Lingfield boycott in prize money row

● Trainers refuse to send horses after cuts at ARC tracks

Trainers have boycotted two races at Lingfield tomorrow 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 faced increasing criticism over 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, trainer Phil Mcentee, who has criticised ARC’S stance on social media, said: “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. What better day to let them know than on Winter Derby day?

“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.

Top Scottish jumps trainer Lucinda Russell tweeted to another ARC track, Sedgefield, last week: “We cannot enter your chases with just £3,800 prize fund nor the 3m3 hurdle at £3,500. At a time that we are trying to work together that prize money is unacceptable.”

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.

“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].”

ARC’S decision to cut its contributions means it no longer receives extra funding from the Levy Board for lowergrade 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.”