Thursday, October 26, 2000

NO LEVY AGREEMENT YET

If no agreement is possible between the Levy Board and the Bookmakers' Committee by the statutory deadline of next Tuesday, October 31, 2000, the matter will be referred to the Home Secretary Jack Straw for determination.

Robert Hughes, the Levy Board Chairman, said today: "It is extremely regrettable that after several months of chairing negotiations between the representatives of the British Horseracing Board and the Bookmakers' Committee it has not been possible so far to broker a deal.

"I believe a deal is very much in the interests of both the racing and bookmaking industries.

"The last thing that either side should be doing is asking the government to determine these negotiations for them.

"I believe that a deal is within sight. Only a few issues remain to be resolved, but both sides must be prepared to give a little more ground for there to be an agreement.

"No more formal board meetings have been scheduled before Tuesday but, if either of the parties has proposals to make, my independent colleagues and I will be prepared to assist them in any way we can."

ASCOT ANNOUNCES FURTHER DETAILS ON REDEVELOPMENT PLANS

Architects will be appointed by the end of this year and architectural designs are expected to be available in late 2001. Main construction work is due to start in late 2004. A series of turf trials is being carried out over the next 18 months at the British Racing School in Newmarket to identify the most appropriate racing surface for Ascot. Work on the relocation of the Straight Mile is due to start in early 2002.

Any interested racegoers, annual members, boxholders, owners, trainers etc. are invited to come to a presentation on the redevelopment at 10.30am this Saturday (28 October), prior to Ascot's first National Hunt raceday of the new season that afternoon. There will be similar presentations for local residents on 8 and 16 November at 7pm for 7.30pm.

Commenting on the development plans, Douglas Erskine-Crum, Chief Executive of Ascot Racecourse, said:

"Over the past year, much thought and time has gone into developing options that will ensure Ascot builds on its position as one of the world's leading racecourses. The main stands are now 40 years old, while other parts of the racecourse are nearly 100 years old. The racecourse and facilities are becoming costly to maintain as they continue to deteriorate, and lack all the benefits that modern technology can provide.

"Our preferred option enables us to address the main concerns surrounding the existing racecourse, for example crowd circulation and location of key facilities. We have a wonderful opportunity to create something of which Ascot, the racing industry and the local community can be proud. There is still a long way to go, but we now have a clear and workable plan which we will continue to develop in the coming months."

THE SIX DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS

Do nothing except maintenance and refurbishment.
Comment: this would result in the inevitable long-term deterioration of the Racecourse.

Major refurbishment and extension of current stands.
Comment: no improvement in crowd circulation or access to facilities; a very limited return for the level of expenditure required.

New build of stands on current site with High Street realignment and an 18 metre track relocation.
Comment: creates the necessary space to achieve objectives, but major upheaval with the moving of the High Street and serious planning and environmental problems.

New build of stands on current site with an 18 metre track relocation, but no High Street realignment.
Comment: the extra space created by the small relocation of the track is not sufficient to overcome the circulation problems and improve access to key facilities.

New build of stands further north with the track relocated 80 metres to the north; use of high quality temporary facilities to augment the permanent stands during Royal Ascot.
Comment: our selected option.

New build of stands further north with all permanent facilities to accommodate a maximum Royal Ascot crowd, with the track relocated 80 metres to the north.
Comment: too expensive and it would be below capacity on all days outside the Royal Meeting.

KEY DATES FROM PAST REDEVELOPMENTS

Racecourse founded by Queen Anne
Construction of original Straight Mile track
First permanent building, the Slingsby Stand, constructed
Royal Stand, designed by John Nash, constructed
Bend from Swinley Bottom to King's Kennels realigned
Victorian Grandstand constructed
Slingsby Stand demolished
1861 Straight Mile track widened
Saddling Paddock created
Alexandra Stand constructed
Grandstand clock erected
1901-2 Royal Enclosure reconstructed with three new stands
1902 South-east corner of round course realigned
First tunnel under track constructed from the Enclosures on to the Heath
Five Shilling Stand (now known as Silver Ring Stand) constructed
Work commenced on re-location of Straight Mile track
New Straight Mile used for the first time
Queen Elizabeth II Stand constructed to replace old Grandstand
Work commenced on construction of National Hunt track
Royal Enclosure Stand constructed to replace three old stands
First National Hunt race meeting staged



"A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE TRACK"
Extensive turf trials underway at the British Racing School

Having broken new ground with the installation of the world's first Mobile Turf Crossing, Ascot is now set to embark on the most exciting track redevelopment ever undertaken at a British racecourse. The relocation of the Straight Mile course 80 metres to the north, a key part in the overall redevelopment of the Royal Racecourse and its facilities, will allow Ascot to take advantage of the latest in turf technology to produce the best possible racing surface.

