Tariff row forces race cancellation

The ladbrokes.com South Croxton Handicap, due to take place at Leicester on Friday, has been abandoned due to no runners being declared at the 48-hour stage.

The 0-85 mile-and-a-half handicap had seven original entries but none of the trainers took up the option to run in the Class Four event.

It was only just over two weeks ago that Leicester staged a walkover due to the ongoing row over prizemoney between the Horseman’s Group and racecourses.

On that occasion Harry Dunlop’s Saint Helena had to canter down to the furlong pole and back to pick up the £6,000 on offer.

As a result of the abandonment, the opening ladbrokes.com Walcote Maiden Stakes has been divided to ensure a six-race card.

Leicester`s clerk of the course Jimmy Stevenson was perplexed by the abandonment.

“I can only assume it‘s down to the tariff again,” he said.

“I have nothing to do with prize money levels so I can‘t really comment on it.

“It‘s faster ground for this time of year but funnily enough we‘ve got more runners than Doncaster on the same day so we‘ve got no issue with the ground here.”

According to the tariff set out by the Horseman’s Group, a Class Four handicap on a Friday should not be run for less than £7,000 and only £5,000 was up for grabs