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.
May Madness!! Top Class Racing, Fashionable Fillies and NAKED JOCKEYS!
Fri 14th May 10 - 11:46
HAYDOCK Park is poised for its busiest period of the whole year - with no fewer than five fixtures in the space of ten days.The schedule between Thursday 20 and Saturday 29 May includes the first Ladies' Evening of the spring, a new Gents' Evening and two high quality racing Saturday afternoon meetings.
It begins with the Princess Royal Trust for Carers raceday, and then big crowds are expected for the first of three Ladies' Evenings between now and August.
Ladies will be able to take part in style consultations with Cheshire Oaks on Friday 21st when the races get under way at 6.30pm. There will be mini-makeovers, a silent disco with Radio City DJ Rick Houghton and a 'best dressed' visitor contest. Added to the mix are two 'naked jockeys' - models with spray on jockey silks - directing visitors to the parade ring.
The quality of the racing on Saturday afternoon - 22 May - is top notch, including the £75,000 Betfred Silver Bowl and the £100,000 Group 2 Betfred.com Temple Stakes - run over the minimum distance of five furlongs - that will attract the best sprinters in the land.
The 'naked jockeys' are back the following Friday for Haydock Park's first ever Gents' Evening.
Cheshire Oaks will once again be offering style consultations, Berkley Bowen will be offering tailoring tips, a Formula 1 simulator will be in action, BMWs will be on display and there will be another 'best dressed' visitor contest.
St Helens top dart player Dave Chisnall, who is now sponsored by Haydock Park, will be taking part in a darts competition with visitors to the racecourse.
The racing is again high class on Saturday 29 May, including the £65,000 Group 3 Timeform Jury Stakes.
There are three other Class 1 races too, one of which is the EBF Joan Westbrook Pinnacle Stakes in memory of Lady Westbrook, a renowned owner and breeder of racehorses, who died in 2004. She bred and owned the 2002 St Leger winner Bollin Eric which, like most her horses, was named after the River Bollin. The river flows through the farm on which she lived with husband Sir Neil at Prestbury in Cheshire.
First and last race times:
Thursday 20 May - 2.20pm-5.05pm;
Friday 21 May - 6.30pm-9pm;
Saturday 22 May - 2.05pm-5.20pm;
Friday 28 May - 6.40pm-9.10pm;
Saturday 29 May - 2.05pm-5.25pm.
*Admission: Newton Enclosure £10 (£8 on Thursday 20th); Tattersalls £18 (£15 on Thursday 20th); County Enclosure £28 (£23 on Thursday 20th); Premier Enclosure £43 (£34 on Thursday 20th). Accompanied children under 18 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.
Tuesday 14th September
Raceday
2:30PM
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