racing_news/

Sky Bet Renew Sponsorship of Wetherby’s Christmas Meeting in 2008 25/11/08

Wetherby Racecourse is pleased to announce that SkyBet will once again back the popular Christmas Meeting at the West Yorkshire venue in 2008, which this year takes place on Boxing Day, Friday, December 26 and Saturday, December 27.

www.wetherbyracing.co.uk/

This will be the seventh year that the Harrogate-based bookmaker has been the principal sponsor at the Wetherby Christmas Meeting, which is always one of the most popular fixtures over the Christmas period. In total, SkyBet will sponsor six races over the two days.

On Boxing Day, SkyBet again supports the £65,000 Grade Three skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (1.35pm), run over three miles and a furlong. The skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase, live on Channel 4, is always a competitive and high-quality contest and last year went to Lothian Falcon, trained at Skewsby in North Yorkshire by Peter Maddison. On Boxing Day, SkyBet also sponsors the £10,000 Merry Christmas From SkyBet Handicap Hurdle (2.05pm) and the £12,000 skysports.com/super 6 Handicap Chase (2.35pm).

The highlight on Saturday, December 27, is the £30,000 skybet.com Castleford Handicap Chase (3.30pm), a two-mile contest which has stayed in Yorkshire for the past two seasons courtesy of the Malcolm Jefferson-trained Calatagan. SkyBet also backs the £12,000 skyvegas.com Novices’ Chase (2.25pm) and the £10,000 skypoker.com Introductory Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle (3.00pm) on the same afternoon, with all three contests being broadcast live on Channel 4.

Dale Tempest, PR Director for SkyBet , commented: “Sky Bet is delighted to extend its support to Wetherby’s Christmas Meeting once again in 2008.

“This will be our seventh year of sponsorship and we look forward to another excellent two days of action at what is the premier meeting in the north of England over the festive season.”

Jonjo Sanderson, Chief Executive at Wetherby Racecourse, added: “We would like to thank SkyBet for its generous backing of our Christmas Meeting in 2008.

“We have seen some tremendous action over the last six years at the SkyBet Christmas Meeting and are eagerly anticipating another cracking two days this year.”