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