High-speed rail starts to have its effects
The end of pointing is in sight at one racecourse, while a trainer’s yard is set to be ripped apart by the new line
DEVELOPMENT work on the controversial High Speed 2 (HS2) railway has spelled the end of point-to-point fixtures at a Midlands racecourse.
Whitfield racecourse announced on 1 June “notice has been given” that work will start on the railway this year, meaning the end of the road for racing there.
The Northamptonshire venue was opened by Brough Scott and Hayley Turner in 2009 and hosts three meetings a season — the Grafton, Farmers Bloodhounds and Bicester with Whaddon Chase.
Charles Dixey, chairman of the Grafton fixture, said those involved with the racecourse and fixtures have “looked and squeezed and pushed”, but the course cannot be adjusted due to the location of the railway.
“Sadly, it takes the bottom half of the course from the start to the third fence,” he told H&H. “It was utterly impossible.”
He added that the course has been getting “better and better” over the past nine years.
“Like all these things, a new course takes time to settle in and develop,” he said.
The existing course users are looking at alternative venues for next season.
“We all owe a substantial debt of gratitude to [owner] Martin Clarke and his team for having the courage and foresight to construct a new racecourse on his land some 10 years ago,” read the announcement.
“Much fun has been had by many and there has been some outstanding racing over the years.”
However, hope is far from lost for the British Eventing fixture that runs on the same site.
Alec Lochore, founder of Musketeer Event Management which organises the horse trials, told H&H the company is “not pushing the panic button”.
“We are continuing to work with Martin Clarke and there are, hopefully, options for us,” he said. “We hope the event will continue.”
Whitfield entered the BE calendar in 2015 and runs across two days, with classes from BE80(T) to novice.
Alec added that, unlike the racetrack, which is established in its route, the eventing courses can “turn 90 degrees” and accommodate a different layout if needs be.
“We are definitely not at the stage of pressing the panic button or the closure button,” he said.
“We have invested a lot of money and time — it is a nice little event and we are very much committed.”
IMPACT OF HS2
THE first phase of the railway will run between Birmingham and London, expected to be completed by December 2026.
The cost of the project, which will have branches extending up to major northern cities and Scotland, is expected to run into tens of billions of pounds.
Homes, businesses, rural areas and swathes of hunting country will be affected, particularly that of the Bicester and Grafton.
The planned route will pass straight through point-topoint trainer Pauline Harkin’s Oxfordshire yard.
“I haven’t met a single person who thinks it is a good idea,” she told H&H, adding she would be supportive of the railway if she could see a point to it.
“This is such a beautiful spot. To think it’s going to be completely trashed is incredibly sad.”
She was told work was to start on her yard in 2019, but does not know if it is a “definite yes or no”.
“It is very unsettling — I think it is going to be massively delayed, but that doesn’t help us.
“It is like a big, black cloud hanging over us.”