A team of experts is advising Ascot and extensive research is now underway at the British Racing School in Newmarket. In addition, the turf at several racecourses around the world is being inspected. So far visits have been made to Woodbine in Canada, Arlington, Canterbury Park, Colonial Downs and Saratoga in the USA, Longchamp in France, and York and Newmarket in the UK. Visits to Cheltenham and other courses are due to be made soon.

The British Racing School trials will be crucial in the final choice of surface. A total of 60 plots of turf, each measuring 3 metres by 4 metres, have recently been laid end-to-end to create a gallop 180 metres in length. There are 10 different surfaces, utilising a range of different grasses and soils, with 6 plots of each surface in different locations along the gallop.

On the date of every flat race meeting at Ascot next year, beginning with Victoria Cup Day on 3 May and ending with Willmott Dixon Day on 7 October, horses from the British Racing School will gallop over the trial ground. They will simulate as far as possible the racing at Ascot that day, so that the strip of ground has the same number of horses racing over it as if it were on the racecourse itself. The trials will be strictly controlled and the performance of each plot carefully monitored.

Designs for the new track will be drawn up next year and a planning application submitted. The aim is to retain the exact geometry of the bends and all the principal Ascot race distances, which will involve the creation of a chute for a new mile-and-a-half start. Everything will be taken into account in the new design, including optimum width, gradients, drainage, irrigation, TV camera positions etc.

Construction on the new track is scheduled to start in early 2002 and racing on the existing course will be able to continue throughout. When the new track is completed and fully assessed, a decision can be made as to whether to rebuild the whole of the round course as well.

"The redevelopment is providing us with a unique opportunity to improve the track," commented Ascot's Clerk of the Course, Nick Cheyne.

"The objective is to create the best turf surface in the world. When the Straight Mile was relocated in 1955, the quality of the new course was quickly viewed as being superior to its predecessor. With all the advantages of modern turf technology half a century later, we are now in a position to take an even bigger leap forward."



BENEFITS FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
Open Evenings at Ascot for local residents to find out more

One of the core mission statements for the redevelopment of Ascot Racecourse is that it should benefit the local community as a whole and enhance the environment. For instance, improving raceday traffic flow has always been one of Ascot's priorities and will remain so within the framework of the redevelopment.

While there will be no designs for the new racecourse facilities until late next year, it can be revealed now that there are likely to be a number of very tangible benefits for local residents and businesses. For instance, market research has indicated a strong local desire for a hotel with a health & fitness club. A new restaurant, open throughout the year, will also be a feature of the design and other local amenities may be incorporated within the new facilities.

As in the past, the Heath will continue to be open to local people throughout the year on non-racedays for recreation and the Racecourse is currently in discussion with its tenants and others who use its grounds to determine the long-term future together.

Douglas Erskine-Crum, Chief Executive of Ascot Racecourse, commented:

"If the stands were allowed to deteriorate indefinitely, the implications for the future of the Racecourse and the land that it occupies would be very much open to doubt. That would serve the interests of no one, least of all the local community.

"It is a question of balancing, wherever possible, the needs and desires of local residents and businesses with the requirements for modernising one of Britain's biggest sporting venues. When we are ready to open the "new" Ascot Racecourse in a few years' time, we want it to be a venue that local residents can be both pleased and proud to have as part of their community."

Local opinions have been extensively sought on the redevelopment during the last year, in particular through the Local Consultative Group, set up last autumn under the Chairmanship of David Lunn, Chief Executive of the Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council.

Ascot Racecourse would now like to widen the debate and is delighted to extend an invitation to all interested local residents to an Open Evening. A presentation on the thinking behind the plans and what their implementation is likely to involve will be given, with the opportunity to ask questions afterwards. There is a choice of two dates: Wednesday 8 November or Thursday 16 November, both at 7pm for 7.30pm. The venue is the Ascot Pavilion and parking will be available in Car Park 3.

RACING'S FIRST "MOVEABLE TURF CROSSING"

Ascot's new Moveable Turf Crossing (MTC) will be used for the first time during racing this Saturday (28 October) on United House Day, the opening day of Ascot's National Hunt season. The revolutionary system, which Ascot has pioneered and for which the Racecourse has applied for an international patent, allows vehicular and pedestrian access to the centre of course without impacting on the track.

Trials were initially held last autumn using a prototype built at Newmarket. Following their success, work started on the Kennel Gate crossing at Ascot this April. In the last month, two trials have been held on the now fully operational crossing using horses from Nicky Henderson's stable. His stable jockey, Mick Fitzgerald, took part in both trials and was very impressed. He said that the crossing rode perfectly and was indistinguishable from the rest of the track.

