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William Hills wanted same venue and same trip, so that they could keep the ante-post market going.
Value Is EverythingCrazy, why wait so long? The perfect date would have been next Monday as its another bank holiday and there’s nothing of any consequence happening that day.
I wonder how much Kempton will charge for admittance now?
This meeting is offered as a Newbury reciprocal. I wonder if that arrangement will stand?
You can bet your life that every horse in the King George & Christmas Hurdle will now be ‘put away until the festival’
More great news for people who want to see quality horses eh?
Funny really, the levy is running dry & the bookmakers are trying every trick in the book to avoid adding to it & yet here we are, moving a race at what appears to be the behest of the sponsors.
Bad news for Kauto Star’s Gold Cup prospects…
This is going to eat into his mid-season break somewhat.
What a boring day, usually at this time I would be still in Merry spirit after a feast of quality racing and maybe a few quid richer!!
King George the middle of January, what a joke!!
I never want to hear of anyone dreaming of a white christmas again
Tricky call for all concerned.
Re-arrange it for a date just around the corner and if the country is still like Siberia and the race called off again, those responsible for choosing such a date will be criticised.
Choose a date a little further away and the risk is it will a) clash with other similar big races and b) not fit in with the training schedule of the big name horses and so they won’t participate.
Can’t blame sponsors for trying to influence the new date in order to maximise their potential profit.
Just be thankful that some effort is being made to save the race. Yes – we can all point to the shortcomings that choosing a particular date will involve, but most re-arranged dates bring similar problems. Tough sh!t. If the big names miss the re-run, then good luck to the lesser lights and their connections who will benefit from getting an increased chance to win big money. That should appeal to the many socialists on here surely
.I agree with those lambasting this decision.
At Madison Square Garden they can hold a game of Basketball and Ice Hockey on the same day. Hell, I was in Atlanta when they appeared to reschedule a Braves game on the day of the event, from early afternoon to late evening.
In this country, it takes us three weeks to reschedule a top class event.
The severe weather conditions are something of a wildcard, but what’s wrong with the Kempton officials checking the ground and weather forecast on a daily basis over the next ten days before deciding they can run the event in the next 48 / 72 hours?
Dammit, I forgot, that would mean being spontaneous.
What if the snow and freezing temperatures return in the week leading up to the 15th? No chance of rescheduling it then, is there?
This is a highly prestigious race. Between now and February there’s no telling what the weather may do. I say, if the weather gives you a chance before January 15th, take it.
I’m sure someone will invent a few reasons why this can not happen. Such spontaneous gestures in this country are often met with "Oh, I don’t know, what about this, what about that, what do we do if…"
The most important aspect of this scenario are the horses – they’re fit and connections are raring to go. I say, let’s get the race on ASAP. If it takes until January 15th that’s fine, but there’s no need to be so damn rigid.
Bad news for Kauto Star’s Gold Cup prospects…
This is going to eat into his mid-season break somewhat.
Why exactly does he even need a break? He’ll only be racing 3 or 4 times this season, it won’t hurt the poor wittle thing.
I agree with those lambasting this decision.
At Madison Square Garden they can hold a game of Basketball and Ice Hockey on the same day. Hell, I was in Atlanta when they appeared to reschedule a Braves game on the day of the event, from early afternoon to late evening.
The BHA should announce that the next racecourse to be raceable is going to hold the King George unless Kempton can better the 15th.
I can just see the Clerks of Sandown, Ascot (even Lingfield) on the phone to hire every JCB & patio heater they can find.
Hey, patio heaters! Get them on the turf!
I think it best for the KG to be held at Kempton. And the 15th. Jan. is the next scheduled meeting for Kempton (NH) Seems fair enough to give Kauto a fair chance of making history.
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Does this mean, if they dont re open the entries, we are now going to have a ante post race market that may be subject to a rule 3 deduction for THREE WEEKS ???
This new date is ideal as if gives trainers a chance to get the horse prepared for the race and for racegoers to get tickets and badges for it.
Ideally Sandown on the 8th would be ideal but then again if Ffos Las feel good for Tuesday then you could say why not run it their as it will be a course fit for racing.
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They most likely could have staged the race this week as the thaw is now on. Will it be a nice sunny day on the 15th of January……seems a stupid risk to me.
It will be interesting to see how much snow and frost is still around when we view pictures from Wed. all weather meeting
I’ve backed Kauto at long odds and would lose out if it ended up being run at Sandown and he won but that is not my only reason for saying I really hope it’s run at Kempton
I just don’t want to look back and read Kauto Star won 5 King George’s but one was run at Sandown…would sort of mar the record.
Very doubtful the new date will affect Kauto’s running in the Gold Cup as the plan was to go straight there anyway but it might not suit Nicky Henderson who I would imagine wanted 2 runs into Binocular before March.
No doubt they’ll still turn up ok on the day as these trainers know their job inside out.
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