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Racing News |
Racing Returns to Wetherby with Spinal Research Charity Race Day
09/10/08
Wetherby stages its first fixture of the new season on Wednesday, October 15, when the Yorkshire course will be hosting its 18th annual Spinal Research Charity Day.
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Trainer Micky Hammond walked the course yesterday and is pleased with the condition of the ground. His Wetherby specialist Manbow is set to bid for a repeat victory in the skybet.com Supporting Spinal Research Bobby Renton Handicap Chase (see below).
Following the initial re-configuration of the racecourse last year due widening of the A1, further alterations have been carried out to the track prior to the coming season.
The chase fences in the home straight have been moved to the inside of the course and the hurdles have been repositioned to the stands’ side. The changes have resulted in a number of alterations to the official distances and starting points, including the £90,000 Grade Two bet365 Charlie Hall Chase over three miles and a furlong, one of the highlights of Wetherby’s season on November 1, which returns to its traditional start position in front of the main grandstand.
Wetherby’s new Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course Jonjo Sanderson explained: "Following on from last season’s initial re-configuration, we have moved the chase fences to the inside of the home straight with the hurdles moving in the other direction.
"The official distances have been altered slightly as a result and this means that the majority of races will revert back to distances similar to the 2006/07 season. We have also relocated an open ditch to the back straight, which will be the last obstacle down the back."
As well as moving the fences in the home straight, Sanderson has also been working with the British Horseracing Authority, its racecourse inspectors and trainers to ensure that course is able to host its full programme of fixtures this season.
Sanderson continued: "A delegation of the BHA’s Inspectors of Courses looked at the course on Wednesday and they were pleased with the results of our ongoing programme of aeration and watering where the course has been affected by the widening of the A1.
"Several trainers also inspected the course at the same time and they all agree that we are moving in the right direction but there is an acceptance that it will take time to fully settle."
"The ground is currently firm, good to firm in places. We will continue watering the course right through to Wednesday and I am looking forward to seeing great racing action throughout the coming season."
The fixture on October 15 is in aid of Spinal Research and is Wetherby’s 18th raceday for the charity. The fundraising day was set up and run by Rachel Wright, who injured her spine in a riding accident, until her death in early 2006. The "Friends Of Rachel" now continue to support the event, and more than £300,000 has been raised for Spinal Research over the last 17 years.
Organisers are hoping to beat last year’s total of £20,000 through fundraising activities throughout the day. A luncheon prior to the day’s racing action will include a charity auction, with top lots including a photo collage of racing legends donated by Richard Dunwoody and the chance to go and see Channel Four’s Morning Line live courtesy of John Francome.
Bad Girls and Emmerdale actress Claire King, an enthusiastic racehorse owner, will be supporting the event alongside the former three-day eventer Claire Lomas, who was left paralysed in a fall at Osberton Horse Trials in May, 2007.
A few lunch tickets for the Spinal Research marquee are still available (costing £45 including racecourse entrance), and can be purchased by contacting "Friends Of Rachel" via Jil Hartley on 01759 373700 or by e-mailing jilly@olliesbarn.plus.com.
The highlight of Wednesday’s seven-race card, which has attracted 195 entries, is the skybet.com Supporting Spinal Research Bobby Renton Handicap Chase, due off at 3.45pm. The £15,000 feature race returns to its former distance of an extended two and a half miles.
The contest remembers Bobby Renton (1888-1975), a Ripon-based trainer who won the Grand National with Freebooter in 1950. He rode in his last race at Hexham aged 75, and also trained the subsequent triple Grand National winner Red Rum before his retirement in 1971.
Last year local trainer Hammond saddled course-specialist Manbow to his fourth Wetherby victory in the contest. The Middleham-based handler, who inspected the course yesterday and was pleased with the progress of the ground conditions, is looking forward to seeing the 10-year-old gelding bid for a repeat success in this year’s race.
Hammond said: "We’ve entered Manbow in the skybet.com Supporting Spinal Research Bobby Renton Handicap Chase and he’s a definite runner. He won the race last year and he’s something of a Wetherby specialist.
"I think he loves the big fences and the galloping track. We probably raced him on ground that was too soft on his final two starts last season and he’ll love the going at Wetherby. He goes well fresh and loves the course so we would be hopeful of a good run from him.
"I walked round the track yesterday and I thought the ground was on the quick side but the course has improved well since last year. I’m hoping to have four of five runners there on Wednesday and I’m looking forward to another good season at my favourite course."
Manbow could face some stiff competition with 21 horses entered including last year’s runner-up Mandingo Chief, the 2005 winner Full House, who took the Ascot Stakes on the Flat at the 2006 Royal Meeting, and Or De Grugy, who won the Arthur Stephenson Novices' Handicap Chase on his last visit to Wetherby in November, 2007.
Richard Lee has entered Borora, who chased home subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Mister McGoldrick here in the Listed bet365.com Handicap Chase last November, while Howard Johnson, Wetherby’s most successful trainer last season with seven victories, could be represented by Bestofthebrownies and Ellerslie George.
Wetherby’s next meeting is the prestigious two-day bet 365 Charlie Hall Meeting, which takes place on October 31 and November 1. Tickets are available by calling the course on 01937 582035 or online at www.wetherbyracing.co.uk.
