Trainers boycott two Lingfield races in prize-money protest
Trainers have boycotted two races at Lingfield on Saturday in protest against low levels of prize-money.
The five-furlong Ladbrokes Novice Stakes had nine entries at the five-day stage but none were declared, while only Nick Litmoden's Greybychoice was declared for the Ladbrokes Home Of The Odds Boost Novice Stakes over a mile, meaning he will take home the entire £4,500 prize fund.
Lingfield is owned by Arena Racing Company, which has come in for increasing criticism of late over levels of prize-money at its tracks, after opting to reduce its contributions due to concerns over the impending cut to maximum stakes on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs).
As Lingfield stages one of its headline events in the Winter Derby this weekend, trainer Phil McEntee, who has criticised ARC's stance on social media, hopes the action has maximum effect.
"There has been enough of us that have been vociferous about ARC's prize-money for a while, and there are a lot of trainers and owners who wanted ARC to know that going forward we aren't happy," said McEntee. "What better day to let them know than on Winter Derby day?
"We can all see who had entries in the mile maiden - Mark Johnston, John Gosden, Charlie Appleby, Roger Charlton - and I think ARC thought this was a cry for help from the smaller guys who provide the most runners through the year, but it's not just about the smaller trainers.
"The prize-money levels we are racing for in 2019 are simply not acceptable and I, for one, am absolutely delighted with what's happened. ARC better take note. It is not by accident that one was declared in that race either. Somebody had to do something and I'm pleased there has been action. It's up to the trainers to do something about it. This might not be the end of it, but it's a starting point.
"ARC will definitely be aware now that it is not just me and a few others who have had their feathers ruffled. Unfortunately I've had to make an entry at Wolverhampton (which also owned by ARC) on Tuesday because it is owned and bred by some locals who want it to run there, but I'm not happy about it. At the same time, it's not about one individual horse.
"My brother came over from America recently and couldn't believe there where Dubawi colts and Frankel colts running for such pitiful sums. We're supposed to have the best racing in the world yet we're running for Third World money."
Archie Watson has been one of the leading trainers at Lingfield since taking out a licence and had entries in both affected races.
He said: "I didn't feel that the prize-money merited me running my horses. All I can do is talk for myself - I can't talk for anybody else apart from myself and my horses. I haven't declared my horses because I didn't think the prize-money was suitable for the class (of race). I didn't feel I could justify running for that money.
"I imagine I trained among the most number of runners at Lingfield last year, and I have absolutely no problem with the track, (clerk of the course) George Hill and his team. This prize-money (level) has been across the ARC tracks, and it does need to change. The horsemen need to be properly rewarded for providing the runners. I will decide horse by horse (whether to run in the future)."
Rupert Arnold, chief executive of the National Trainers Federation, believes it is up to trainers where and when they run their horses.
He said: "The NTF supports trainers' rights to exercise their choices on an individual basis. It is their individual decision whether they support those races or not.
"The NTF, Racehorse Owners Association, Racecourse Association and British Horseracing Authority are working together to see if we can help resolve the situation with prize money. That is an ongoing discussion - there is an industry effort to try to make some progress on this."
ARC's decision to cut its contributions means it no longer receives extra funding from the Levy Board for lower-grade races, but insists "constructive talks" are ongoing in an attempt to resolve the situation.
A spokesman said: "We have been open about the fact that, unlike 2018, we are no longer in a position to further invest to unlock Levy funding for grassroots racing.
"The Racecourse Association has made a proposal that will allow ARC, and all other racecourses, to continue to access the Levy funds assigned to support prize money in this important area of the race programme. This amounts to £4.5 million across our group.
"It is disappointing that this situation has occurred in the middle of these constructive talks between horsemen, BHA and racecourses, but we very much hope that they can progress and that this funding situation can be sorted as soon as possible."
Littmoden understands frustrations despite declaring runner
Nick Littmoden believes prize-money tariffs "should be set in stone" despite opting to declare a horse in one of two races boycotted by trainers at Lingfield on Saturday.
A five-furlong novice stakes received no declarations, while Littmoden's Greybychoice was the only horse left in the Ladbrokes Home Of The Odds Boost Novice Stakes over a mile, meaning he will take home the entire £4,500 prize fund.
Littmoden was a vocal supporter of boycotting a meeting at Wolverhampton back in 2003, yet felt he was not backed up by the rest of the training fraternity.
A former all-weather champion trainer, he subsequently spent time away from racing but returned to the ranks in 2017.
"You need to go back a few years when the person who was most vociferous about prize-money levels was me," said Littmoden.
"I was fined for it. I declared a lot of horses at Wolverhampton when the minimum values were first abolished and I didn't run any of them. I made sure there was a note on the racecards so people knew I had no intention of running them.
"I paid my fine, and I stand by it that it was money well spent because I voiced my opinion.
"Another meeting followed and I spoke to a lot of trainers, put a lot of time and effort into it and said that if we run for these levels now, then you have to accept them in the future and the likelihood it will get worse.
"Some trainers declared their horses and saw it as easy races to win. I said back then that I'd voiced my opinion, but I felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall.
"I then took time out of racing and I've come back in with my eyes wide open, but prize-money is shocking across the whole industry.
"I respect these guys want to take a stand now, but my choice is I've come back into racing as an independent trainer and I choose to do what I want to do, so from that point of view I declared with every intention of running."
He added: "I'm not happy, but my trainer's percentage will be donated to the Injured Jockeys' Fund. My voice still says what it did back then - I just wish I had the support of everybody then and perhaps we wouldn't be in the position we're in.
"I hope my voice will be heard yet again that I think prize-money levels are insufficient.
"We might be being a little bit harsh picking on ARC (Arena Racing Company), it is across the board. The prize-money at Newmarket is shocking, yet some of the independent tracks like Fakenham and Chelmsford do a great job.
"I don't think prize-money tariffs should be just advised, they should be set in stone, otherwise don't run the fixture.
"I'm not doing this for quick prize-money - I wanted to race, my voice is 100 per cent saying prize-money levels need to change and hopefully my voice will be heard again."
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