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.
Bob Champion 60:60 Challenge comes to Haydock Park!
Fri 23rd Apr 10 - 10:41
Grand National winning jockey Bob Champion set off from Ascot Racecourse to start an epic journey on 18th April 2010 in aid of The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and the Injured Jockeys Fund and his journey will see him visit Haydock Park Racecourse this Saturday (eve) 24th April 2010.
During his journey, he will visit all 60 racecourses in Britain in 60 consecutive days, criss-crossing the country in a 10,000 mile marathon. Each course apart from Taunton, which will be visited for a special event, will have a race meeting on the day of the visit, and Bob will arrange a special package for all the supporters who wish to join him and have obtained a pass for the Champions 60:60 Charity Challenge. We are aiming to encourage 50 supporters a day to raise a minimum of £50 each to entitle them to participate in the challenge event.
In return for their £50 minimum donation, each person will gain free entry to the Club enclosure of their chosen meeting, discover how racing works behind the scenes, meet with Bob Champion, walk the course before racing, combined with a photo opportunity with Bob and some of the jockeys on the day plus visiting celebrities. Also they will receive a free bet courtesy of the Tote and a Golden 60:60 Grand Draw Ticket with some truly magnificent prizes.
The 60:60 Challenge will round off with a return to Ascot during the Royal Meeting on June 16th. There will be celebrations at which we will draw the winning tickets for the 60:60 Grand Draw.
The event sponsor is Lotus, who will provide their latest "Evora" sports car for Bob to travel from course to course. Other sponsors include Almond Resorts, Godolphin, The Gore Hotel, Saint Lucia Tourist Board, The Tote and Weatherbys. The event website www.champions6060.org.uk has all the information for people to find out more and to register for a place to join Bob at the races. Bob will even 'twitter' every day.
We believe this is an event which will engage the imagination of the general public, raise much needed funds for two worthwhile causes, whilst offering a unique experience to some who may never have been to a racecourse before.
For further information please contact :-
Lucy Wilkinson
The Bob Champion Cancer Trust
6 Old Garden House
The Lanterns
Bridge Lane
London
SW11 3AD
Email lucy@bobchampion.org.uk
Tel 020 7924 3553
Lisa Hancock
The Injured Jockeys Fund
1 Victoria Way
Newmarket
CB8 7SH
Email lh@ijf.org.uk
Tel 01638 662246
Event website www.champions6060.org.uk
Tuesday 14th September
Raceday
2:30PM
© 2010 Haydock Park Race Course. Horse Racing and Conference Centre