| The Hurdle, a
first race Melbourne Cup day institution at Flemington, is no longer. The event which was last year won by Torvill 'n Dean on Melbourne
Cup Day has been brought forward to October 7.
Racing Victoria is yet to decide whether the hurdle will
replace a race already programmed or be an extra race on that day.
The race will still be known as the Cup Hurdle and will be
run on a set weights and penalties scale. It will be run over 3200 metres and be worth
$71,000.
To retain a ten event card on Melbourne Cup Day at
Flemington racing administators have added a new race to the programme.
A Distance Open Handicap worth $81,000 will be run instead
of the jumping event. It will be contested over 2800 metres. The race will be limited to
16 runners and three emergencies, if required.
A horse that is a final acceptor, (other than a balloted
horse or an emergency acceptor), in the Saab Quality, to be run at Flemington on Saturday
2 November 2002, shall not be an acceptor in the new Open Handicap. |
