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.
HAYDOCK PARK’S DOUBLE TOURISM AWARD CELEBRATION
Mon 1st Feb 10 - 14:27
Haydock Park were delighted to successfully win two accolades at the St Helens Tourism Awards held at the racecourse on Friday 29th January 2010.
The event recognises the excellence and achievements of all those businesses, organisations and individuals who contribute so much to the Borough's growing tourism industry.
A variety of categories cover the whole spectrum of the industry, from Most Welcoming Receptionist to Tourism/Leisure Entrepreneur of the Year. Independent guest judges from across Merseyside reviewed a host of applications and interviewed successful nominees to determine the most deserving winners in each category.
Ellie Senior, Marketing Co-ordinator at Haydock Park won the ‘Outstanding Young Person of the Year’ award and Haydock Park’s Operations Team won the ‘Team of the Year’ category.
The Awards ceremony is the perfect showcase for one of the Borough's most important and dynamic growth sectors in terms of developing the local economy. St.Helens has become a new destination of choice for visitors to the Northwest with an eclectic mix of premier sport, glorious countryside, fascinating heritage, vibrant nightlife and quality events."
The St.Helens Tourism & Leisure Awards are funded by St.Helens Council, the North West Regional Development Agency, The Mersey Partnership, the Merseyside Objective 1 programme and the private sector.
Dickon White, Managing Director of Haydock Park Racecourse congratulated the winners “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ellie and the Operations Team on their success. This is a great achievement for the racecourse and is a reward for all their efforts.”
Tuesday 14th September
Raceday
2:30PM
© 2010 Haydock Park Race Course. Horse Racing and Conference Centre