48-hour declarations will be introduced on a trial basis for All Weather Track fixtures run from 10th November 2003 to 24th March 2004 as part of British Racing’s strategy to enhance further the sport’s international appeal.

The Board had agreed at its June 2003 meeting that representatives of BHB, owners, trainers and racecourses should as a group consider the feasibility of further expansion of 48-hour declarations. The Board has now approved a recommendation that the trial should take place.

BHB Racing Director Ruth Quinn, who chaired the group, said: ‘The view was put forward by attheraces that the extra 24-hour period would greatly enhance their potential to export British racing to overseas markets on the sport’s behalf. Their request for a trial was agreed, but the onus is on them to provide detailed evidence that the positives outweigh the negatives which trainers, in particular, believe will result from a reduction in flexibility in running plans.’

The BHB Board has also reaffirmed its decision taken in June 2003 to approve the recommendation of the Racing Review Committee that 48-hour declarations should be extended, with effect from 2004, to all Flat Heritage Handicaps, all Group Races and all Grade 3 Jumping Handicaps. In addition, the Board has also now approved the conversion of Grade 1 non-Novice National Hunt Races to 48-hour declarations. Those decisions were made primarily in the interests of assisting domestic media coverage rather than for the potential international benefits identified by attheraces.

For further information, please contact BHB Communications Manager Alan Delmonte on 07931 701536