Racing: Running for the money

OWNERS of Britain's busiest horses are to share in a pounds 140,000 windfall next month. The British Horseracing Board allocated pounds 500,000 for its appearance-money scheme but projections show that only pounds 360,000 of that sum will have been distributed when the scheme's first year comes to a close on 1 September.

Under the scheme, horses qualify for pounds 30 appearance money after their eighth run.

'The money over will be evenly redistributed to those owners whose horses qualified under the scheme,' Simon Clare, the BHB's spokesman, said. 'It will mean a bonus for each horse of about pounds 14 per qualifying race.'

The leading earner under the scheme is Milngavie, who has run 31 times since 1 September last year and has received 24 bonus payments totalling pounds 720. Star Rage, who went down by a neck to Chucklestone at Bath yesterday, will be making his 20th appearance this season (eight wins and only once out of the frame) when he contests today's 2.40 at Beverley.

The trainer Brian Meehan yesterday lost his appeal against the decision to demote Dancing Heart from first place at Windsor on 30 July. Dancing Heart's jockey, Brett Doyle, was suspended for six days (12 to 17 August) for committing his third careless riding offence of the season.