This Saturday, Wincanton Racecourse is scheduled to host its first 2010 fixture.  The excellent Higos Insurance sponsored racecard has attracted Channel 4 Racing coverage with the first race off at 12.55pm.  

However, the arctic weather condition has enforced a Wednesday 2pm course inspection. Steven Clarke, Wincanton’s Managing Director, explains: “Since the New Year, we have experienced sub-zero temperatures - getting to -7 Sunday night and Monday morning.  Currently the track is frozen. The predicted weather forecast is bleak for the rest of the week, so we have decided to call a mid-week inspection.  At this stage, I’m not optimistic.”
 

The racecourse is still running its advance booking Punters Package: £20 to include a grandstand tickets, pork roll, pint and £2 off a £5 tote pool bet. 

 

Gates open at 10.45am with the first race off at 12.45pm. Book now on 0844 579 3014 or visit www.wincantonracecourse.co.uk   

9 January
Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las

Horseracing in Wales is booming. After a scintillating Coral Welsh National - won by a horse bred just a few miles from Chepstow Racecourse - next it's the SIS Live Welsh Champion Hurdle.

 

Last run at Chepstow in 2002, the Welsh Champion Hurdle is being revived by Britain's newest racecourse at Ffos Las.

 

The £50,000 two-mile race will be run on Saturday 9 January when the Carmarthenshire racecourse welcomes the cameras of Channel 4 Racing for the first time. It's by far the most valuable Grade 2 two-mile hurdle race being run in Britain in January.

 

And it's already pulling in the stars with the best hurdler in Britain - Punjabi, the winner of the 2009 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last March - ready to come to west Wales.

 

But he won't have it all his own way. The 'home' team is preparing to keep the crown in The Principality. Trainer Evan Williams, based in the Vale of Glamorgan, is poised to run Danehill Willy in the race.

 

The seven-year-old has already won twice at Ffos Las, albeit those were in novice steeplechases rather than hurdle races, and was placed in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock Park last spring.

 

Another horse that the trainer is thinking about for what will be the most high profile race at Ffos Las to date is Phidippides.

 

Colin Owens, General Manager at Ffos Las Racecourse, said: "After a terrific start in 2009, Ffos Las is firmly established in the minds of horseracing fans. The new SIS Live Welsh Champion Hurdle offers us a showpiece race, and we are looking forward to welcoming some high-class hurdlers for what should be a tremendous day of racing on Saturday 9 January."

10 January

January Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown (Ireland)
MCR Group will sponsor the January Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) (formerly the Pierse Hurdle) and the Leopardstown Novice Steeplechase (Grade 2).
 
The MCR Hurdle with a prize fund of €100,000 is widely recognised as the most competitive handicap hurdle of the year. The 2008 contest saw “Penny’s Bill” take the spoils from Psycho and Carthalawn.
  
Leopardstown Commercial Manager Ciaran Conroy said: “MCR are a very welcome sponsor for these prestigious races. I would like to pay special tribute to Pierse Contracting Ltd and particularly Chairman Ged Pierse for supporting this race over a long number of years and helping to make it one of the highlights of the National Hunt Season.” 

13 January
New Wednesday fixture at Doncaster

Doncaster’s opening meeting of 2010 – the first of 33 racedays this year on Town Moor - is a new fixture at the track, scheduled to start at 1.05pm.

For the remainder of Doncaster’s Jumping season (which ends on Saturday, 6 March), the County and Grandstand enclosures have been combined, with admission prices to the facilities in this Combined Enclosure at £12 (midweek) and £15 (Saturdays) – an 85% saving on usual County Enclosure admission.

In addition, the newly-introduced Mallard Restaurant on the third floor of the main stand offers racegoers a Chef’s Table seafood buffet and hot carvery selection.

The feature race on Wednesday is The Powell Engineering Handicap Chase, a contest over two miles and three furlongs offering prize money of £14,000. Another locally-based company, Pegler Yorkshire Group Ltd. put their name to a Handicap Hurdle contest, while the final race on the card – a contest on the Flat for young horses about to begin their careers over Jumps – is named after Fergusson Coal.

The opening race – a mares’ novices’ hurdle contest – is named in honour of Bill Egginton, who recently received the racecourse’s ‘Employee of the Year’ award, while another loyal employee, Libby Scruton, has a Novices’ Handicap Chase named to celebrate her birthday.

Looking to the year ahead, tickets for the four-day Ladbrokes St. Leger Festival in September go on sale on Monday, 1 February.

The giant screen situated opposite the main stands will enable racegoers to see all of the action. A shuttle bus will be in operation from the railway station (£2 return).

14 January
North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick

The North Yorkshire Grand National – the longest race of Catterick’s Jumping season – heads a seven-race programme, which begins at 12.40pm.

Offering prize money of £9,000, this Handicap Chase for stayers over three and three-quarter miles may attract one or two horses which could be entered for The John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, 10 April.

