Champion stakes at Ascot and fixture rejig. Opinions please.

Appalling news. Nearly as bad as the asinine decision to add another 2 1/2 mile novice chase at Cheltenham.

Ridiculous. 2yo racing is now an exclusive entity for Newmarket. Running the Middle Park and Dewhurst on the same day? Brain-dead doesn't even cover it, does it?

No reason for why the Champion Stakes needed to leave Newmarket. Nor the Jockey Club Cup.

As for the idea of the British Champions' Series.... whoever came up with that should be sacked immediately. Looking through it, it is unbelievable.

Sprint category - 7 races, Nunthorpe remains a 2yo+ race.

Mile category  - 7 races, 2 4yo+ G1's, 1 3yo c+f G1, 1 3yo c+g, 2 3yo+ G1's, 1 3yo+ G3.

I don't want to take it seriously, but I presume it will be done a points basis per category. But how on earth is it fair? A 3yo gelding still can't run in the 2000 Guineas. A 3yo filly can't run in the St James' Palace. And so on with the "Middle Distance" category 1 more 4yo+ race than 3yo only race, which is the Derby that bans geldings. I can't wait to see the Royal Shakespeare of the flat!

Fortunately it will all flat.... before it begins I hope.

Who is employing these people? I know things have to move on with time but it's a disgrace that they are trying to change something that has worked fine for years. What next? Move the derby and guineas meetings to later in the year? Sack the lot they are an embarrassment to themselves let alone the image of horseracing. Who can forget their overhype of the kauto vs denman and the revelation of decimal odds that nobody cared about?

No one wants them sacked sooner than me...... no one.

Got a new clown on the scene - probably one dragged up from a previous role. Karl Oliver, who is running the BCS Ltd.

And there lies the problem - RFC, BCS, BHA, ROA, PJA. There will be no 3 letter combinations left sooner or later. And they all have no idea. The government are scrapping quangos. Who is going to stop this lot?

What annoys me is they go on about how attendances are up and what great feedback they are getting bla bla bla. But it's just bull sh!t. I can't think of one thing RFC has come out with that has been taken well by racegoers? And some if these huge attendances they brag about are because of encouraging the racecourse to be some huge organised piss up with free entry or they have 100s of teenage girls turn up to watch westlife. I mean I don't mind any of it but it's not really changing peoples thoughts on racing. A lot of the people I see at these meetings watch the first race or 2 dissapear to the bar for the rest of the day waiting for the band to come on. It's almost making the racing a side event?

If it ain't broke...

Whil ethye probably should have left well alone (I wonder how much infleunce the BBC had) I don't actually mind having the Champion Stakes at Ascot - I think the really top round course races at Ascot like the QE2, St James Palace, Coronation Stakes, Prince of Wales, Gold Cup and King George are the best races of the year, and I can't remember the last time there was an 'unlucky loser' or a horse that was 'beaten by the draw' in any of these? It's also a much better spectacle than the straight course at New'mkt.

I'm now hiding behing the sofa waiting for the abuse to start

Ascot is my local track, so I'm pretty happy about the news.

Jose

I believe NFC is still available.  The "C" could stand for clue.

The other two letters work brilliantly, Dark Destroyer

The launch of this has been poor. They can have their dreams if they believe horses are going to be like formula one cars if they want. The fact there are so many flaws in their system just makes it even funnier. No continuity in the layout of these divisions/series is just one example.

Joel Stakes - a race in this "Champions' Series."

absolute digrace for the bhb to mess around with  the cycle of british racing, im ok for new ideas but to do this is scandalous . the champion stakes  should always be where it is   .. or was now. it just goes to prove how out of touch these people are to do this  . they could introduce it  say at the beginning of september an move the haydock sprint to the end of that month ? clueless bunch of muppets.

The Champion Stakes is a Rowley Mile gem, as is Champions Day in its current form. This is an appalling decision. I prefer to see a fair test and Ascot is not – a horse's chance is compromised when drawn low, and thus widest, having to go round that bend.
We see plenty of that at R.Ascot and I have no desire to see it again each October.
Why should Ascot be the new host? I thought Newmarket was Flat racing's HQ.

