Dean Ivory – criticised poor prize money at ARC tracks
ARC, the UK’s largest racecourse group, has been severely criticised for its near £3million reduction in prize money and both Solario Racing and Dean Ivory have joined the protests.
Solario Racing enjoyed great success last year with Spring Romance winning four times, all at ARC tracks (Wolverhampton, Lingfield and Windsor) but the recent decline in prize money at the lower end (Class 4, 5 and 6 races) has prompted a call to boycott entering Solario Racing horses at ARC meetings for the “foreseeable future.”
Dean Ivory, with whom Solario Racing has three syndicate horses in training and who trains some 60 horses at Harper Lodge Farm including Librisa Breeze, Tropics and Lancelot Du Lac added his voice to the growing protest among trainers.
The Master of Harper Lodge Farm Stables said: “Prize-money is disgusting and it was about time someone did something. It’s a shame we’ve had to do this and Arc must see it’s a last resort.
“We can’t keep sending bills to owners after they have a winner and they haven’t covered their month’s training fees. It makes racing look a laughing stock. Chelmsford is setting an example and makes us feel wanted.”
Solario Racing is a member of the Racehorse Syndicates Association which represents the interests of racehorse syndicators in Great Britain and their syndicate members. Currently its membership includes nearly 600 horses and over 4,500 owners. It added its voice to the protest:
“The Racehorse Syndicates Association fully backs the boycott of races at tracks offering derisory levels of prize-money. It is vital that this issue is properly addressed, as a matter of urgency.”
Many trainers including Mark Johnston, the country’s all-time most winning trainer have decided to run their horses at tracks such as Kempton and Chelmsford and indeed there is evidence that the boycott of ARC tracks is beginning to bite.
Tomorrow’s scheduled seven-race card at Lingfield which features the Winter Derby has been reduced to five with one race attracting no entries and another being a walk-over.
