Beverley Racecourse general manager Sally Iggulden hopes the course’s star race will still attract the best of the North’s sprinters despite it losing its Listed status.
The Hillary Needler Trophy, held every May, is the racing high-point on the Westwood but because of a fall in standard of entrants for the fillies-only two-year-old sprint, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) have removed the coveted Listed status of the race.
Iggulden admits it’s a blow to the course, but she hopes the race can still attract quality runners and eventually win back its Listed status.
She said: “In order to maintain Listed status, winning horses have to have a rating of around the 90 mark at the end of their two-year-old careers.
“The recent rating for the race has sadly slipped to 79, so they (the British Horseracing Authority) have had no choice but to take its Listed status away.
“That’s not to say we can’t get it back, but it’s still disappointing news.”
The race has long been seen as a stepping-stone to Royal Ascot, but recent horses, including last year’s winner Geesala, have struggled to make any subsequent major impact.
It’s only a recent thing, however. The Hilary Needler Trophy’s standing was high on the national stage with some quality horses progressing after victory. The most notable winner was Mark Johnston’s Attraction in 2003, which won the Queen Mary the same season before landing the English and Irish 1000 Guineas the following year.
Iggulden continued: “Since Attraction, there hasn’t really been a winner that has gone on to great things.
“But it’s still recognised as a stepping-stone race for bigger things – especially for northern horses.
“There has been a nationwide squeeze on prize-money, but we hope to maintain a decent level for next season.”
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