- Vertem Futurity Trophy (Group 1) rescheduled to Newcastle on Friday 1 November
- Horris Hill Stakes (Group 3) to be run at Newmarket on Saturday 2 November
- Initial entries will stand but both races also reopened
Following the abandonment of racing at Doncaster and Newbury racecourses on Saturday, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), in conjunction with Arena Racing Company (ARC) is pleased to confirm that the Vertem Futurity Trophy (Group 1) has been transferred to Newcastle on Friday 1 November. The Race will be run with a total prize fund of £200,000.
In addition, in conjunction with Jockey Club Racecourses (JCR) the BHA can confirm that the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes will be run at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course on Saturday 2 November for a prize fund of £40,000
Original entries will stand for both races, but the races have also both been reopened for new entries. The deadline for new entries is noon on Monday 28 October. Declarations must be made by 10am on Wednesday 30 October for the Vertem Futurity Trophy and 10am on Thursday 31 October for the Horris Hill Stakes.
Details of the races will be uploaded to the Racing Admin site in due course.
The BHA wishes to thank Vertem, both ARC and JCR, as well as the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) for their assistance with this transfer.
Paul Johnson, Head of Racing and Racecourse for the BHA, said:
“With the fixtures clearly being at risk yesterday, it was possible to begin to make plans at an early stage to ensure that are able to save these important and valuable races. We are also extremely grateful to ARC, the Jockey Club, HBLB and Vertem for their hard work and generosity in ensuring that we could retain both races and are particularly pleased that both can be staged at the original value.”
John Dance, of sponsor Vertem Asset Management, commented:
“It was a real shame that the Futurity Trophy was lost to the weather today, but as a big supporter of racing in the North and of Newcastle in particular, I’m absolutely delighted to see the race come up here.
“The straight mile at Newcastle is a fantastic track, as seen by the quality of young horses that have run here in the last few years so we cannot wait for Friday and to be associated with a race of the highest quality at our home racecourse.”
Arena Racing Company Chief Executive Martin Cruddace said:
“We were obviously very sorry to lose the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster today, but I am delighted that we have been able to move so quickly to rearrange the race, at its original prize money levels, to Newcastle on Friday evening.
“We would obviously like to thank our colleagues at the BHA, the Levy Board and horsemen for their cooperation and, of course, our sponsors, Vertem. All have done a brilliant job working together and with us to rearrange the race so quickly. We hope that all racing fans in the North East will embrace the fixture and come along to enjoy Britain’s first ever Group 1 race run on an artificial surface. Our tapeta track at Newcastle is world class and I am sure the track will do the famous race proud.”
