‘Free entry’ gesture for Town Moor’s extra meeting

DONCASTER is to stage an extra National Hunt meeting next Monday after four successive meetings in Yorkshire were abandoned.

However the seven-race card, featuring prize money worth around £40,000, will not feature the Sky Bet Chase – one of the  major casualties of the big winter freeze.

The Town Moor track only received the green light to stage the meeting after Southwell abandoned its planned meeting on Monday as renovation continues at the Nottinghamshire track following extensive flooding.

Both courses are owned by the Arena Racing Company, with Doncaster also due to stage a NH meeting next Thursday.

Managing director Mark Spincer said annual badge holders from every racecourse in Britain would be given free entry on Monday as a gesture of goodwill to all those who have been deprived racing action in recent weeks. Discount packages are also available via the track’s website.

Waterlogging is the latest threat to a NH season that has already been heavily curtailed.

Today’s Wincanton card must pass an early morning inspection and an 8am check will determine prospects for tomorrow’s card at Chepstow.