There is no doubt that naming a race at a Salisbury race meeting provides the ultimate racing experience. Naming a race becomes a hugely enjoyable and rewarding focal point for the day.

Many races are named after a company or a company's product. There is an equally high number of races that are named after someone's birthday, a wedding or wedding anniversary, or in memory of a loved one who perhaps enjoyed horse racing or going to Salisbury races.

Naming a race, or 'race sponsorship' as it is more commonly known, starts at £1000+VAT, depending on the category and value of the race itself, and the profile of the race meeting.

In 2009, 105 out of the 111 races (95%) were sponsored and a selection of these are listed below. The list also demonstrates the wide range of company types who understand the benefits, and enjoyment to be had, with the sponsorship of a race. Several companies in fact do more than one race each year!

• The Come Shopping At Castlepoint Handicap Stakes
• The Picador Chevrolet Handicap Stakes
• The Bathwick Tyres Maiden Stakes
• The Armishaws Removals & Storage Maiden Stakes
• The Carmen Wines Nursery Stakes
• The Tenon Recovery Maiden Auction Stakes
• The totesport.com Sovereign Stakes
• The European Breeders' Fund Novice Stakes
• The Cold Service Ltd Maiden Stakes
• The Sydenhams Handicap Stakes
• The Emma Arbery Memorial Maiden Fillies' Stakes
• The Pat Boakes Memorial Handicap Stakes
• The Oliver Grubb 15th Birthday Handicap Stakes
• The Brian Amy 60th Birthday Handicap Stakes
• The Martin & Kathryn Peaty Wedding Handicap Stakes

Okay, so what do you get for your money?
Well, this is what is included.....

• Your named race appearing within the official Race Programme, above the runners and riders in that race, alongside a full page advert/profile dedicated to the company or the person that the race is named after
• Your named race appearing in the racing section of most national daily newspapers and 'The Racing Post'
• Your named race on TV's in approximately 8,000 betting shops around the UK
• Your named race appearing on SKY TV's Racing UK Channel (a subscription channel)
• Branding sites around the course, in the enclosures and by the winning post
• Announcements over the public address speaker system detailing the name of the upcoming race
• Visit the parade ring before your race with Gail Brown (the racecourse's raceday sponsorship representative) and view the runners close up (This is limited to 10 persons)
• Join Gail Brown and the Directors for a glass of Champagne in the Directors' Box to watch the race (limited to 10 persons)
• Presentation of a trophy, which the racecourse provides, to the winning horse's owner, up on the rostrum in the winners' enclosure
• 10" x 8" photograph of the horse winning the race and "10 x "8 photograph of the presentation

"Castlepoint Shopping Park in Bournemouth has been a race sponsor at Salisbury since 2005. We want to reach a wider audience and spread our customer base, and Salisbury Races enables us to successfully penetrate one of our target areas. Added to that, it is sheer fun and the standard of hospitality is superb. We wine and dine in a relaxed environment and get treated like VIP’s! We are doing it all again this year”.

Peter Matthews, General Manager, Castlepoint.

“I cannot recommend highly enough, Salisbury Racecourse as the ultimate venue to sponsor a race and celebrate your special day, whether it be a birthday, anniversary or promoting your business.

The team at Salisbury ensure your day is filled with excitement and sophistication. The day will leave you with wonderful memories of presenting the trophy to winning connections, choosing the best turned out in the paddock and enjoying a chilled glass of champagne in the Directors box.”

Peter Grubb, who has previously sponsored races for a wedding anniversary, for the Approach Vauxhall Car Salesroom, and most recently, for his son’s birthday.

For further details of race sponsorship availability and whether you can name a race in 2010, please contact Jeremy Martin on 01722 326461 or by email jeremymartin@salisburyracecourse.co.uk