourse Bookmakers (FRB).
Simon Walmsley, chair of the National Association of Bookmakers and a FRB director, said: “Robin was so involved in the politics of the sport and he worked tirelessly for decades as he cared so passionately about his colleagues, particularly those on course.
“With what’s been going on recently with gambling industry reform we used to speak regularly and he was always strategising about who to speak to next and what we could say to them.
“His wife Glynnis will be at the course for the race and has a box for the day with other friends and family. I am sure plenty of Robin’s colleagues will be in to see them through the day as this really is an acknowledgement of everything he did for the sport.”
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