BHA widens pool for Royal Ascot two-year-old runners after trainer backlash

The BHA has amended its elimination scheme for two-year-olds being aimed at Royal Ascot in the light of what it anticipates will be wildly over-subscribed races when racing in Britain returns.

Among a raft of announcements contained in the latest report from the sport's Resumption of Racing group, the BHA has widened the scheme so that trainers who would not previously have been considered a priority – determined on the basis of recent record in two-year-old races at Royal Ascot – can now nominate one horse to be exempt from elimination from the juvenile races run in the opening week of June.

There was criticism from several trainers that the original version of the elimination scheme would adversely affect small and medium-sized yards from having runners at the royal meeting, since they were likely to get balloted out of newcomers' races programmed for week one.

The resumption programme is heavily geared towards two-year-old races, with up to three divisions allowed in order to give as many horses the chance to stake their claim ahead of Royal Ascot, which is due to open just 15 days after the first meeting at Newcastle is scheduled.

'Priority against elimination'

The BHA has retained its formula for calculating how many horses any one trainer can protect from being balloted out, which it says accounts for 126 two-year-olds across 50 stables. A further 225 places are said to be available in the races staged in week one, with each non-qualifying yards now able to nominate one horse to be exempt from being denied a run.

The statement read: "In order to get into Ascot races, a previous run is likely to be necessary and the chances of getting one would normally be decided by random ballot.

"Under the policy, trainers are being asked to identify specific horses that they would like to see given priority against elimination from any division of the currently programmed two-year-old races.

"The offering of priority from elimination is intended to help trainers with two-year-olds that they feel are Ascot prospects ensure that they have a chance to get into a race in the first eight days upon resumption, so as to potentially be able to go on to Ascot."

Further details on measures for the resumption

• The BHA will publish its full week two schedule no later than this Friday.
• All races are to be subject to 72-hour declarations until further notice.
• All personnel attending on course must complete an online training module – Covid-19 Information for participants of the racing industry – on the Racing2Learn website.
• All trainers must ensure their complete employee records, including contact details, are up to date.
• The BHA will publish its complete protocols for racing behind closed doors no later than May 26.

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