Final Classic weekend.

Byline: JAMES ARMSTRONG 

THIS weekend racing lovers will be anticipating the final Classic of the Flat season - the St Leger at Doncaster.

Once again there are question marks over the future of the race, due to the fact that the 1m 6f trip doesn't often attract the best horses. This is a great shame because racing needs the excitement that could be generated by a horse going for the 'Triple Crown' - the 2000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby and the St Leger.

Sea The Stars could have gone for the St Leger this year to win the three Classics, but owner and trainer decided against it.

Instead, horses from Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien and Newmarket's Saeed Bin Suroor will almost certainly dominate tomorrow.

Here at Newcastle we are coming to the end of our own Flat season, with just two further fixtures - The Colbeck Fish & Chip Raceday on Wednesday, September 30 and the Business Networking Raceday, on Tuesday, October 13.

In the meantime, our owner Northern Racing is investing in its three major tracks - Newcastle, Uttoxeter and Chepstow.

More than pounds 750,000 is being spent on drainage work and the first phase of the improvements at Newcastle is already under way . This substantial investment in the three racecourses aims to tackle the effect of heavy rainfall, which will hopefully lead to fewer abandonments.

But horse racing wasn't top of the agenda this week as the sport came to terms with the loss of apprentice jockeys Jamie Kyne and Jan Wilson, who died in a fire in North Yorkshire last weekend.

Jamie was becoming a familiar face at Newcastle this season as he had plenty of rides and had enjoyed a couple of winners.

Jan too was a young jockey just at the start of her race-riding career. Indeed, her last racecourse ride was at Gosforth Park on August Bank Holiday Monday.

Weighing rooms around the country will have undoubtedly been quieter this week and our thoughts are with the families of the two riders.

James Armstrong is clerk of the course at Newcastle Racecoure