Towcester are hoping to stage a £10,000-to-winner race for bitches in July – subject to GBGB approval.

Racing manager Chris Page said: “I was talking to local owner Mark Lowther about the connection between race titles and horse race titles when the subject came up that York stage the Lowther Stake for fillies during their July meeting.

“It all went from there really with Mark, who is an owner with Derek Law, and a trainer in his own right, offering to sponsor it. Hopefully it shouldn’t present a problem for the open race planners being planned for that time of the year, which I believe would tie in with the York race, and it will be a big boost for owners of open race bitches.”