Ground Dries Out Slowly
Thursday 18th October, 2007
With the sun beating down on Newmarket for a second consecutive day following 35mm of rain on Tuesday night, Director of Racing Michael Prosser walked the track this afternoon and gave this assessment:
"There's a marginal improvement since yesterday as you would expect at this time of year following two dry and sunny days. The average going stick reading is 6.7 compared with 6.4 yesterday. I am leaving it as officially Soft, though there is every chance that it will change to Soft, Good-to-Soft in places by the time we start racing tomorrow."
Reflecting on Saturday's Champions' Day card, Prosser added:
"I have been at Newmarket for 7 years and this has to be the strongest racecard that I have known in that time. I can't ever remember a more compelling two-year-old line-up than the one we have for have the Darley Dewhurst Stakes, which will help to cement its position as the premier juvenile race in Europe once again, while the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes field looks right up to scratch. All the supporting races have attracted excellent line-ups, so I couldn't be happier.
"With the fine weather set to continue through the weekend, we are in for a fantastic day on Saturday. Watching a host of champions on the track will hopefully be the perfect prelude to seeing England crowned World Champions once again on the rugby field that evening!"
ENDS
For more information, please contact Alistair Haggis, Newmarket's Press Officer, on 01638 675553 or 07884 026487, or Michael Prosser, Director of Racing & Clerk of the Course, on 01638 675504 or 07802 844578