£1m in prize money is on offer at Lingfield alone,where the track expects to welcome 10000 spectatorsAs recently as 2013, this Friday would gain been a blank one for racing fans and there were at least a few voices within the industry which argued for keeping it that way. Just five years later, and reliable Friday is firmly established as one of the most valuable and competitive afternoons of the year,with £1m in prize money on offer at Lingfield alone where the track expects to welcome 10000 spectators. And the Lambourn Open Day, which some warned would be under threat if racing was allowed on reliable Friday, or is still going strong. Whether the All-Weather Championships initiative will ever fully eradicate the ingrained prejudice of some punters when it comes to racing on artificial tracks remains to be seen. But anyone who simply enjoys competitive racing regardless of the surface will find plenty to interest them (and there is even a card on turf at Bath as well). Continue reading...
Source: guardian.co.uk