The British Horseracing Authority has today announced a number of changes to upcoming fixtures at Salisbury and Bath.
This is due to a section of the round course at Bath and the seven furlong start at Salisbury not having sufficient time to recover from the prolonged spell of wet weather.
Richard Russell, Race Planning Executive at the BHA said:
“Parts of the track at both Salisbury and Bath are currently unraceable, so we have had to do some moving around to ensure a full day’s racing at both venues.
“Salisbury has been able to accommodate some of the races we’ve lost at Bath and we will continue to be in close communication with both tracks to see how the concerned areas are progressing.”
7f races abandoned at Salisbury, 29 & 30 April
The seven furlong start at Salisbury is currently unraceable. As a result races at that distance have been abandoned at Salisbury’s fixture on 29 &30 April.
New races will be programmed in their place on both days, details of which will be available via www2.racingadmin.co.uk shortly. Entries for the new races will close at 12 noon tomorrow, Tuesday 24 April and will declare as normal at the 48-hour stage.
Jeremy Martin, Clerk of the Course at Salisbury Racecourse, said:
“The area just in front of the 7f start requires more time to grow and recover following the prolonged, wet winter.
“The 7f start had five races at our final fixture of last season and given that it is not coming right in time, and that we are at risk of further rain later in the week, we have made the decision to abandon the races at that distance for next Sunday and Monday”.
All sprint cards at Bath on 2 and 7 May
Parts of the round course at Bath remain unraceable following the recent weather. As a result, the upcoming fixtures at the track on 2 and 7 May will be all sprint-cards, with races over five and five-and-a-half furlongs only.
Details of card on 2 May will be available via www2.racingadmin.co.uk tomorrow, Tuesday 24 April, along with further fixture information. Details for the amended 7 May fixture will be available on Friday, 27 April.
Jon Pullin, Racing Director at Arena Racing Company, said:
“Following further remedial work to an isolated area of the track after Good Friday, the fixtures on 2 and 7 May will be sprint only cards to allow adequate time for this area to recover ahead of racing on 16 May.
“We would like to thank horsemen for their patience and understanding at this time and BHA for facilitating.”
Notes to editors:
For further information please contact the BHA Racing Department on 0207 152 0050 or via [email protected]
