£4200 RAISED FOR TSUNAMI APPEAL
Tuesday February 1, 2005

AYR Racecourse has raised a whopping £4200 for the Tsunami Disaster Appeal thanks to the kind hearted racegoers who attended last Saturday’s Burns Meeting at the Craigie track.

The Ayr Executive gave 10% of their entrance money to the Appeal and the Racecourse organised prize draws, a raffle, an auction, a stable tour to Linda Perratt’s yard and a collection all designed to raise much needed money for those affected by the disaster. 

A photograph by leading racing photographer John Grossick of Grey Abbey winning the 2004 Scottish Grand National was snapped up at auction for £250 and Ayr Racecourse donated prizes of a table for four in the Roman Warrior Restaurant and three free memberships to the course each valued at £195.

Event organiser Jane McManus said: “It was a great effort by the public and I’d like to thank everyone who helped especially members of Ayr Rotary Club who carried out a collection on the day.

“Racing people are known for their generosity and this was certainly the case on Saturday.”

Ayr’s £4200 will be added to the money already raised by the racing industry’s own Racing To Help Appeal.

£35 Million Plans For Ayr Racecourse Get Green Light
Tuesday February 1, 2005
A £35 million plan to upgrade Ayr Racecourse by building a casino, multiplex cinema,  hotel and conference facility was granted outline planning permission yesterday.

Ayr Racecourse Aids Tsunami Appeal
29/01/2005

AYR Racecourse belatedly hosts its first meeting of 2005 today (Saturday) with a seven race card featuring some competitive races with most of the north’s top yards represented.

There’s a Burns theme to the meeting with giveaways of whisky, and haggis and neeps and the Craigie track also does its bit for the Tsunami Disaster Appeal with various fund raisers being held.

On track the action gets under way at 12.45 pm with the Ayr Racecourse Members EBF National Hunt Novices Hurdle over 2 miles 4 furlongs. The stables of Lenny Lungo, Lucinda Russell, Ferdy Murphy and Nicky Richards are all represented with Murphy’s Leading Man among main fancies.

Two leading Ayrshire companies – The Klin Group and Kennedy Construction – sponsor two race each and The Klin Group Beginners Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs at 1.20 pm features some rising stars of the jumps game including Cordilla from the Nicky Richards yard and Ferdy Murphy’s Green Ideal.

Featured race on the card  is the Daily Record Handicap Chase over two miles at 2.25 pm and Peter Monteith’s Brave Thought (Ritchie McGrath) heads a highly competitive eight strong field. The Kennedy Construction Novices Handicap Hurdle at 3.00 pm features Birdwatch from the Keith Reveley yard and Brandy Wine from the Lungo stable.

Clerk of the course Anthea Morshead is predicting near perfect jumping ground. She said : “The course is currently riding good to soft, soft in places and there is lovely forecast for a dry sunny day so its should dry out even more.”

The racecourse’s Tsunami Disaster Appeal is being run in conjunction with Ayr Rotary Club and the course Executive have set the ball rolling by donating 10% of all ticket sales to the Appeal and there are many more events aimed at boosting the final total.

A special raffle will be held in the Hospitality Suites with three Annual Memberships of the course up for grabs. Raffle tickets are £2 each and all the monies raised go the Appeal.

A special tour of Linda Perratt’s Cree Lodge stable, situated directly opposite the main entrance to the course will be held at 11.00 am. It’s a chance to view some of Linda’s new horses for 2005 including the former Mick Channon trained Press Express and Dance Night bought for 70,000 guineas from the Brian McMahon stable. Tickets for the tour are £5 and can be paid on the day at Cree Lodge.

There will also be an auction between races in the paddock for a photograph of Grey Abbey winning the Scottish Grand National. The photograph taken by leading racing photographer John Grossick is signed by jockey Graham Lee and trainer Howard Johnson.

All owners and trainers will be asked to donate some of their prizemoney to the appeal.The Tote have also donated a £100 free bet which will be placed on a runner in one of the races with any winnings going to the appeal.

Best Ever Value For Money At Ayr Racecourse
Go racing at Ayr in 2005 and enjoy the best value ever on offer at the Craigie track.