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 PARK PREPARES FOR ITS MOST POPULAR RACING DAY OF THE YEAR THIS WEEKEND
Mon 28th Jun 10 - 15:26
HAYDOCK Park is ready for its busiest month of 2010 including - this Saturday (3 JULY) - what is often the racecourse's most popular racing day of the year.The three-day meeting, which comes to a climax at the weekend, features two of the racecourse's most famous and historic races - the bet365 Lancashire Oaks and the bet365 Old Newton Cup.
Friday night is the second of three Ladies' Evenings this season when fashion will be to the fore.
Ladies' Evenings are occasions when ladies get out their finery, dress up and join their partners or friends for an evening out, combining good company, great food and wine, and a little flutter on the horses.
Visitors will be able to take part in style consultations with Cheshire Oaks. There will be mini-makeovers, a silent disco with Radio City DJ Rick Houghton and a 'best dressed' visitor contest.
Later in the month, the racecourse hosts - on Saturday 17 July - Simply Red performing live after an evening of racing sponsored by Hattons Solicitors. More than a decade has passed since the racecourse first hosted a concert, and it was Simply Red who performed that night too. Like 19 June when JLS performed after racing, the event is a sell-out.
The sixth racing fixture of July is on Friday 30th - 'Summer Loving' evening racing. Cheshire Oaks will once again be on course, and there will be another 'best dressed' competition too. Added to that are mini-speed dating sessions.
Dickon White, the racecourse's managing director, said: "There is truly something for everyone at Haydock Park during July . . . top quality horse racing, fashion, and music - as well as speed dating."
Thursday afternoon is Glass Times raceday - first race time 2.30pm - while the 6.40pm start on Ladies' Evening means there's plenty of time to get to the racecourse 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 possibly beyond - especially for the two principal races. 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.
Tuesday 14th September
Raceday
2:30PM
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