Newmarket threatens to replace Silver Cambridgeshire after poor turnout

Newmarket could scrap the Shadwell Silver Cambridgeshire and replace it with a new contest next year after just eight horses were confirmed to contest Friday’s race.

First run in 2010, the Silver Cambridgeshire is worth a healthy £50,000 and serves as a consolation race for those entered in the bet365 Cambridgeshire but were eliminated at declarations. To run in the Silver Cambridgeshire, connections must declare their horses for both races.

Sixteen runners were initially declared for this year’s race with eight subsequently making the cut for Saturday’s £160,000 feature handicap instead, leaving just eight runners to go to post.

It is the second time in the last five years the turnout for the race has been below Newmarket’s expectations – 11 ran in 2015 – although officials are allowing the race to go ahead despite having the discretion to cancel the event if fewer than ten horses are declared.

Michael Prosser, director of racing, said: “It’s a shame – it’s something we’re going to have to review. Looking at the possible horses for the race, I thought we might get a field of around 15 for the Silver Cambridgeshire rather than eight.”

Newmarket was left in a similar position last year when only seven horses raced in the Silver Bunbury Cup, a consolation race for the Bunbury Cup, and Prosser suggested removing the Silver Cambridgeshire may be the best way forward.

“We may end up doing something similar to what we did with the Silver Bunbury Cup,” he said. “We had a poor turnout for that last year and we removed it this year, which no-one really noticed, and ran a seven furlong Class 3 for similar sorts of horses but with a six-day entry stage.

“Instead of the Silver Cambridgeshire we could put on a Class 3 race, which would be open to horses rated 91 and 92 as well, and then reduce the Amateur Cambridgeshire to a 0-80, or something along those lines. Whatever we do, there’s a clear need for a change.”

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