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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.

LANCASHIRE OAKS HEROINE BIDS TO RETAIN HER CROWN
Mon 28th Jun 10 - 15:22

The heroine of the 2009 bet365 Lancashire Oaks could be on her way back to Haydock Park on Saturday (3 JULY) to defend her crown.
 
Britain's current leading jockey Paul Hanagan - born a few miles from the racecourse in Warrington - was on board Barshiba 12 months ago, and could aim for a hat trick of wins in the race after victory with Anna Pavlova in 2008.
 
Group 2 Lancashire Oaks and Old Newton Cup day - with both races sponsored by bet365 - is the most popular Flat racing at Haydock Park every year.
 
Sixteen fillies and mares have been entered for this year's bet365 Lancashire Oaks, run over one and a half miles.
 
They include Investec Oaks runner Champagnelifestyle, owned by staff from the Racehorse Owners Association, as well as High Heeled, fourth in last season's Lancashire Oaks and third in this season's Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs.
 
Saturday's racing climaxes a three-day meeting which starts on Thursday afternoon and continues with Ladies' Evening on Friday.
 
With more than £260,000 in prize-money available on Saturday afternoon, top horses will be coming from all parts of Britain and beyond. The high class racing, which gets under way at 2.15pm, has attracted the cameras of Channel 4 Racing.
 
RACECOURSE ADMISSION DETAILS
 
*The next racing at Haydock Park is the three-day meeting between Thursday 1 July and Saturday 3 July which includes Ladies' Evening on Friday as well as the bet365 Lancashire Oaks and bet365 Old Newton Cup on Saturday afternoon. Admission: Newton Enclosure (Thursday £8; Friday £10; Saturday £11); Tattersalls (£15, £18, £20); County Enclosure (£23, £28, £34); and Premier Enclosure (Friday £43 and Saturday £45). Accompanied children under 18 enter free. Senior citizens and students, with appropriate identification, enter Tattersalls at half price. More details about racing at Haydock Park are available on web site www.haydock-park.co.uk.