The £25,000 of central funds will be matched by the racecourses to create two feature handicaps on Easter Saturday. The Panoramic Bar and Restaurant Handicap Stakes will be run over seven furlongs for four-year-olds and upwards rated 0-105. At Haydock the Daffodil Vase, an Open Handicap Chase, will be run over two and a half miles.
Stuart Middleton, BHA Racing Manager, said: “There have obviously been some concerns about the quality of the Easter programme for some time and we hope that the injection of £50,000 from the Levy Board and the BHA Development Fund will prove to be money well spent. Both races fit the overall programme well and will be shown live on Channel 4.”
Alan Delmonte, HBLB Operations Director, said: “Easter Saturday has been widely recognised as a day in need of more highlights. We have joined BHA and JCR in contributing a significant sum to provide what we expect to be two competitive and attractive races for racegoers and punters. The initiative was warmly welcomed by the cross-industry Betting Patterns Working Party.”
Barney Clifford, Director of Racing at Kempton Park, said: “This additional match funding provides us with the opportunity to enhance the quality of the Easter Saturday programme and provide the feature race required for all our racegoers and customers.”
Notes for Editors
- The central funding comprises of £10,000 from the Development Fund and £15,000 from the Levy Board
