SANDOWN PARK 'RISES TO THE CHALLENGE'
07/01/2010
Get set for two days of sensational racing at Sandown Park Racecourse with the traditional Grand Military Gold Cup Day on Friday 12th March and the Paddy Power Imperial Cup Day the following day, Saturday 13th March. With top quality racing on the cards and the Cheltenham Festival just days away there will be plenty going on to whet the appetite for two fantastic days racing.
Paddy Power Imperial Cup Day on Saturday 13th March is definitely a day of hilarious entertainment so be prepared for lunacy as Paddy Power stages some new, madcap stunts to raise money for charity, following the huge success of the Parade Ring Spacehopper race in 2009.
This year it’s Sport Relief and some wild and whacky ideas are already being discussed to raise money for this very worthwhile cause, which includes the return of the Spacehopper race but this time with a twist! Teams will include presenters of Channel 4, jockeys, owners and representatives from a yard. Not only that but racegoers will be able to do their bit for charity as well; Sandown Park will automatically give £2 to the charity for anyone who comes to the course on Saturday and buys a ticket on the day wearing red socks.
There is also the chance to watch the Cheltenham Preview Panel where a panel of experts will discuss their views after the racing on the forthcoming Festival. Paddy Power, spokesperson for bookmakers Paddy Power, will be taking part along with top trainers Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson as well as Owner Andy Stewart. There is sure to be plenty of opportunity to pick up a few useful tips.*
Don’t miss the Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) parade which will take place in the parade ring before racing starts, show casing some household names who have gone on to new careers in other equine sports. ROR work tirelessly to ensure that racehorses that have finished their careers on the racetrack can be trained in other areas of equine sport so that they can continue to enjoy life to the full. Those parading include Blowing Wind – winning 9 races in total over hurdle and chase with 2 wins during the Cheltenham Festival, Make a Stand - winner of the 1997 Smurfit Champion Hurdle and the Tingle Creek Chase in 1996, Moscow Flyer – winner of the Tingle Creek Chase in 2004, Kicking King – winner of the King George in 2005 (held at Sandown Park that year), Brave Inca - 5 Cheltenham Festival runs winning the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge, Celibate - a Grade 1 winner at the Punchestown Festival in 1999, Master Oats - winner of Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1995, Aldino - 9 career wins, Hussard Collonges - 25 starts and 3 wins, winning the Royal & Sun Alliance Chase, Earth Mover - 7 Cheltenham Festival runs winning the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup twice, Stormy Fairweather - 2 Cheltenham Festival runs winning both in the Cathcart Challenge Cup and Royal Predica - 3 Cheltenham Festival runs, winning the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup.
Friday will see the 169th running of The Grand Military Gold Cup and the race has seen some thrilling action in its time. It held a special place in the heart of The Queen Mother who had five winners in the race and was Patron of the Meeting for over thirty years. Don’t forget for this race meeting, if you book in advance, adults can get tickets from just £10.
Advanced tickets for Paddy Power Imperial Cup Day costs just £20 for Premier Enclosure and £15 for Grandstand Enclosure. On the day tickets are £25 and £18 respectively. Racing is a great social occasion and group bookings of 12 or more receive a 20% discount.
- ENDS -
Contact: Sarah-Jane Muirie
Tel No: 020 7385 8819
