Cesarewitch hits jackpot
A SIGNIFICANT boost to the prizemoney for the Cesarewitch Handicap in October is expected to be announced among a raft of prizemoney increases by Newmarket in the next 48 hours.
The news comes after York confirmed that its Ebor Handicap will become a £1million super handicap next year following a five-year sponsorship deal with Leeds-based bookmakers Sky Bet.
That development, first revealed by in January, plus the news about the two mile, two furlong Cesarewitch is another boost to the programme of staying races in Britain.
A £1m bonus is also now on offer for any horse which wins a combination of four long-distance races including the Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and York’s Lonsdale Stakes.
News that the Cesarewitch, first run in 1839 and scheduled for October 13 this season, is to have its purse enhanced will give hope to many smaller stables that they could have a shot at a big prize.
In recent years, it has been won by two 66-1 chances and one 50-1 shot with jumps trainers doing particularly well.
The Ebor will be worth £500,000 this season before rising to seven figures next year. It will be restricted to four-yearsold and upwards so not to impinge on the St Leger, the final Classic of the season at Doncaster.
Racemail understands there will also be a series of ‘win-andyou’re-in’ Ebor qualifiers, including the previous season’s Melrose Stakes at York.
There will be a strong Yorkshire theme to Ebor day with Sky Bet promising to turn it into ‘the most innovative, inclusive, adrenaline-fuelled Flat racing event of the year.’