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There are only 9 runners in the Spring Mile (Consolation Lincoln) tomorrow. Ths race conditions actually state that the racecourse can scrap the race if there are fewer than 10 declared. Doncaster decided to not exercise this option.
There are also only 4 runners in the Doncaster Mile.
This is after a Cheltenham Festival with some of the smallest fields in recent memory and a Betfair Hurdle at Newbury which did not attract a maximum field despite generous prize money.
Is this a sign of things to come? With potentially severe economic times around the corner (which would have happened even without Russia/Ukraine), will we have to get used to small fields?
The super rich will be OK but how many “small” owners will be able to pay for horses in training once double digit inflation arrives?
Is the Mile pattern-race field adversely affected by Meydan do you think?
I cannot explain the consolation race. Very dissapointing. My TV is at risk of a booting the next trainer I hear whining about prize money.
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Fair point about the pattern race.
The Spring Mile is disappointing. It has attracted fields of 20+. This year, the top weight is rated about 10 lbs lower than last year.
The race is supposed to provide another big field competitive handicap on a Saturday to boost the levy. If it does not, what is the point of it?
The problem is not the Spring Mile, it’s the Lincoln. The last five or sic horses in the Lincoln field must be amazed that they got into the big race, having declared expecting to be in the Spring Mile.
The Spring Mile can’t, by definition ‘attract a field of 20’ – nobody can enter the Spring Mile, you have to enter the Lincoln. There’s no provision for adding runners to the consolation race to make up the numbers, entries close in early January and that’s your last chance.
If i’d known in January that my 75 rated handicapper could get into £45k 0-85, I’d have risked the entry fee, but I’m an owner, not a fortune teller!
How much woull you have been looking at AP Racing? And typically, would you make that decision, or your trainer suggest it to you?
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apracing,
Wouldn’t you have got your entry fee back if not getting a run?
As for the small fields, its nothing new, as we all know there is far too much racing. Nothing will chamge much with a totally inept BHA in charge.
“Nobody can enter the Spring Mile, you have to enter the Lincoln.”
Yes, sorry I did not make myself clear in the original post.
When the Spring Mile has had 20+ runners, it is because the Lincoln was hugely oversubscribed. This year it only just filled, rendering the Spring Mile arguably unnecessary.
In the world of Point-to-Point there are TEN fixtures this weekend and there will be SEVENTEEN over the Easter Bank Holiday meeting.
Field sizes?
I will tell you on Monday!
Plenty of concern looking at the entry numbers, but it’s a sign of the times when you look at field sizes under rules and on the Flat.
The cost of living has soared and it has to impact on racing at some point.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"But surely it must be down to the amount of fixtures. There are so many and the quality of weekday racing is poor to say the very least. They must surely cut back on the amount of meetings.
With the gambling review going on, if they bring in the £100 loss per month it will only get worse because people won’t bet and so levy will drop.
Not looking good for racing at the moment which is sadJust to answer the questions raised earlier. Entry for the Lincoln costs £150 initially in January, another £165 in early March, and a final £185 at the five day stage. And yes, if you are eliminated from the main race, those fees would be refunded.
Once eliminated, you have the option to enter the Spring Mile – it’s not as I suspect some people assume, an automatic process. For that you pay £225.
If I’d thought in January that an entry was worthwhile, I would have done it, or got my trainer to do it. I mostly make the final decisions on entries, although obviously we discuss options. But Doncaster is a long way to go from Staverton (nr Bath) and he’s not a great traveller, seeing it as his job to demolish the horsebox if at all possible. And if the ground had been good or faster, he wouldn’t be risked, so that would mean the loss of the entry fee.
Coincidentally, as I’m writing this, my trainer calls to debate whether we should enter for either 7F or 1M handicaps at Leicester next Friday, where the official going currently is given, surprisingly, as soft. I’d prefer the mile, he favours 7F, I’d prefer to go to Windsor on Monday week, but that might not be soft enough, and anyway he might not get into the mile at Leicester as the stalls limit is ten – no idea why.
These are the sort of decisions that have to be made, with transport costs, entry fees to be considered and also how much faith do you have in the going reports!
I agree there is too many meetings.
This made me think of the summer break N.H. racing used to take.
Can’t quite remember but something like stopping in June and starting again at somewhere like Devon&Exeter in August.From memory, it used to stop on the first Saturday in June at Stratford on Avon and start up again during Glorious Goodwood at Bangor on Dee.
Thank you.
I used to be counting the days down. My jump jockey of favour
B.R. Davies of that era.“Is this a sign of things to come?”
Possibly, over the short-term. Over the last few years the foal crop data shows a year-on-year decline in Britain, Ireland and North America which could be a major contributing factor…
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