BHB has secured the agreement of the European Pattern Committee for two important changes which will enhance the British Pattern in 1999.
The Vodafone Nassau Stakes, run over 1_-miles for 3yo & upwards fillies and mares and staged on the Saturday of Glorious Goodwood, is to be upgraded from Group 2 to Group 1 status. The promotion of this race, which will see its value enhanced from £75,000 to £125,000, will provide fillies with their only 10-furlong opportunity in Europe after the Prix de Diane in early June. It will hopefully encourage owners to keep fillies in training in Europe beyond their 3yo career.
The Leicestershire Stakes, run over 7-furlongs for 4yo & upwards, will be promoted from Listed to Group 3. This race will provide a much-needed early season opportunity within the Pattern in Great Britain for 7-furlong specialists. Its promotion into the Pattern will also provide Leicester Racecourse with their first opportunity to stage a Group race.
PRESENTATION OF RACE TITLES IN GROUP 3 & LISTED RACES
All Pattern and Listed races contain a permanent element in their race titles designed to ensure continuity in the records of black type races, facilitating the preparation of details for sales catalogues and world wide historical record keeping for all major races. However, on occasion, this can diminish the due acknowledgment given to race Sponsors so BHB, with the approval of the European Pattern Committee, has decided to give racecourses greater flexibility over the way in which they can display Sponsors’ names in Group 3 and Listed races only. Group 1 & 2 races must retain the present format, being international rather than domestic events.
The permanent element of race titles in Group 3 and Listed races will therefore be retained but in a modified form with greater prominence given to Sponsors’ names. For 1999, Group 3 and Listed races may be advertised as follows:
1999 The Tripleprint Stakes
(Registered as the Greenham Stakes)
It should be stressed that this new facility will only be optional, not obligatory. However, by giving courses flexibility to display Sponsors’ names more prominently, BHB hopes to help racecourses to maximise sponsorship revenue.
