Their going to destroy flat racing at Newcastle

They're

Disgraceful prize money for the 0-105 handicap there....no wonder there are so many non triers....why would you want to win 11k with a 90 plus rated horse.

I won't be watching after it becomes the latest all weather monstrosity .... no more Northumberland Plate is a very sad day

I 'e' mailed them with my thoughts on the all weather proposal, I wasn't very complimentary hence I didn't get a reply.

I e-mailed Arena or whatever they're called about Hereford. I was polite but they didn't reply to me either. Frankly I think they are much more interested in potential property development than racing.

will there be floodlights ?

I believe there will only be floodlights on the straight track. Residents opposed the plan to floodlit the whole track. So it looks like the 'night' meetings will take place on the straight track only.

rediculous tbh

This is the only decent Flat card they have all year. Can't really say I will miss it all that much.

^short sighted in the extreme

have lost a fair few meetings in the past due to ground. no financial expert but cant imagine the course wont be better off.

How will racing benefit from the move? By common consent Catterick would make far more sense. Not impressed by Rust so far and don't expect that to change.

The Gosforth Park Cup and the Blaydon Nursery used to be big races. The prizemoney has fallen through the floor and these races have become lost amidst a sea of dross. The track was ruined a long time before the decision was made to switch it to all weather.

Who was responsible for that though? The same people who are switching it to all weather - ARC

It is absolutely the fault of ARC, I do not question that for a second. They have ruined lots of tracks. I was merely making the point that the damage is already done and I won't particularly miss turf racing at Newcastle because most of it is terrible.

Salmon

ARC don't own Hereford - the local council does. The track needed investment and the Council wouldn't extend the lease. Many of the most vociferous critics of Arc never went to the course - attendances were generally dire.

The future of Worcester is a worry - a couple more floods must put it in doubt.

that is the long term plan of companies like arc, to run down tracks so that they can justify converting them into doing what they like

sickening...and I sincerely advise all people against this plan to no longer go to newcastle, don't bet there, don't send your horses there, don't have anything to do with arc or this track anymore

the northumberland plate RIP 1833-2015

We need the A/W track I would rather it be Newcastle. They only have 1 decent meeting a year, the jumps fixtures will end up going as well. Sad for the history but we have to keep then cost down for the smaller owner.

Not an all-weather fan myself, so thats another racetrack that i won't bet at anymore
The UK seems to have gone all-weather racing mad in the last 10yrs
Turf racing or nothing for me race-going & betting wise.
Terrible call imo

Why don't they just run it on the jumps track? And have the rest of their card on the all weather?

obviously requires maintenance and watering BB, but there is a simple solution to that which I have posted on the morning line thread

Awful decision,they should be closing the aw tracks down,not opening up new ones

Just read it, makes sense to me.

Rydal
I did look all this up at the time but I am a bit hazy on the details. I did e-mail the council as well and they didn't reply either. I did get a polite brush-off from the BHA. As I said my memory is now less than perfect but I thought Arc were trying to pressurise the Council to give permission to build on some of the course and when they didn't get it they took their ball home.
I stand open to correction however as I haven't kept the e-mails.

The only thing that could have stopped ARC/Newcastle was a trainer/owner boycott (starting today). Unfortunately there's as many short term weasels amongst that 2 groups as there is in ARC.

Salmon

I think it was Folkestone that they wanted to put the residential development on.

sub 1000 attendances will be the norm for Newcastle

Yes Rydal I think you're right it was Folkestone they wanted to redevelop. I need to re-reearch the Hereford situation. I think the council were partly to blame but Arena were in a position to make the decision to move the fixtures.

could rum the races on pebbles...wont affect attendances

^wrong

20.000 there today...prob 25 knew wot was running.