Jumps centre on Sandown

SANDOWN’S Betfair Park will be the metropolitan Mecca for jumps racing this year.
Racing Victoria Limited this week announced that Sandown will host 14 jumps races spread across seven meetings this year, with Moonee Valley – the only other metropolitan jumps venue – to host six races over three meetings.
The jumps schedule has been reduced to 94 races in 2009, some 29 fewer than last year.
Sandown will host the Australian Hurdle and Australian Steeplechase – Melbourne Racing Club’s showcase events – on 13 June, before staging the Grand National Steeplechase, Grand National Hurdle, L.V. Lachal Hurdle and Crisp Steeplechase for Victoria Racing Club on 16 and 30 August.