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.
JLS HEADLINE HAYDOCK PARK MUSIC NIGHT
Sat 12th Jun 10 - 9:15
FOLLOWING their double triumph at The Brits, British boy band and chart toppers JLS are the headline act for Haydock Park Racecourse's music night in June.
Runners-up in the X Factor in 2008, their first two singles have gone to the top of the radio airplay charts, and the group have just released their debut album which sold half a million copies in three weeks.
The most successful new group of the year, they embarked on a UK tour to sell-out audiences in December 2009.
And their February 2010 UK tour sold out within 24 hours with extra dates being added due to popular demand for both London and Manchester.
Dickon White, Haydock Park Racecourse's managing director, said: "This is a major coup for the racecourse. JLS will be a big hit with us.
"They are now so well known after their popularity on the X Factor, and are perfect for our Saturday music night in June."
Formed just two years ago, for most of the British public, Oritsé, JB, Aston and Marvin are the most successful group of all time to enter the X Factor.
JLS – short for Jack the Lad Swing, a composite of their cheeky onstage persona – will play at the second music night of 2010 at Haydock Park on Saturday 19 June.
Tickets, which include the evening's horse racing too, are now SOLD OUT for this event.
Haydock Park's popular music nights during the Flat racing season in the spring and summer are increasingly pulling in the big name bands and artists.
The racecourse has already announced that Simply Red are returning in 2010. It follows on from the band's groundbreaking performance in August 1999. They play live again on Saturday 17 July in 2010 and for the last remaining tickets, book online or call our ticket hotline on 0844 579 3006.
For further information, please contact:
Dickon White, managing director, at Haydock Park Racecourse, on 01942 725963
Tuesday 14th September
Raceday
2:30PM
© 2010 Haydock Park Race Course. Horse Racing and Conference Centre