Newbury have confirmed The Tote Gold Trophy

Totesport Trophy card rescheduled on Friday
 
BY RACING POST STAFF 6:57PM 14 FEB 2011
 
NEWBURY'S Totesport Trophy card has been rescheduled for Friday pending satisfactory results from the two post mortems of the horses that died in the paddock before the first race on Saturday.

The rescheduled card will feature the Aon and Game Spirit Chases along with the Totesport Trophy, although all races will be run with less prize-money than on the original fixture.

Newbury managing director Stephen Higgins said: "It has been a difficult week so far for all involved with Saturday's traumatic events.

"Having received confirmation from Southern Electric Power Distribution that the paddock site is safe for both horses and people, we are confident that racing should resume.

"We have been in talks with the BHA and our sponsors the Tote and Aon, with regard to rescheduling the remaining races from Saturday's card and it is our intention for them to take place on Friday, 18 February."

Leading trainers and bookmakers had been keen for the meeting to be rearranged if Newbury passed safety checks with many Cheltenham Festival candidates engaged to run on the card.


Nicky Henderson: full support

 
PICTURE: Getty Images
 
Nicky Henderson, whose Kid Cassidy was the first horse to show signs of distress in the paddock on Saturday although he emerged unscathed, said: "I feel it's important that racing atthe course should resume and I wholeheartedly support Newbury's and the BHA's decision to restage the remaining races of last Saturday's fixture and we will be sending our intended runners from our stable to the course."

Trainer Paul Nicholls added: "We support 100 per cent the decision to race on Friday at Newbury and we will be sending our runners to this fixture."

The results of the post mortems on Fenix Two and Marching Song that were expected onMonday had earlier been delayed by the BHA who were awaiting the results of drug tests on the horses.

On Sunday, an electrical cable was dug up and removed by the SEB near to where the horses collapsed and died in the parade ring from suspected electrocution.

Races planned for Friday 18 February                                           

12.10 totescoop6 Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 3) £8,000

12.45 The AON Steeple Chase (Class 1) £30,000

1.15 totepool Game Spirit Steeple Chase (Class 1) £30,000

1.50 totesport Trophy Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 1) £60,000

2.25 Bet totepool Novices’ Hurdle (Class 4) £4,000

3.00 toteplacepot Novices' Steeple Chase (Class 4) £5,000

3.35 Bet totepool at totesport.com Winter Bumper (Class 1) £10,000

Some positive news from the weekends horror.

Good news; shame most of us will be at work, but still good news!

when i checked at lads last night they said i could void or keep the bet i chose the latter as i had 12/1 about it and can see it going off at half that at best ( it being soldatino )

Hills have just refunded mine... didnt get an option?

It was a big Saturday race now it's on Friday and after whats happened the only attention the day will get will be for the wrong reasons. There won't be anywhere near the ammount gambled on the race as there would have been. That's why the prize money has halved.

why?^

FINAL APPROACH, winner of the MCR Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, was ruled out of Friday's rescheduled Totesport Trophy on Wednesday.

The five-year-old had been as short as 8-1 with Paddy Power for the Newbury contest that was cancelled last Saturday when two horses died in the paddock before the first race of suspected electrocution.

Mullins said on Wednesday: "We've decided against sending Final Approach back to Newbury and he will now be aimed at the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle at Cheltenham."

Mullins will still be represented in the 2m½f handicap by Sweet My Lord, who is a general 20-1 chance for the race.

He said: "Sweet My Lord has travelled back and will take his chance in Friday's race. Paul Townend will ride."

Declarations for the rescheduled race, which carries half the prize-money of the original race at £60,000, will be made on Thursday

I think the Tote Gold Trophy has been a good example of why, when an ante post betting race is called off, all best should be void, even though the meeting is rearranged.

The race being run on Friday is simply not the same race at all as the one that would have been run last Saturday.

Its worth half the money, and thus at least 3 fancied horses have been pulled out alreasy and a number of others may well follow.

Yes its sour grapes as the horses I backed ante post are no longer going to run and would have run and were ready to run last Saturday. but if I feel like its s swindle to suit the bookies, others will feel the same and this is hardly good for racing.

I know the rules of ante post rearrangements are set, and that this is just a moan and that its part of the "joy" of ante post risks; but I repeat, I placed bets on one race and they now stand even though the race that is replacing the original is a very very different contest.

cry, I agree with you, and many would. Either refund all bets, or refund those that were declared on the morning of the race, turn up at the track ready to run, but then dont make the re-arranged event for wahtever reason.imo

In relation to any match, fixture, game, individual event, race or similar: If the event is not completed within three days after the scheduled completion date, then all bets on markets for this event will be void, except for bets on any markets that have been unconditionally determined.

Tiger o toole probs going to ascot as well

Some on here, some with PP, IDKW.

Ok, will put it in the bin with the other Cheltenham antepost bets