News 26 August 2008
Dundalk obtains extra fixture.
As Irish race meetings have been suffering the same waterlogging and cancellation problems as their british neighbours, the Irish authorities have taken the positive step of awarding an extra fixture to the all weather track at Dundalk. The new card will take place this coming Saturday 30 August, first race at 2.30 p m.
Full details on booking and hospitality can be obtained from Dundalkracecourse.
William Hill to sponsor Harness Racing Competition.
In a break from its normal sponsorship portfolio, William Hill are to take their first step into the exciting sport of British Harness Racing. In conjunction with the British Harness Racing Club, the leading bookmaking firm are to stage the UK's richest ever Harness Racing Series - The William Hill British Pacing Championship.
With a total prize fund of twenty five thousand pounds, the William Hill sponsored series of races will excell all other UK pacing contests. Run at Wolverhampton Racecourse during the month of September, the championship consists of three qualifying contests, each for twelve runners, with the heats on Friday 12 September, Friday 19 September, and Saturday 20 September. The first four home in each heat will then qualify for the twelve thousand pound Grand Final, which will take place on Friday 26 September.
The races, which have already attracted the leading Harness Racers in the UK and Ireland, will form an encore to the normal all weather flat racing programme on each day. The races will also be shown live on ATR, and in betting shops on SIS.
Great Leighs stages its first multiple day meeting.
Britain's newest racecourse, Great Leighs, creates its first bit of history today, as it stages the first day of its initial multiple day meeting. Runing from 26 to 28 August inclusive, the three day meeting is occurring during the last full week of the schooll holidays, and therefore, has a family theme, including free entry for under sixteens, and family style on-course entertainment.
Apart from some excelent prize money on offer on the racecourse, tomorrow's Ladies Day also offers some great prizes for the best dressed ladies.
Record prize money on offer at Ayr.
The richest flat meeting in Scotland , the John Smith's Ayr Gold Cup three day Festival, has been given a huge cash boost by the sponsors, with this year's total prize money topping six hundred and six thousand pounds. This represents a one hundred thousand pound increase on last year's record figure.
The prize fund for the centrepiece of the meeting, the John Smith's Ayr Gold Cup, has increased by thirty thousand pounds to a new total of one hundred and fifty thousand pounds, with ninety three thousand four hundred and sixty five pounds going to winning connections. At present this fantastic prize has attracted one hundred and seventy one sprinters at the initial decleration stage, twenty five of whom are rated over one hundred on current handicap ratings.
Seasonal finale for evening turf meetings.
Lovers of summer evening turf meetings should note, the meeting at Market Rasen this coming Saturday, 30 August, represents the last summer evening meeting for the 2008 turf season.
Last Ripon meeting for 2008 season.
Also on Saturday 30 August, Ripon stages its last meeting during the 2008 season. The afternoon highlight is the Ripon Cathedrral City of the Dales Handicap Stakes, a race for sprinters over six furlongs, for an excellent prize fund of twenty thousand pounds.
Redcar hoping to race in early September.
After the cancellation of a fixture over the last weekend due to waterlogging, officials at Redcar are very hopeful of holding their meeting planned for 04 September.
Subject to the promised weather forecast for the next week proving to be correct, it is expected the racecourse will fully recover in time for next week's meeting.
