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 Shortlisted for Top Award!
Wed 2nd Jun 10 - 13:47
The Mersey Partnership Tourism Awards 2010
Best of the Best in City Region's Visitor Economy Line Up for Top Honours and Celebrations
Haydock Park Racecourse is delighted to announce its place in the shortlist for the final round of judging in the category of Business Tourism for "The Mersey Partnership's Annual Tourism Awards 2010", Liverpool City Region's official Tourist Board.
A total of 15 awards will be presented during a prestigious celebration dinner on Thursday 10th June at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool, in front of a gathering of 500 guests, with 11 of the Awards Category winners automatically going through to the England's Northwest Tourism Awards organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) later this year, and the chance to represent the region in the national finals.
TMP Chief Executive Lorraine Rogers commented: "We are delighted to see the calibre of entries. The shortlist highlights how strong the Visitor Economy is and the Awards will recognise the hard work and commitment to excellence."
Nick Brooks-Sykes, Director of Tourism at the NWDA, said: "These awards recognise the best of the City Region's tourism businesses; the shortlisted finalists reflect the excellent quality and diverse range of visitor experiences to be found across the Northwest. They set the benchmark for others to follow and I hope we will once again have some strong contenders from Liverpool City Region at the regional awards later this year."
Dickon White, MD at Haydock Park Racecourse commented: "We are delighted to be shortlisted for one of these prestigious awards. This is a fantastic achievement for all the team at Haydock Park and a great reward for efforts throughout the year. We are proud of what Haydock Park has achieved and hope to be successful in this award."
The awards are supported by the NWDA, Merseytravel, Liverpool ONE, ACC Liverpool and BBC Radio Merseyside.
The Tourism Awards ceremony is a real celebration event, with a gala dinner, awards presentation and entertainment – and is the highlight of the Visitor Economy calendar.
Tuesday 14th September
Raceday
2:30PM
© 2010 Haydock Park Race Course. Horse Racing and Conference Centre