Interview with British Champions Series Chief Executive Rod Street

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

JANUARY 26, 2015

Interview with British Champions Series Chief Executive Rod Street

by Alix Choppin for TDN

On January 15, the European Pattern Committee announced a number of

changes for 2015, several pertaining to the autumn two-year-old racing program

in Europe. One of them was to move the Middle Park S. (Eng-G1) to an earlier

date, a fortnight before the Dewhurst S. (Eng-G1), and also to revert the

running of the Dewhurst to its initial date, a week prior to British Champions

Day. The moves will revive the option for juveniles to run in both Group 1

contests, and have been welcomed by the BHA and Newmarket Racecourses.

Since the inception of the British Champions Series, the Middle Park S.

and Dewhurst S. had been run on the same day, the so-called "Dubai Future

Champions Day." In 2014, this card was held on the eve of British Champions Day,

thus giving birth to Britain's "Champions Weekend." This flagship event, which

echoed such popular schemes as Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend in France and

the new Irish Champions Weekend, will effectively cease to exist after only one

year. Choppin spoke with Street about his view of these changes.

TDN: What is your opinion on the changes announced by the Pattern

Committee with regards to the Middle Park S. and Dewhurst S.?

Rod Street: It's a positive move. There was originally a one-week gap

between Future Champions Day and British Champions Day and they were only

brought together because we had to meet fixture list commitments given to the

European Pattern Committee. We created British Champions Weekend to take

advantage of that change, but both parties were happy with the original timing.

TDN: If this is a positive move from a race planning point of view,

aren't you worried about a potential negative impact, in terms of marketing and

media exposure, caused by the loss of a championship weekend for all age

categories?

RS: We are not worried in the slightest. British Champions Day was

created as a stand-alone event, promoting the premier races for three-year-olds

and up. We now return to a clean build-up to both events.

TDN: Will "Future Champions Day" still deserve its billing with the

loss of the Middle Park, and what are the options currently being discussed with

the British Horseracing Authority and Newmarket Racecourses to maintain this

fixture to a very high standard?

RS: This is a matter for Newmarket Racecourses, but I understand their

ultimate aim is to put together the best possible two-year-old autumn fixture

list for the racecourse, which means moving races. I would imagine that their

Future Champions Day will remain relevant and be of appropriate quality. In any

case, Newmarket has the best two-year-old program in the world. It's the home of

future champions.

TDN: Are there other changes in the pipeline as far as the British

Champions Series are concerned?

RS: We have already come a long way in four years, doubling the prize

money on offer and receiving three race promotions from the European Pattern

Committee -- now giving us four Group 1 races and one Group 2. Our objective is

to have all five races as Group 1s as soon as possible. This will underpin the

day's status as one of the best race days in the world and the finale to the

British Flat racing season.

TDN: What is your overall assessment of the British Champions Series,

four years down the line?

RS: The British Champions Series has inspired similar initiatives in

Ireland and Australia. This reflects that, in an increasingly competitive

international racing world, promoting the best races and events is the right

strategy. We are pleased with progress so far, particularly with how British

Champions Day has become so quickly established and attracted a long-term,

valuable sponsorship with QIPCO.