Further trial of City Racing surface set for Newmarket next month

Temporary track to be looked at with horses going at speed.

A private trial of the surface that is planned to be used for City Racing will take place in Newmarket next month.

London, Melbourne and Paris have been among the cities mentioned as potential host sites for the unique concept, which has the aim of staging meetings on the streets of iconic locations around the world.

A dummy run open to the public and media at Aintree in November last year was seen as positive, but timetables have yet to be announced for the first event.

An artificial track was installed on the old motor racing circuit at Aintree, with the speed in which it could be put down and taken back up again of paramount importance.

It is now expected a surface will be put in place near the Rowley Mile racecourse at Newmarket on November 7, to allow further assessment by the British Horseracing Authority.

The venture is the brainchild of the Queen’s grandson, Peter Phillips, with backing from various stakeholders, including the Jockey Club.

City Racing spokesman Johnno Spence said: “The surface will be on a concrete strip of road to the right of the entrance to the Rowley Mile.

“We had eight senior jockeys at Liverpool who provided us with very positive feedback on the surface. I think the BHA requirement is now to look at the surface with horses going faster.

“They will work/breeze for three furlongs, with a two-furlong pull-up, going in intervals two by two.”

Spence said trainers in Newmarket had been contacted in order to secure horses for the latest trial.

He added: “The reason we’ve concentrated on Hamilton Road trainers is they are next door to the trial, but we did write to all Newmarket trainers to give everyone the opportunity to work their horses.”

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