25/01/2025
Trainer Criticizes Decision to Cancel Sedgefield Race, Calling It a Blow to the Sport
Trainer Micky Hammond has voiced his frustration after a conditional jockeys’ handicap chase at Sedgefield was abandoned due to attracting only three runners. The decision left Hammond scrambling to find a suitable alternative for his in-form chaser, Beat The Edge, who recently scored a victory at Catterick on New Year’s Day.
Hammond, disappointed by the cancellation, said: “It just doesn’t make sense. Owners already face significant challenges, and it takes an enormous amount of effort to develop a horse into an established chaser. Decisions like this feel like racing is shooting itself in the foot.”
The race, over 2m3f, had nine initial entries, but only three were declared by Friday’s deadline. Alongside Beat The Edge, the runners included Tom Creen, trained by Sam England, and The Paddy Pie, trained by Sue Smith. Both horses have recent form at Sedgefield, with Tom Creen winning over the same course and distance on Boxing Day.
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) introduced a rule in 2023 allowing races with three or fewer declarations to be scrapped, aiming to encourage more competitive fields. While the policy has its supporters, Hammond criticized the broader impact of such decisions.
“You don’t need a big field to have a good betting race,” he argued. “This was an open contest, and scrapping it denies the paying public an extra race while also costing three conditional jockeys valuable experience over fences.”
The trainer is now reworking his plans for Beat The Edge, who has a win and two runner-up finishes from three starts since joining his yard. “It’s frustrating because this race would have been perfect for him timing-wise,” Hammond said. “I’ve entered him in a race at Catterick on Friday, but I already have two other runners in that race.”
When asked about the decision, the BHA referred to its fixture policy, which states that any Class 4-6 handicap on the Flat or Class 4-5 handicap over jumps with three or fewer declarations will be cancelled, as long as at least six races remain on the card.
While the rule aims to enhance competitiveness, Hammond’s comments highlight the unintended consequences for trainers, owners, and jockeys alike, reigniting debate over the policy’s long-term impact on the sport.