Racing News
HAYDOCK PARK PREPARES FOR SHOWPIECE OCCASION OF THE FLAT RACING SEASON
THE countdown to the richest horse race of the year at Haydock Park - and the climax to the racecourse’s Flat racing season - has begun in earnest.
Some of the fastest racehorses in Britain and Ireland will be making their way to the North West for the 45th year of the £275,000 Betfred Sprint Cup on Saturday 4 September.
The total prize fund on the day is not far short of £½ million.
Dickon White, the managing director of Haydock Park, said: “The Betfred Sprint Cup meeting is a hugely popular occasion with racing fans, attracts a big crowd, and is the highlight of our Flat racing season.”
A maximum of 17 horses will take part in the six-furlong race from the 20 that remain as possibles.
The Group One Betfred Sprint Cup is a race that top Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has yet to win. On Saturday, he may saddle the favourite – the Australian-bred colt Starspangledbanner. A decision about whether the horse runs or not will be made later this week.
The sponsors Betfred make Starspangledbanner – a winner at Royal Ascot this year and the hero of the Darley July Cup at Newmarket - their 2-1 ante-post favourite (CORRECT AS OF MONDAY 30 AUGUST).
Opposing him are last year’s winner Regal Parade, last year’s third-placed horse High Standing, Equiano who was fifth last year, and the 2009 Nunthorpe Stakes winner Borderlescott.
The entire racecard at Haydock on Saturday 4 September is very classy, including the Betfred Kingspin Old Borough Cup, the Betfred ‘Goals Galore’ Superior Mile and the Betfred ‘The Bonus King’ Be Friendly Handicap, which commemorates the horse that won the first two runnings of the Sprint Cup in 1966 and 1967.
Be Friendly – owned by the former BBC ‘Voice of Racing’ Sir Peter O’Sullevan - remains the only horse to have won the race twice, and a life-size bronze of him now stands resplendent in the paddock at Haydock Park.
The first race on Saturday is at 2pm. Gates open at 12 noon.
*Admission into the Newton Enclosure is £11; it’s £20 into Tattersalls; £34 into the County Enclosure; and £45 into the Premier Enclosure. Accompanied children aged under 18 enter free. Senior citizens and students, with appropriate identification, enter Tattersalls and the Newton Enclosure at half price. More details are available at web site www.haydock-park.co.uk.
HOT JUMP RACING FOLLOWS THE THAW
Tue 19th Jan 10 - 10:36
HOT JUMP RACING AT HAYDOCK FOLLOWS THE THAW
As jump racing gets going again in Britain following the big freeze, Haydock Park is preparing for the classiest sport of the year so far on Saturday (23 JANUARY).
The popular ‘Peter Marsh Chase day’ offers more than £200,000 in prize-money and is an occasion that attracts the keenest followers of racing.
And Grand National hero Mon Mome could be heading to Haydock for the feature race – the Peter Marsh Chase which is worth £70,000 alone in prize-money.
Trainer David Pipe may run the veteran Our Vic or Tamarinbleu, while Cheshire’s Donald McCain could send Will Be Done for the three-mile race.
The sportingbet.com Champion Hurdle Trial has been re-opened for entries which will include the current Champion Hurdler Punjabi.
An array of veteran steeplechasers will come out for the Tim Molony Chase over three and a half miles. Included in the entries are 2008 Midlands Grand National winner Himalayan Trail as well as the popular Bob Bob Bobbin.
The afternoon rounds off at 4pm with a race over Haydock Park’s “fixed brush” hurdles.
Dickon White, Haydock Park Racecourse’s managing director, said: “Peter Marsh Chase day is always one of the highlights of the jump racing season. Once again, we look certain to attract some of the most talked about horses in the sport, making for a superb attraction for all our visitors.
“Jump racing fans have been starved of a lot of racing because of the recent freezing weather so Haydock Park will warm them up this Saturday.
“Admission starts at just £8. Accompanied children aged 17 and under are given free admission, while senior citizens and students can enter Tattersalls and the Newton Enclosure at half price.”
First race time is 1.10pm.
*Admission: Newton Enclosure £8; Tattersalls £15; County Enclosure £23; Premier Enclosure £34. Accompanied children under 16 enter free. Senior citizens and students, with appropriate identification, enter Tattersalls and the Newton Enclosure at half price. More details about racing at Haydock Park are available on web site www.haydock-park.co.uk
For further information, please contact:
Dickon White, managing director, at Haydock Park Racecourse, on 01942 725963
Tuesday 14th September
Raceday
2:30PM
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