Inside track: A lot on my plate

May 9 2008 by James Armstrong, The Journal

YOU know that the Northumberland Plate Festival is only just around the corner when the framing of races for the industry ‘Racing calendar’ goes to print in less than two weeks.

I am setting out the order of running, prize money and sponsors’ names for the three-day Plate festival. Everything is being arranged and then finally set in stone.

The thought process behind the festival is to produce an interesting card within the £460,000 prize money available over the three days. The aim is to create a varied enough programme for people to enjoy and ensure that there is an even distribution of races over different distances.

This is also to ensure that there’s not too much pressure on the course and that damage is limited so it is kept in the best possible condition for the big finale on Saturday.

The plan is to cause as little damage as possible on the round course on which the John Smiths’ Northumberland Plate is run on the Saturday.

Depending on ground conditions over the first two days, the plastic running rail may remain in the same position as we only have three races over that part of the course before the big race.

Our groundstaff know only too well that given a wet and challenging week it may be required – as it was last year – to move an entire one mile of rail to ensure fresh safe ground for the two-mile, £200,000 contest.

Apart from that, other preparations are really starting to get underway for what is the racecourse’s biggest three days of the year. Contractors are starting to meet on site regarding locations of the marquees that will cover almost every square foot of lawn and they are followed by electricians, plumbers, the Tote and so on.

Now the weather has taken a turn for the better, tickets are selling fast and we expect to sell out of Premier enclosure tickets in the next couple of weeks for the Northumberland Plate Day.

After a wet week preceding the first May Bank Holiday which led to our abandonment on Monday, the course is improving well thanks to warmer temperatures and dry weather. It will be all systems go for the Renault Vans X-Factor Finalist Racenight on Friday, May 16, starting at 6.10pm.

JAMES Armstrong is clerk of the course at Newcastle Racecourse.