Commenting on the BHB Board’s decision to approve the transfer of the Temple Stakes from Sandown to Epsom, BHB Chief Executive Greg Nichols said:

“This is the first Pattern race transfer of this type that BHB has been asked to make. The Board believed that it was in the interests of racing as a whole to approve RHT’s request. Increasing the prestige and profile of the Vodafone Derby meeting even further is excellent for the sport.

“The existing Group 2 status of the Temple Stakes, as an integral part of the European sprint Pattern, was considered very important by the Board. BHB strongly encourages owners and trainers to support this long-established sprint at its new venue. It is important for the race that they do so.”

Note:
The BHB Board will review the performance of the Temple Stakes at Epsom after its first two runnings. If the average end-of-season rating of the first four finishers over those two years is less than the minimum 110 required for a Group 2 under the rules of the European Pattern Committee, the Board will consider future options for the race, including that of inviting from other racecourses applications to stage it.