48-HOUR DECLARATIONS DEAL 'A STARTING POSITION'
Full details and figures
THE third and final year of an initial 48-hour declaration agreement between the Horsemen’s Group and RUK racecourses will deliver more than £400,000 in special appearance money payments throughout the current Flat season.
Although this shows an increase on previous years, the Horsemen’s Group new Chief Executive, Alan Morcombe (pictured), believes the figure is substantially lower than racing’s practitioners should receive from this source.
“While the increase is obviously welcome,” said Mr Morcombe, “I have no doubt it should be substantially more.
"Taking the additional costs imposed on the industry by 48-hour declarations, the loss in Levy which, of course, translates into lower prize-money, and the increased earnings that are now coming through from the sale of British racing picture rights overseas, I think we should regard this as a starting position.”
Negotiations involving the Horsemen’s Group and both the RUK and ATR racecourses on the next 48-hour declaration agreement are due to be completed in September of this year.
In the meantime, Alan Morcombe emphasizes the importance of trainers and owners noting the events to which the appearance money is being attached.
“It is important that trainers and owners are aware this money is available and make effective use of it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Northern Racing have contributed an additional £50,000 to prize-money as follows:
Bath...
Increase the Total Prize Fund at the fixture on May 4th to £23.6k from £21.9k. (Plus £1,700)
Increase the TPF at the fixture on May 12th to £25k from £21.2k. (Plus £3,800)
Increase the TPF at the fixture on June 23rd to £29.2k from £24.6k (Plus £4,600)
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Fontwell Park...
Increase the TPF at the fixture on Feb 7th to £31.2k from £27.7k. (Plus £3.45k)
Increase the TPF at the fixture on March 10th to £31.6k from £27k (Plus £4.6k)
Increase the TPF at the fixture on March 30th to £38.5k from £32.4k (Plus £6.06k)
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Newcastle (pictured)...
Increase the TPF at the fixture on January 20th from £38.2k from £31.8k (Plus £6.4k)
Increase the TPF at the fixture on May 27th from £28k from £27k (Plus £1k)
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Sedgefield...
Increase the TPF at the fixture on March 16th to £32.2k from £27.9k (Plus £4.3k)
Increase the TPF at the fixture on April 27th to £50.2k from £33.1k (Plus £17.1k)
07/05/2010