The MTC is 54 metres long and 4.5 metres wide and takes 11 minutes to move into position. During the winter the crossing will be extended over the flat course so that by the time of Ascot's first Flat fixture of 2001 on 2 May, it will cover the entire width of the track at Kennel Gate.

With assistance from the Levy Board, Ascot has invested over £800,000 in the MTC concept so far. The aim is ultimately to eradicate all the crossings on the Racecourse either by MTC or underpass. The cost of constructing an MTC is considerably less than an underpass, though at sites like the Winkfield Road crossing of the Straight Mile, an underpass may still prove to be the most appropriate way forward. Planning permission has already been granted for an underpass at this site, but because of the subsequent plans to redevelop the Straight Mile and the progress made on the MTC concept, the project has been put on hold for further evaluation on the best way forward.

"We are committed to eradicating the crossings at Ascot Racecourse because they are not in keeping with a modern turf surface and pose potential risks to the safety of horse and jockey," commented Ascot's Chief Executive, Douglas Erskine-Crum.

"We are very excited about the launch of the first Moveable Turf Crossing. We are confident that it will prove to be a great success and there is already considerable interest in the concept from other racecourses."

Background information on the design & development of
"Moveable Turf Crossings"

Ascot Racecourse's innovative design and development of Moveable Turf Crossings (MTCs) aims to eradicate changes in the racecourse surface caused by road crossings and thus make Ascot Racecourse one of the safest in the world. The presence of road crossings with temporary surfaces on many racecourses detracts significantly from the quality of racing and can affect a horse's performance if the horse is startled by the visible change in colour or texture. The system has been installed at Ascot Racecourse and has undergone trials with horses prior to its first use at a race meeting on 28 October 2000.

The concept first emerged when Ascot determined that it should pursue a policy of removing all its crossings. The Racecourse made an application in 1997 to eradicate the crossings by the construction of underpasses, which has been successful. However, there was uncertainty during the process as to whether planning permission would be granted due to the designation of the racetrack within the Metropolitan Green Belt. Accordingly, Ascot decided to investigate alternative methods of removing the crossings whilst still pursuing the underpass planning application.

This exercise developed into the design of MTCs. These have since proved to be less expensive alternatives to underpasses, and have a more limited impact on any ecology, flora or fauna as they utilise less land.

Turf trays have been used in field sports for much of the 1990s across the world. In particular, the pitch in the Millennium Stadium for the 1999 World Cup is a series of interlocking trays. Ascot decided to establish if this concept could be developed to be safe for racing, capable of taking a hoof in heavy going and as well as being easy to move in a reasonable period of time.

In 1998, the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) were appointed by Ascot, bringing their leading knowledge of innovative turf technology, and undertook a series of feasibility trials at their headquarters in Bingley. These tests gauged the performance characteristics of the trays and established the minimum depth on the joins that would be safe for racing.

Design analysis was then carried out on the method of moving the trays. The principle issues were speed, reliability and creating a tight fit between the tray and existing racecourse. Initially, a hover pad system was tested, but this was identified as too complex and expensive. Instead, a railed system with lateral and vertical movement was developed. This allowed the tray to be laterally manoeuvred into the racetrack void and then moved vertically into position to act as a tight-fitting keystone.

By the spring of 1999, the feasibility work indicated that all the problems identified in the early stages had the potential to be resolved. During this period, Ascot Racecourse also consulted the Jockey Club. The next stage was to create a prototype to be tested with horses. The Jockey Club Estates agreed to identify a site at Newmarket and provide the backup needed to run the trials remote from Ascot. A site on the gallops behind the Rowley Mile Course was identified as suitable given that the Rowley Mile Course was out of commission during 1999.

The prototype was constructed under the control of STRI and installed at Newmarket during the summer of 1999. After the installation and construction of the turf surface a series of penetrometer tests were carried out to establish its suitability as a racing surface. Following these tests, it was determined that it was satisfactory to test horses over the surface during September and October.

The first trial occurred with horses provided by John Gosden on 7 September 1999. This was successful and a further trial was organised for 1 October with horses provided by Ed Dunlop. This trial was attended by representatives of the Jockey Club, who were satisfied that the quality of the racing surface was acceptable. The system received its first public trial soon after on 11 October 1999, attended by members of the press. Discussions with parties responsible for the horses identified that at no time during the three horse trials did any horse break stride, baulk or react to the MTC prototype. Moreover, it was extremely difficult to identify the position of the MTC when in place.

