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.
MUSIC FANS URGED TO BOOK SOON FOR HAYDOCK PARK
Mon 15th Mar 10 - 9:33
MUSIC fans were today urged to book their tickets soon for JLS's and Simply Red's summer concerts at Haydock Park after a substantial part of the racecourse's capacity was sold within a few weeks of sales starting.
The boy band and chart toppers who scored a double triumph at The Brits are performing after horse racing on Saturday 19 June, while Simply Red are playing on Saturday 17 July.
The racecourse's managing director Dickon White said: "I'm certain that we're going to sell out. Many thousands of tickets have already been snapped up online and on the telephone, so I would strongly recommend anyone who wants to see JLS or Simply Red at Haydock Park to book their tickets now."
Tickets, which include the evening's horse racing, are on sale online at www.haydock-park.co.uk. They start at £18 for 19 June and £20 for 17 July.
There is no free admission for under 18s on these two dates. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the ticket hotline - 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
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