Unibet launches Middle Distance Veterans’ Series with the Jockey Club and BHA
The five-year deal will provide veteran racehorses with a dedicated event to compete in with more accessible parameters.
Unibet has launched a collaborative race, alongside the Jockey Club and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), named the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Series.
The races will feature 10, 11 and 12-year-olds over two miles and four furlongs, which will give the older horses a chance to still compete.
Ed Nicholson, Head of Kindred Group racing, said: “It is always exciting to see much-loved older horses competing for good prize money.
“Hopefully the series will help persuade owners to keep some of the legends of our sport in the game for a little longer.”
“I personally spoke to several high-profile owners and trainers during the research stage explaining our idea and received extremely positive feedback, which was enormously pleasing”.
The event structure will follow six races followed by a finale and although the horses do not need to compete in the event previously to run in the finale, there will be a £10,000 ($12,214) bonus for horses that do so and then go on to win the series.
Nicky Henderson, six-time Champion Trainer, said: “It is great to see a new veterans’ chase series set up over two-and-a-half miles.
“These races are vital for horses of a certain age whose best years are behind them but are still having to compete off lofty handicap marks.
“It’s also brilliant for racing fans to be able to come and see some of their favourite household names at the twilight of their careers and we hope to be able to support the series.”
In other horseracing news, Jonathan Burke has been named CopyBet’s first racing ambassador, where among his other ambassadorship duties, he will host Q&A sessions on social media to interact with fans.
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