Am i correct in thinking then  we now have the middle park & dewhurst on the came day @ newmarket??
along with QE11 & Champion Stakes @ Ascot


Nothing like trying to dilute the quality of horse racing
Racing 4 change havent a foooking clue

LOL at the above comments...good racing moves from one track to another...big wow....nothing to see here.

^ They are paid fortunes to come up with this. Not only that, RFC only other idea besides the hopeless trial day was the scarves at Cheltenham. Need I say more? Plus it is a mess. The Middle Park and Dewhurst on the same day....

Answers simple.If all roads lead to Cheltenham,then have qualifying races where only winners can run in the final,that means every race, it would give a boost to midweek racing where instead of having a nothing race,give it clarity by advertising  its a qualifier.
Even the A.W.can have a weekend festival,between the Lincoln and the National,where they have no turf meeting surprisingly.
Its all about a race leading to something instead of just another race,when are they going to do something about the opening weeks of the flat,even the Craven meeting is a shadow of its former self.And when a trainer asks if he canter  his horses at the track after racing tell him quite politely "WHY DONT YOU RUN THEM IN A BLOODY RACE,THEY DO EXIST YOU KNOW this way we'd have at least SOME idea of what to bet on.

I have just finished reading the "spin" on the BHA website and I am left shaking my head.  How much are these people being paid to dream up these ideas?  Who are they asking for feedback as to whether this change is a good or bad idea?  I am a horse racing lover, punter and owner (in that order) and I've not been asked.  I can probably count the racegoers at Ayr last week on one hand who were asked for their views.
Racing has some ongoing issues (overwatering, prize money, levy etc) but creating another Champions Day at Ascot would certainly not be in my top 10 of essentials improvements.

The pure nature of the flat season is it builds up from trials in the spring to the guineas then the Derby then onto Royal Ascot, Goodwood, York etc etc.  Look at the Diadem field on Sunday, looks like the Championship finale for Sunday does it not!!??  They mention on the website "heavily marketing" the event, I'm sure they'll have to as if I owned a firm ground GR 1 sprinter I sure as hell wouldn't run him at Ascot on likely October ground. And I bet the prize money will increase also, where are they finding that extra cash from?  The best thing that could happen would be to get heavy ground the first 2 years, shock results and horse's finishing like 3m chasers at Towcester.  Also the crowd would get a soaking, would you return for a second year!  Flat racing is built on the summer festivals, there is no need to change that.  By trying to compare racing to F1 or Tennis or golf they are missing the point completely.  F1 = machines, Golf and Tennis = The Grand Slams

I've never been to the Nwmt Champions day but whilst I've always found the title a little false (due to the ground and the fact it's at the end of a long season) I've viewed the racing as excellent quality and a decent betting proposition.  Why they wish to change that god only knows...

It's time the BHA got their fingers out and sought feedback from their core customers (like myself).  Send some market research research companies to racedays, go to the owners and trainers area, the club enclosure, tatts, silver ring and get the views of the wide spectrum of people who go racing.  I've no issue with post racing entertainment.  As long as you can handle what you drink and behave reasonably sensibly then I'm all in favour of live bands etc. Read these forums and listen especially to the people who contribute on a regular basis.  They're not doing it for the good of their health, they're doing it because they have a passion for horse racing and see it being messed about.  Or else BHA you'll find these guys will spend there time and money somewhere else in the near future.

To finish on a positive note I would give great credit to Ayr racecourse for the work done at the course the last few years.  Well Done Ayr!

Let's move it from Ascot to Ayr then.  Case closed.

Headmaster - I suspect some of the indivduals dreaming up these ideas would struggle to find Scotland, let alone Ayr!

racing in this country has evolved naturally since the classics were formed.Yes,new races have been formed on the way but to tinker with a successfull formula that every other racing country is envious of is scandalous.
everyone has a derby,and many 2000 guineas,oks etc.
stupid STUPID STUPID STUPID

RFC STUPID

One of the main things racing has going for it is its history, tamper too much and the game will be ruined.

The whole idea is based on the hope that the BBC will cover it  - which they may do now that they have no other sport to cover on a Saturday afternoon. It's all about Frankie grinning and jumping off, Rishi#s interviews and Willie's cheeky laugh. For some reason this will save racing.