Given the success of this prototype, Ascot determined to investigate the installation of an MTC on the Racecourse. The Kennel Gate Crossing was identified as the most suitable crossing at Ascot as it is the most severe on the National Hunt course and there is no need to relocate a public road. Planning permission was received in due course in February 2000.

The timing of the installation was complex given that the Kennel Gate Crossing bisects both the Flat and the National Hunt courses and, unlike the Straight Mile, racing therefore occurs over it throughout the year. Consequently, phased work has been taking place from April.

The tray, which is 45 metres wide and 54 metres long and weighs some 200 tonnes, can be parked back from the racetrack to allow vehicle access onto the Heath. The design has been refined so that it can be brought into position by hydraulic and manual means if there is a power failure, and security features have been introduced to avoid vandalism.

The tray itself is constructed of stainless steel and the edges of the turf are reinforced with VHAF, which is a semi-stiff fabric that has been used for ten years by STRI without sign of deterioration. The soil mix and seeds were carefully chosen after thorough testing and the turf has been allowed a growth period of several months before the first use of the tray at the National Hunt meeting on 28 October 2000.

Work has already started to excavate the remaining part of the Flat track. This should allow further testing on the Flat track in Spring 2001 prior to the first Flat meeting on 2 May 2001. In October 2001, following a full season of Flat and National Hunt racing, Ascot will consider the applicability of MTCs for other parts of the racecourse.

Given the innovative nature of the MTC, Ascot Racecourse has made patent applications. The UK and international applications cover the UK, Ireland, France, Japan, the USA, Canada and Australia.

WILLIAMS TO RIDE DIATRIBE IN EMIRATES WORLD SERIES

Diatribe, trained by George Hanlon, will face 12 rivals in Saturday's 2,040 Metre Group One event at Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia. Diatribe is currently a very generous 12-1 in the early betting. The son of Brief Truce has never finished worse than fourth in his four runs at Moonee Valley and won the Group Two AAMI Vase during last year's Cox Plate Meeting.

Williams, won the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket aboard Tobougg prior
to his departure from Britain. On Wednesday evening Williams commented, "I am really looking forward to riding in the BMW Cox Plate, it is a great race and it is part of the Emirates World Series. I have not got any points in the series so far but I could always come from last to first."

The Emirates World Series Racing Championship, sponsored by Emirates, the international airline of the UAE and four times winner of Airline of the Year, takes in the 11 most prestigious thoroughbred races around the globe and is the largest sponsorship in the history of horseracing.

The Emirates World Series is still wide open as it moves into the final five races. With four horses still in training tied on the top spot, the winner of the Cox Plate will join the likes of Montjeu, Giant's Causeway, Mutafaweq and Samum with 12 points. Saturday's winner has a good chance of landing the World Championship and taking the US$1,000,000. A number of Saturday's runners hold entries in the Japan Cup, the penultimate race in the series and in the final leg of the Emirates World Series, the Hong Kong Cup on December 17th.

Currently heading the market for Saturdays' contest is the Trevor McKee-trained super mare Sunline. The daughter of Desert Sun became the first mare to gain 12 Emirates World Series points last season when landing the BMW Cox Plate a year ago.

Sunline has had an ideal preparation for the Cox Plate, winning three of her last four outings, beginning in August with a three and a quarter length win in the Group One Manikato before a length and a quarter victory in the Group Two Memsie at Caulfield on September 3rd. Big race jockey Greg Childs partnered Sunline to take the Group Two Feehan at Moonee Valley on September 16th. Her latest outing at Flemington on October 7th saw her finish a short head second to Fairway in the Group Two Turnball.

With the rain continuing to fall in Melbourne, McKee has no fear of the soft ground likely at Moonee Valley, commenting, "She worked really well at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning and she will have no problem with the ground come Saturday.

Childs, who was on board Sunline in last year's victory, said, "Soft ground will be no problem for her and what will be will be on Saturday. Her track work on Tuesday was really encouraging."

Sunline will face three horse on Saturday which filled the places behind her last year, Tie The Knot, trained by Guy Walter, was a one and a half length runner-up in the 1999 BMW Cox Plate. Tie The Knot is currently third favourite at 6-1 and will be ridden by Darren Beadman in the race on Saturday.

Colin Alderson's Sky Heights finished third a year ago but has developed into a strong five-year-old and is looking to go closer this year. The four times Group One winner landed the 1999 Caulfield Cup and this season has won the Yalumba Stakes at Caulfield on October 14. The son of Zabeel will have Glen Boss in the saddle and will have no problems going on the soft ground.