The winning owner will receive The Denys Smith Challenge Trophy, presented by the man who trained Red Alligator to win the 1968 Grand National from his base near Bishop Auckland. Mr Smith was the champion trainer over Jumps during the 1967/68 season, and was a leading dual-purpose trainer, recording a remarkable 146 winners at Catterick (89 on the Flat and 57 over Jumps). He regularly attends meetings at Catterick and his daughter, Susan, is the racecourse’s Administration Manager.

Thursday’s card also features The W.L. & Hector Christie Memorial Trophy (a Novices’ Handicap Chase) over two miles. The race commemorates William Christie and his son, Hector. William Christie passed away in 1962 at the age of 103. Educated at Eton and Oxford, his family were land-owners in Wensleydale. In the Victorian era, he was an amateur rider, and rode winners in six different countries! Known as ‘The Squire of Jervaulx Abbey’, William Christie owned racehorses until he was 100 years old and he served as a steward at Catterick. His son, Hector trained Fortina (owned by Lord Grimthorpe) to win the 1947 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Yorkshire 4x4 Adventure Activities of Felixkirk near Thirsk put their name to the opening race – a selling hurdle contest for novice four-year-olds. The giant screen, situated opposite the main stands, will enable racegoers to enjoy even more of the action.

23 January 2010 

Racing at Wincanton

Get 2 tickets for the price of 1 
Sign up for the advance booking Punters Package: £20 to include a grandstand tickets, pork roll, pint and £2 off a £5 tote pool bet.

Tickets are available from £6 on 0844 5793014 or book online: www.wincantonracecourse.co.uk  (Free entry for children 17 and under). Gates open at 10.30am with the first race at 12.55pm and the last race run at 3.40pm.

30 January 2010
Cheltenham Festival Trials Day
Arguably the best one day Jump racing meeting anywhere, with seven races of huge quality that also provide some final clues to the destination of the big prizes at The Festival.

After racing, you can enjoy an evening at the sales with a Brightwells Bloodstock Sale in the Centaur. Sales catalogues are available by phoning 01568 619 777 or via http://www.brightwells.com/. 

Alternatively, don your dancing shoes for the annual Club 18–24 Black Tie Charity Ball in the Gold Cup Room - tickets and details are available on 01242 537654.

16 April
The Saw Doctors at Ayr

The Saw Doctors return to Ayr Racecourse for a concert after racing on the first day of the two day Coral Scottish Grand National Festival.

The Irish band have recently completed a successful UK Winter tour and head to Australia in March before returning to play 11 British dates in April including five in Scotland culminating with the Racecourse concert.

This will be the fourth year in a row the Saw Doctors have appeared at the Racecourse and the third time they have played on the eve of the Coral Scottish Grand National.

The band enjoyed a highly successful 2009 culminating with the release of their greatest hits album ‘To Win Just Once’ and they also toured extensively.

The Saw Doctors will take the stage shortly after the last race which is run at 5.40pm and play a full concert which will last for around an hour and a half.

Ayr Racecourse PR Iain Ferguson said : “The Saw Doctors always attract a huge crowd to their concerts in the Ayrshire Suite after racing and we have fans travelling from all over the UK to see them.

“The audience know most of their songs off by heart and there is a great party atmosphere.”

For further information call 01292-264179 or go online at www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk.

1 July 2010

 Simply Red at Epsom

Simply the greatest start to the popular Epsom Live music nights is the announcement from Epsom Downs Racecourse that Simply Red will be the first act to perform at Epsom Live! on Thursday 1 July 2010. 
 
Much to the delight of the Racecourse and fans alike, Simply Red have announced a tour of select venues next summer following the phenomenal success of their 2009 world tour. This iconic band have sold more than 50 million albums in their 25 year history with hits including Money’s Too Tight (To Mention), through to Holding Back The Years, If You Don’t Know Me By Now, Stars and Fairground.
 
Lead singer Mick Hucknell commented, “We had a fantastic tour in 2009, showcasing a selection of our greatest hits to sell out crowds. Performing at outdoor venues has whet our appetite for more of the same. It is such a fantastic experience for the band to play live at the unique setting of Epsom Downs Racecourse and especially as it’s located in my home county of Surrey!”
 
Epsom Live! is a series of great value evening fixtures which take place every Thursday in July, where racing and music fans alike flock to Epsom to enjoy thrilling horseracing  followed by a live outdoor concert featuring a host of acts from the '80s, '90s and today. 
 
Rupert Trevelyan, Managing Director of Epsom Downs Racecourse commented, “We are thrilled to announce such a fantastic start to our 2010 line up for Epsom Live!. Simply Red will be the first of five acts to perform at our music nights and we are looking forward to this legendary band, led by the silky voice of Mick Hucknall, performing at what is sure to be another sensational summer at Epsom Downs next year.” 
 
Prices for the racing and concert start at £27.50 when booked before 31 December 2009 for Queen’s Stand and Duchess’s Stand as one enclosure and £30 from 1 January 2010 and £32.50 if booked on the day. Tickets for children aged 10 and under are priced at £5, with children aged 10-17 just £15. Racing is a real social occasion and group bookings of 12 or more receive a 20% discount. To book tickets please call 0844 848 0197 or visit www.epsomdowns.co.uk