AN angry trainer has blasted a race being abandoned by the BHA due to a ‘ridiculous’ reason.
Henry Daly said it was a ‘sad state of affairs’ that led to a 3m2f handicap chase at Newton Abbot on Monday being cancelled.
Just three runners had been due to compete in the contest but it was scrapped after declarations.
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That was because the BHA are seeking to improve competitiveness and make races more appealing to punters.
Daly’s Jimmy The Digger was one of three due to run – and the trainer was left furious and worrying for the future after it was called off.
He told the Racing Post: “It’s a measure of the sad state of affairs we have got ourselves into as a sport.
“I can’t help but think this is a most ridiculous position for a sport to find itself in.”
Daly said it ‘looked bad’ that he had told the horse’s owner all they had to do was get round to earn guaranteed prize money.
And it was doubly bad that there was now nothing for Jimmy The Digger to run in until September 24.
He added: “Where is the encouragement to keep horses in training?
“There’s quite a lot of disappointment because of this, to put it politely.”
A BHA spokesman said the race, which was for horses rated 0-115, had been removed due to its lower rating ban than the other three-runner races on the card, which are 0-120s.
The first two races on the card have just three runners each.
While the biggest field of nine will contest the Class 4 2m1f three-year-old hurdle at 3.50pm.
Salisbury’s richest raceday of the year was called off last week owing to torrential rain.
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