Cardinal Stakes

Amid much ado about the start of the turf season in Britain on Saturday, it is important not to overlook the day's second-most valuable race after the Lincoln. Chelmsford City's Woodford Reserve Cardinal Conditions S., worth a decent £100,000, is the last of seven races in the European Road to the Kentucky Derby.  Launched in 2019 by the enterprising team at the Essex track, which continues to punch well about its weight on the prize-money front, the Cardinal's three winners to date (there was no race in 2020 during the pandemic)...

Chelmsford City Racecourse will offer significantly increased prize-money for its 2022 programme, including two £100,000 races and increases across the board for lower-grade handicaps. The Listed Queen Charlotte S., which was first run in 2018 with a prize fund of £75,000, has been boosted to £100,000. The same six-figure pot is on offer for the Cardinal S., which features as the last leg on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, earning points towards the American Classic for the winner and placed horses. The Listed Chelmer Fillies' S. has also...