New grass-roots Flat racing series launched

A new grass-roots series of Flat races started last week (Friday 10 May), culminating in two finals worth £25,000 apiece in October.

The Jockey Club Grassroots Flat series, run by Jockey Club Racecourses, is designed to bolster the foundation levels of the sport.

There will be 38 qualifying handicap races, divided between two distance categories — sprint and middle distance. Any horse competing in a qualifier is eligible for the final.

Paul Fisher, group managing director at Jockey Club Racecourses, said: “Supporting the foundation levels of British racing is really important to us. After announcing a record contribution to prize money from our own resources for 2013, funding initiatives such as The Jockey Club Grassroots Series is further demonstration of our commitment to support quality, including midweek, at all levels of the sport.

The series opener was a 1m2f class 5 handicap at Nottingham, followed by races at nine of the Jockey Club racecourses, including the finale at Warwick on 3 October.

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