'Is it good for racing?' - York under fire as new meeting creates fixture clash

On the opening day of its flagship Flat meeting, Ayr went public with direct criticism of York for planting a rival fixture to clash with its Gold Cup card next year, a move that has also overridden objections from nearby Catterick, which races the same day.

Ayr fears it will lose runners, not to mention the limelight, to the self-funded fixture from one of Britain's most high-profile courses, which will be one of five afternoon meetings on September 23.

Catterick, just 43 miles from York, objected strongly to the new card but was summarily told it does not clash with its own long-established meeting that day.