WETHERBY racecourse has announced plans to build a Flat track.

The North Yorkshire venue has hosted jump racing since 1891 but racecourse chairman John Sanderson revealed the new proposals yesterday.

Flat racing would be introduced alongside National Hunt racing.

Wetherby has appointed the Sports Turf Research Institute at Bingley to advise on track realignment and the Jockey Club inspectorate has been shown the plans and raise no objections.

It is a move that could be made possible because of the upgrading of the A1 near the bottom bend to motorway status.

The introduction of Flat racing has been considered for the last three years but Sanderson added: "It's not yet possible to give any indication when this might actually happen."

He made the announcement while welcoming a new 18-day jumps season at Wetherby which, this season, will boast a £6,000 for trainers in an all-comers' points-based competition with £2,000 for a yard with fewer than 26 horses and £1,000 for the stable staff in each.

Updated: 10:35 Thursday, October 14, 2004