Trainers put their weight behind Arena prize-money boycott

Trainers at Lingfield on Friday seemed resigned – but with regret – to upping the ante in their fight with Arena Racing Company over prize-money levels.

Some are ready to follow the lead of the likes of Mark Johnston in rerouting runners for better rewards at Chelmsford and Kempton, but others believe it will take a total boycott of a meeting to get Arc's attention.

Dean Ivory said: "Prize-money is disgusting and it was about time someone did something. It's a shame we've had to do this and Arc must see it's a last resort.

"We can't keep sending bills to owners after they have a winner and they haven't covered their month's training fees. It makes racing look a laughing stock. Chelmsford is setting an example and makes us feel wanted."

Fellow trainers John Best and Michael Attwater, who have both enjoyed plenty of success at Lingfield, were others looking for alternatives.

Attwater said: "It's Arc's bread and butter horses that are suffering – you never hear of prize-money for big races going down. You have to make a stand."

Pat Phelan was another who felt it might take boycotting a whole meeting to get the message across. "I'd be willing to put my shoulder behind the big wheel," said the Epsom trainer.

Bookmaker Barry Dennis sees both sides of the argument, having had betting shops that benefited massively from FOBT turnover, which will plummet when the £2 stake limit comes in on April 1.

Dennis sympathises with the reaction to lower prize-money across Arc tracks, but questioned the sense of the boycott.

"It will make no difference to me tomorrow but has anyone thought that in the long run Arc could react by closing this racecourse and selling the land for development?"

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