Fourth in the 1999 Cox Plate was Dean Lawson's Testa Rossa, currently 12-1, who will have leading jockey Brett Prebble in the saddle come Saturday. The four-year-old by Perugino finished a disappointing eighth in the Yalumba but won his previous start in the Group One Live Well Cup at Caulfield.

Other notable runners in the race are the Bob Thomsen-trained Shogun Lodge, a gelding by Grand Lodge, who beat Sunline in the 1999 Group One George Main over a mile. Damien Oliver, who partners Shogun Lodge, is confident of a big run. Skoozi Please, owned by Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed Al Mualla, will have no problems with the ground and finished fourth to Sky Heights in the Yalumba.

RACING IN AUSTRALIA
MOONEE VALLEY RACING CLUB, MELBOURNE, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28TH
GOING: GOOD TO SOFT

05.10 (GMT) BMW COX PLATE (Group One) of AUS$2,000,000. 2040 Metres (Turf)
Seventh leg of the Emirates World Series Racing Championship

FORM HORSE TRAINER WEIGHT (KG) JOCKEY DRAW

6203 TIE THE KNOT Guy Walter 58 D Beadman (7)
-551 SKY HEIGHTS (NZ) Colin Alderson 58 G Boss (8)
2116 THE MESSAGE (NZ) John Ralph 58 S Baster (11)
-070 REFERRAL Steve Englebrecht 58 L Cassidy (4)
3215 OLIVER TWIST Brian Mayfield-Smith 58 P Payne (9)
-124 SKOOZI PLEASE (NZ) Graeme Rogerson 58 J Cassidy (5)
-118 TESTA ROSSA Dean Lawson 56.5 B Prebble (2)
3512 SHOGUN LODGE Bob Thomsen 56.5 D Oliver (12)
9931 DIATRIBE George Hanlon 56.5 C Williams (6)
1112 SUNLINE (NZ) Trevor McKee 55.5 G Childs (13)
3060 BEAT THE FADE (NZ) Bart Cummings 54 J Patton (10)
6222 SHOW A HEART Barry Miller 48.5 C Munce (1)
6613 FABU Cliff Brown 48.5 M Gatt (3)

Horse are listed in Racecard order.

Betting forecast: 11-8 Sunline, 7-2 Sky Heights, 6 Tie The Knot, 8 Shogun
Lodge, 12 Testa Rossa, Diatribe, 15 Skoozi Please, 33 Oliver Twist, Show A
Heart, Fabu, 50 Referral, 66 The Message, 125 Beat The Fade.

CURRENT RANKINGS OF THE EMIRATES WORLD SERIES RACING
CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER ROUND SIX CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL

HORSE POINTS

Dubai Millennium (Retired) 12
Montjeu 12
Chester House (Retired) 12
Samum 12
Giant's Causeway 12
Mutafaweq 12
Daliapour 11
Fantastic Light 6
Manndar 6
Catella 6
Behrens 6
Greek Dance 6
Williams News 6

JOCKEY POINTS

Lanfranco Dettori 28
Michael Kinane 24
Andrasch Starke 15
Johnny Murtagh 14
Jerry Bailey 12
Corey Nakatani 10
Terence Hellier 8
John Reid 6
Jorge Chavez 6
Patrick Husbands 6

TRAINER POINTS

Saeed bin Suroor 34
Sir Michael Stoute 20
Bobby Frankel 16
Andreas Schutz 16
Aidan O'Brien 13
John Hammond 12
Peter Schiergen 8
Tom Amoss 6
H James Bond 6
Beau Greely 6

CORNICHE, WOOD AND SHUFFLE ON COURSE FOR PINK

Corniche, a five-year-old trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, was successful by an impressive 11 lengths in the Lloyds TSB Asset Finance Novices' Chase.

The Naunton handler said: "Corniche was brilliant today and we'll look at the Thomas Pink and then some of the best novice chases for him."

Meanwhile, in the Thwaites Smooth Beer Handicap Chase, run over the same distance as the Thomas Pink, both the first Flaxley Wood and the third Boardroom Shuffle put themselves firmly in the picture for next month's showpiece.

Flaxley Wood led from pillar to post to defeat Glamanglitz by 3½ lengths with Boardroom Shuffle a further ¼ lengths back in third place.

Bob Buckler, trainer of Flaxley Wood hopes to return to Prestbury Park next month and said after yesterday's race: "He nearly died from a serious leg infection last year but Bristol University got him back and he's so game."

Meanwhile Noel Chance stated that he was very happy with the performance of Boardroom Shuffle: "The big plus is that he hasn't broken a blood vessel and considering it was his first run since Christmas we're entitled to think he can come on a fair bit for that."

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

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