RACE DESCRIPTIONS

5:30 THE GTC APPRENTICE HANDICAP STAKES

Our opener is a one mile handicap race for four-year-olds and upwards which have been rated from 46 to 60 In a handicap the weight that each of the runners carries is determined by their official handicap rating which is based on their level of form shown so far The aim is to ensure competitive racing by asking the higher rated horses to carry more weight than a lower rated rival. As a guide, horses rated 40 tend to be at the lower end of the scale whilst the very best performers would be rated as high as 130.

6:05 THE C&P RECRUITMENT & BOOGIES DISCO CUP MAIDEN STAKES

This is a seven furlong contest for three-years-old and upwards is a maiden stakes - a race for horses that have yet to record a racecourse victory. There are a variety of reasons why the older horses in this race could still be maidens. Stoutly bred horses are unlikely to be seen at their best over the shorter distances of their juvenile season whilst a setback or injury can curtail even the most precociously bred horse’s two-year-old career

6:40 THE BERNARD HUNTER MOBILE CRANES HANDICAP STAKES

This is a one mile and four furlongs handicap race for foiur-year-olds and upwards which have been rated from 49 to 68 Once a horse has qualified for a handicap rating this is regularly reassessed A below-par effort could result in a reduced rating whilst a strong performance could see the rating increased Occasionally, horses are entered to race before their handicap rating has been reviewed and so to avoid recent winners being un-penalised they are allotted a mandatory penalty – usually 6lb.

7:15 THE C&P RECRUITMENT 90S CLASSIC HANDICAP STAKES

This is a five furlong handicap race for three-year-olds and upwards which have been rated from 59 to 78 Like most handicaps on the flat this race is also open to horses that are rated below that particular band. However, all handicaps stipulate a minimum weight and no runner can carry less than that, irrespective of how low their rating is This is often described as ‘running from out of the handicap’ and is considered a disadvantage.

7:50 THE CONSTRUCTION AND PROPERTY RECRUITMENT HANDICAP STAKES

Like our previous race, this is also a five furlong handicap race for three-year-olds and upwards however this one is for horses which have been rated from 46 to 58. Like most handicaps on the flat this race is also open to horses that are rated below that particular band However, all handicaps stipulate a minimum weight and no runner can carry less than that, irrespective of how low their rating is This is often described as ‘running from out of the handicap’ and is considered a disadvantage.

8:25 THE BETVICTOR BETTING AFTER THE 'OFF' HANDICAP STAKES

Our penultimate race is a one mile and one furlongs handicap race for three-year-olds which have been rated from 56 to 75 To qualify for a handicap rating horses must have run at least three times in a Flat race in Britain, or have run in no more than two Flat races run in Britain and won at least one of them. This rating then dictates the weight to be carried in a handicap In simple terms a horse rated 75 in this particular race would be required to carry 5lb more than a rival rated 70

9:00 THE BET IN-RUNNING ON RACING AT BETVICTOR HANDICAP STAKES

Our finale is a seven furlong handicap race for three-year-olds and upwards which have been rated from 46 to 65 Like most handicaps on the flat this race is also open to horses that are rated below that particular band. However, all handicaps stipulate a minimum weight and no runner can carry less than that, irrespective of how low their rating is This is often described as ‘running from out of the handicap’ and is considered a disadvantage