Tattersalls Millions Two-Year-Old races transferred to
October 1
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has agreed to a switch in dates that
will allow racing to take place on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile on Saturday, October
1, instead of the following Friday, October 7.
The move has allayed concerns raised by the bloodstock industry that the
October 7 date for the £500,000 Tattersalls Millions Two-Year-Old Trophy and the
£300,000 Tattersalls Millions Two-Year-Old Fillies’ Trophy would clash with Book
1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, which is scheduled for October 4-7.
The fixture move will create the opportunity to run both Tattersalls Millions
Two-Year-Old Trophies on October 1, as well as the Severals and Boadicea listed
races. It also means that the full series of Tattersalls Millions races can be
run this year in the same position as in 2010, which was the stated preference
of Tattersalls and the bloodstock community.
The new date will help to enable the bloodstock community to spend sufficient
time at the October Yearling Sale at Tattersalls as well as attend Future
Champions’ Day on Saturday, October 8. Future Champions’ Day remains unaffected
and will provide a glittering program of juvenile talent in the shape of races
such as the Dewhurst S. (Eng-G1), Middle Park S. (Eng-G1) and Rockfel S.
(Eng-G2). The ever popular Cesarewitch will also be staged on this card.
“We’re fully supportive of the creation of the British Champions Series and
the new two-year old Future Champions Day, but initially there were some
concerns for the timings of the 2011 sales,” said Harry Herbert, chairman of
British Bloodstock Marketing (BBM). “Listening to our views, Newmarket and the
BHA have been quick to respond and we’re very pleased the series of Tattersalls
Millions races will be staged in the same calendar positions as 2010, which will
enable purchasers and vendors to go racing and get behind this inaugural Future
Champions Day.”
“We are grateful to both Newmarket Racecourses and the British Horseracing
Authority,” Edmond Mahony, chairman of Tattersalls, said. “All parties have
worked together in order to get the Tattersalls Millions races back on their
original dates for the benefit of all concerned. The fixture change also allows
far greater flexibility for all those participating in our October Yearling
Sales, the vast majority of whom will want to attend ‘Future Champions Day’ at
Newmarket on Saturday, October 8. The new fixture is very good news especially
with entries for the 2011/2012 Tattersalls Millions closing on Tuesday, January
11.”
“We’re very pleased to have worked with the BHA and Tattersalls to deliver a
2011 race program that benefits the British bloodstock community,” said Michael
Prosser, Newmarket’s director of racing and clerk of the course. “Once the
criteria gap on Saturday, October 1, was identified it presented the opportunity
to host the series of Tattersalls Millions races in the same positions as 2010,
where they have proved highly successful.”