With GBGB preparing their post Covid open race competition schedule, we thought we would remind you, on what should have been run, and speculate on what may not return writes Floyd Amphlett.
Only nine Cat 1/2 competitions had been completed when racing was suspended on March 16, just days after the ‘behind closed doors’ Golden Sprint and Ladbrokes Puppy Derby deciders and the Steel City Cup.
There were only three Category One events in the Calendar at that stage (with final dates): the Regency (April 4), Grand National (April 17) and of course, the Star Sports/ARC/LPS Derby (May 16).
With the Derby due to conclude six weeks earlier than the previous year, we were already facing some major schedule shifting.
We already knew that the Scottish Derby can been canned and certain other events were unlikely to be repeated from the previous year, notably a series of Cat 2 finals at Henlow.
We have also removed the Golden Crest and Fengate Gold Collar entries relating to Poole and Peterborough respectively.
The only competition lost at the end of March was the Queen Mother Cup.
The Cat Two Silver Salver was slated to be completed in April, beyond that, it is pure guesswork.
Listed below are a list of events that were staged in the respective months in 2019. (Scheduled for 2020).
Ironically, of course, there has been very little effect on the June Calendar which is traditionally set aside for the English Derby, though if that is to be staged in October – as was suggested by join sponsor Ben Keith – it presents its own issues.
Not only would it represent a clash with the British Bred Stakes, All England Cup and Kent Derby, all this is assuming that the event would be truncated from six weeks down to four.
It appears only common sense to suggest that sponsorship issues notwithstanding, there will be dozens of ‘not staged’ entries for the 2020 year book.
APRIL
CORAL REGENCY Hove 695m £10,000 April 4
CEARNSPORT GRAND NATIONAL Central Park 480mH £8,000 April 17
KENT SILVER SALVER Central Park 265m £3,000
BGBF PUPPY CUP Sheffield 500m £4,000
BUNNY BOOKMAKERS GOLD CUP Henlow 550m £3,000
BRESMED NORTHERN SPRINT Sheffield 280m £8,000
MAY
RPGTV SCOTTISH DERBY Shawfield 480 £20,000 – cancelled
HENLOW MAIDEN DERBY Henlow 460m £5,000
LADBROKES.COM CRAYFORD VASE Crayford 540m £2,500
GEORGE ING ST.LEGER Yarmouth 659m £7,500
BGBF SCURRY Henlow 428m £2,500
RPGTV PUPPY TROPHY Nottingham 500m £3,000
RPGTV STAYERS TROPHY Nottingham 680m £3,000
RPGTV DERBY PLATE Nottingham 500m £3,000
JPW TROPHY Nottingham 480m £3,000
STAR SPORTS/ARC/LPS GREYHOUND DERBY Nottingham 500m £100,000
JUNE
BRITISH BRED ST.LEGER Central Park 642m £4,000
LADBROKES.COMCESAREWITCH Crayford 874m £3,000
JULY
LADBROKES GUYS AND DOLLS Crayford 380m £7,500
HENLOW PUPPY DERBY Henlow 460m £5,000
RPGTV CHAMPION HURDLE Central Park 480mH £8,000
GAIN NUTRITION THREE STEPS TO VICTORY Sheffield 660m £10,000
TED LLOYD CLASSIC Sunderland 450m £8,000
73rd BRITISH BRED T-Y-O PRODUCE STAKE Swindon 480m £15,000
RPGTV SELECT Nottingham 500m £7,500
AUGUST
CORAL SUSSEX CUP Hove 515m £10,000
KENT NATIONAL HURDLE Crayford 380mH £2,500
LADBROKES SUMMER STAYERS CLASSIC Monmore 630m £7,500
LADBROKES GOLD CUP Monmore 480m £10,000
BGBF BRITISH BRED OAKS Doncaster 483m £4,000
NOTTINGHAM BOOKMAKERS PUPPY CLASSIC Nottingham 500m £7,500
SEPTEMBER
CORAL CHAMPION STAKES Romford 575m £10,000
CORAL TV TROPHY Romford 925m
RPGTV 73rd EAST ANGLIAN DERBY Yarmouth 462m £15,000
BGBF NORTHERN PLATE Newcastle 480m £7,500
CORAL ROMFORD PUPPY CUP Romford 400m £10,000
OCTOBER
JAY & KAY COACHES KENT ST.LEGER Crayford 714m £7,500
LADBROKES KENT DERBY Central Park 480m £7,500
SEASONS SCAFFOLDING PUPPY TROPHY Hove 490m £2,500
BAPP GROUP OF COMPANIES SCURRY Belle Vue 260m £2,500
BRITISH BREEDERS STAKES Nottingham 500m £7,500
SIS DONCASTER ST LEGER Doncaster 661m £12,000
ALCONEX ALL ENGLAND CUP Newcastle 480m £10,000
NOVEMBER
LADBROKES GOLD COLLAR Crayford 540m £8,000
CORAL BRIGHTON BELLE Hove 515m £2,500
BGBG SPRINT Harlow 238m £4,000 November 13
RPGTV ST.LEGER FINAL Perry Barr 710m £15,000
CARLING ECLIPSE Nottingham 500m £8,000
LADBROKES TRAFALGAR CUP Monmore 480m £2,500
DECEMBER
CORAL ESSEX VASE Romford 575m £10,000
BGBF BRITISH BRED DERBY Sheffield 500m £7,500
ENGLISH OAKS Swindon 480m £15,000
BOB HOLMES MEMORIAL Sheffield 500m £2,500
ALCONEX NORTHERN PUPPY DERBY Newcastle 480m £8,000
O’TOOLES GYM BYKER LAURELS Newcastle 480m £5,000
LPS NATIONAL SPRINT Nottingham 305m £3,000
LADBROKES BOXING DAY MARATHON Crayford 874m £2,500
CORAL OLYMPIC Hove 515m £7,500
