Punters could be entertained on Saturday next year

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/ racingpostpix.com  

Crowd figures could see change to festival format

NEWMARKET managing director Stephen Wallis confirmed he would press ahead with plans to move the July festival to a Thursday, Friday, Saturday slot as soon as next year as the finalday crowd at the meeting was marginally down.

The attendance on Friday was 8,950, compared with 9,029 last year, bringing the total over the three days to 28,774 but Wallis was happy with the figures in the circumstances.

"We are very pleased with how today's crowd has held up given how different the economic climate is compared to 12 months ago," he said.

Stephen Wallis: looking to 2010

  PICTURE: Martin Lynch  

"We are now actively looking to move the Champagne Lanson July festival to a Thursday, Friday and Saturday format. We have everyone on side to bring this to fruition and hopefully we can complete this move for 2010. Realistically it may be that 2011 is the earliest we can achieve the move but we will try for 2010."

Ladies Day had ended with police called to deal with a fracas after racing that resulted in James Walpole, 32, from Thetford being charged with obstructing a constable, assaulting a constable and using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress. He is due to appear at Cambridge Magistrates' Court on July 17.

A 29-year-old man from London, who was arrested on suspicion of possessing cocaine has been bailed to Parkside Police Station on September 16. A 38-year-old man from Essex who was arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm has been bailed to Parkside Police Station on August 20.