British Horse Racing Authority Reschedules Unibet Veterans

The British Horse Racing Authority (BHA) has shown that the Unibet Veterans Horses Chase which was to be staged at Sandown Park but on Saturday but instead will be held at Market Rasen and the race will take place on January 17, 2025 and will be broadcast live on ITV Racing. Race prize funding stands at 75,000 and will be used to highlight in the ITV Racing television schedule.

This announcement now follows numerous weather-related interruptions. Initially, it shifted the race from Sandown Park to Warwick, which then declared the meeting on Saturday, January 11, canceled. The British Horse Racing Authority and Jockey Club have thus got Market Rasen set as the new venue for the race after both original venues became unfit for racing.

In Lincolnshire, Market Rasen will host the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase on January 17, Friday. The race is eventful enough to seal an invitation for the top-class guests, as it is one of Britain’s major dates for the veterans of all days. The prize money stays at 75,000, and this race will be part of British Horse Racing Authority live broadcast, giving UK viewers the chance to follow the action.

The switch has been welcomed in the race and by the participants too. There was no way Sandown Park and Warwick could stage the race because of the weather, but Market Rasen managed to step in and host the race without further delay.

All old entries concerning the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase have now been cancelled due to the venue and date change. Trainers must re-enter any other qualified veteran horses by noon on Saturday, 11th January, according to the latest notice from British Horse Racing Authority, which declares Wednesday, 15th January, as the cut-off point for final declarations. With the new entries being added, the weights for this race will also be re-examined and republished to ensure healthy competition among the participants.

These adjustments have been made in accordance with the informal logistical adjustments imposed by the British Horse Racing Authority in response to the change in race location and scheduling. Trainers and owners now get a chance to finalize their preparations before the event, following the guidelines updated by the British Horse Racing Authority.

The cold snap currently affecting the UK has caused substantial disruption to the jump racing calendar at the start of 2025. Cancelled fixtures, including those at Sandown Park and Warwick, were all due to freezing temperatures and snow, presenting challenges for the British Horse Racing Authority, race organizers, trainers, and jockeys who have worked hard to keep racing on schedule despite the conditions.

Amy Starkey, Managing Director of the Jockey Club, commented on the challenges posed by the weather. “The cold snap we are currently experiencing has had a significant impact on jump racing at the start of 2025,” she said. “It’s presenting huge challenges for our teams who work so hard to get racing on. We are all really disappointed not to have been able to stage this important race at Sandown Park and Warwick, but very much hope it can take place at Market Rasen next week, with the support of the British Horse Racing Authority.”

Despite the difficulties, Starkey expressed appreciation for the collective efforts to reschedule the race, stating, “There are a number of factors involved in being able to reschedule any race, and as always, we’re grateful to everyone involved in this process and for making it happen.”

This race has long been an important race for veteran horses: the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase. That Unibet sponsor, who continues to support the event, really goes a long way towards keeping it alive. That Unibet sponsors this race and other Veterans’ races in the UK is really important to ensuring that these events are held on the racing calendar. It shows value and maintains the profile of veteran horses, allowing them a chance to compete at a higher level.

This has been the benefit of the horse race-betting levy board, which through a prize money contribution, has also helped. This contribution, along with those of others in the industry, such as the Jockey Club and the rest of the partners in the industry, made it possible to move the race dates.

Surely, with the newly confirmed date of January 17, the race will bring all the audience towards Market Rasen for the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase. Cold weather has caused much trouble, but the race has been repositioned for this year’s important event.

Trainers, jockeys, and owners are rather turning their eyes in preparation for the postponed event, and onlookers are anticipating this putative competition. It is expected that the likes of some of the best veteran horses in the country will grace the races; therefore, it will be a matter of fierce competition and even more so an exciting event.

Despite the challenging weather, the event is going ahead as planned behind a multitude of actors coming together. It has helped to secure the continued support for Unibet, and the Jockey Club, as well as other industry partners, in tackling the problems of the cold snap. At the moment, the spotlight turns to the track as the race approaches and racegoers look forward to the action of the Unibet Veterans” Handicap Chase on January 17th at Market Rasen.