Electrocutionist: won two Group 1 races in Italy
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com)Italy axed from European Pattern
ITALY is set to have no internationally-recognised Group races from next year after a meeting of the European Pattern Committee resulted in the nation being axed from the sport's top table.
A previous meeting of the EPC led to Italian racing authorities being informed that all outstanding prize-money due to international owners had to be paid by the end of March.
That condition has not been met, meaning Italy will cease to be a member of the EPC from January 1, 2015.
EPC chairman Brian Kavanagh said: "It is extremely regrettable that the committee has had to take this course of action. We have advised the Italian representatives that the only circumstances in which the committee could reconsider this decision would be in the event of total compliance with all of the conditions previously set, including those in relation to arrears due to Italian based owners and the implementation of a new system of payment for current and future races.
"This is entirely a matter for the Italian authorities to address."
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