UK trainers boycott meeting over reduction in prize money
Crisis comes hard on the heels of equine flu a fortnight ago which closed racing for six days
Just a fortnight after equine flu closed down UK racing for six days, another crisis has hit the sport with trainers boycotting last Saturday’s race meeting at Lingfield because of reduced prize money. The protest resulted in only five races on the proposed seven-race card being run — one had to be scrapped and another became a walkover. Lingfield is one of 18 UK racecourses run by the Arena Racing Company and the cut in prize money for lower grade races has been implemented because of an anticipated cut in betting shops. Top northern trainer Mark Johnston said: “It gets to a point where it’s not viable to take a horse all the way to Lingfield for poor money. The whole situation of ARC cutting prize money is out of order. The prize money at Chelmsford is absolutely fantastic. I’ve been going there since its rebirth and — though a long way — we simply have to go as the prize money is wonderful.” Chelmsford is owned by Betfred founder Fred Done. Trainer Ralph Beckett said “trainers ha...
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