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Wetherby Racecourse Looking Ahead to the New Season
07/10/10
Wetherby Racecourse is looking ahead to the start of the new season, which commences on Wednesday, October 13, with its contribution to prize money at the same levels as last season, despite drastic funding cuts by the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
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Jonjo Sanderson, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course at Wetherby Racecourse, commented: “Every racecourse in Britain is having to deal with reductions in prize money funding from the Levy Board.
“Despite these reductions, Wetherby and its sponsors have been able to maintain the contribution to the prize money pool, which will amount to 25 per cent of the total offered during the season.
“This has helped soften the blow from Levy Board reductions and, in relation to the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase in particular, both the racecourse and bet365 were keen to maintain prize money at £100,000 after reaching that landmark figure last year.”
The Grade Two Chase, run over three miles and one furlong, is the centrepiece of the two-day bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting on Friday and Saturday, October 29 & 30.
The race was won last year by the Evan Williams-trained Deep Purple who went on to capture the Grade Two Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon and finish fourth in the Grade One Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
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It was an exciting finish, with Deep Purple snatching the verdict off Tamarinbleu by a head close to the winning line after the third Ollie Magern, the winner in both 2005 and 2007, had enjoyed a three-length advantage jumping the last fence on his fourth start in the race.
Sanderson is looking forward to the 2010/2011 season at Wetherby Racecourse.
He said: “We have a similar race programme and fixture list to last season which means the highlights besides the Bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting are the Coral Christmas Meeting which takes place on Boxing Day and the day after (Sunday and Monday, December 26 & 27) and the totesport Towton Chase raceday on Saturday, February 4.
“Wetherby races on five Saturdays in total throughout the season, with the other Saturdays being November 13, December 4 and January 15.
“There are two Sundays as well, the first being Boxing Day, with the second on April 17. The 2010/2011 Wetherby season concludes with four Thursday racedays, three in the evening, on May 5 (evening), May 19, May 26 (evening) and June 2 (evening) so our fixture list remains very racegoer friendly.
“In addition, I am also pleased to be able to announce an agreement with the Horsemen’s Group enabling Wetherby to stage racing on Monday, January 24, which will provide vital opportunities for the National Hunt community at an essential period during the season, which can only be a positive step for all connected to Jump racing.”
The opening fixture on Wednesday, October 13, 2010, with the first of seven races due off at 2.20pm, is the 20th annual charity raceday in aid of Spinal Research, with over £365,000 raised over the years for the charity which funds research into finding a cure for paralysis caused by injury to the spinal cord.
Spinal Research is as usual hosting a fundraising lunch prior to racing in a marquee adjacent to the parade ring.
The feature race is the Bobby Renton Handicap Chase, run over an extended two and a half miles, which remembers the late Bobby Renton, who trained Freebooter to win the 1950 Grand National from his base near Ripon. This year’s race is supported by former trainer, Jack Berry MBE and his wife, Jo, as part of their commitment to Spinal Research.
The opening race is the Rachel Wright Memorial Hurdle for three-year-old maiden hurdlers, which will once again be backed by the jockeys riding at Wetherby and is held in memory of Rachel Wright who organised the Spinal Research charity raceday until passing away in 2006.
The current going at Wetherby is good, good to firm in places, with the forecast over the next few days being variable and including some rain.
The leading trainer and jockey at the course during the 2009/2010 season - Howard Johnson and Brian Hughes respectively - will be honoured, as will the top conditional jockey at the course - Michael O’Connell.
Discounts of 10 per cent or 20 per cent to admission charges can be obtained by booking in advance through www.wetherbyracing.co.uk while accompanied children aged under 16 are admitted FREE to all enclosures. Car parking is also FREE.
Wetherby Racedays
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011 (evening)
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011 (evening)
Thursday, June 2, 2011 (evening)
