Success story an attractive winter target for horsemen

The All-Weather Championships were the brainchild of Arc’s former racing director Jim Allen.

Allen, now training in Florida, was determined to raise standards in the winter period, which had slumped to an unsatisfactory level, and a programme was drawn up leading to a Good Friday finals day, which was hugely valuable by all-weather standards.

It is a moot point as to whether it would have been better to stage finals day on Easter Saturday, Sunday or Monday, and leave Good Friday blank, to the benefit of the open days and jockeys’ awards evening.