Prize money boost for Exeter racecourse - but latest meeting subject to inspection

This week's meeting at Exeter racecourse is subject to an inspection on Tuesday morning.

With snow still blanketing the Haldon course, organisers are hoping for a thaw to allow Wednesday's seven-race card to be given the green light.

The National Hunt calendar has been hugely disrupted by the severe weather conditions of the last few days with big races including the Grade 1 Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on Saturday among those to fall victim to the weather.

This week the twitter account for Exeter Racecourse said: "Fingers crossed we'll get the country racing again on Wednesday.

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"We are now going to inspect at 8am tomorrow for Wednesday's meeting - we'll keep you updated when we have done so."

Meanwhile the racecourse has announced a 25 per cent increase in its prize money for 2013.

More than £200,000 has been added to the total prize money on offer, bringing the total to over £800,000, with an average per fixture of £50,000.

The course's most valuable race day, which includes The sportingbet Haldon Gold Cup which takes place on Tuesday, November 5, is now worth £117,000, up £12,000 on 2012, while a Listed Novice Hurdle on Sunday, February 10  is worth £20,000 - its previous value was £13,000.

New to the race calendar is a Class 3 handicap chase, worth £25,000. This will be run on Friday, December 6 and is supported by the popular Devon Marathon Handicap Chase which has seen an increase in prize money to £18,500.

Exeter is part of Jockey Club Racecourses, which recently announced record prize money levels for the coming year totalling more than £40m across all its racecourses.

The course's general manager Tim Darby said: "We are delighted to announce this significant increase in prize money which will enhance each of our fixtures and is testament to Jockey Club Racecourse's commitment to continually invest in the prize money offered at its racecourses."

Exeter stages 16 fixtures during the year, the most valuable of which are on Sunday, February 10, Tuesday, November 5, Sunday, November 24 and Friday, December 6.