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HISTORIC BIBURY MEETING APPROACHING AT SALISBURY

Posted June 15th, 2004

Salisbury racecourse has two exciting days of racing on Wednesday, June 23 and Thursday, June 24, when the historic Bibury Meeting takes place.

The Bibury Club, established in 1681, is the world's oldest racing club and the Bibury Club Meeting is one of Britain's longest-running meetings. Originally this meeting was held at the now-defunct courses of Bibury and Stockbridge before moving to Salisbury in 1899. This year, a total of £137,000 in prize money is on offer over the two days.

Wednesday's six-race programme begins with the APPROACH VAUXHALL EBF MAIDEN FILLIES' STAKES (2.10pm) and concludes with the JOHN S GLEDHILL & ASSOCIATES CHARTERED SURVEYORS CLASSIFIED STAKES (4.40pm).

Taking centre stage on Wednesday, June 23, is the £25,000-added totetrifecta BIBURY CUP (3.10pm), a mile and a half handicap for three-year-olds. Midas Way gave local trainer Roger Charlton a win in this race 12 months ago while the master of Beckhampton was also successful with Arrive in the 2001 renewal.

In addition to the Bibury Cup, there is another valuable handicap in the form of the £15,000-added NOEL CANNON MEMORIAL TROPHY RATED STAKES (4.10pm), over a mile for three-year-olds and upwards. The tough campaigner Highland Reel won this race for Whitsbury-based trainer David Elsworth in 2003.

The remaining two races on Wednesday are the seven-furlong SMITH & WILLIAMSON MAIDEN FILLIES' STAKES (2.40pm), generously backed by the Salisbury-based financial company Smith & Williamson for the 10th consecutive year, and the GOADSBY & HARDING FILLIES' HANDICAP (3.40pm) over six furlongs.

Two-year-olds get their chance to shine on Thursday, June 24, in the £20,000-added PIPER HEIDSIECK CHAMPAGNE AUCTION STAKES (3.10pm), with the six-furlong race being for horses who were sold for less than 50,000 guineas at public auction which gives smaller owners the chance of a valuable prize.

For the past two seasons, this contest has also proved to be a very accurate pointer to success at the highest level. Last year Milk It Mick, trained by Jamie Osborne, was successful and went on to prove himself to be one of the finest juvenile colts of 2003 when winning the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October. In 2002, the Fulke Johnson Houghton-trained Tout Seul finished second to Cosmo at Salisbury before also going on to land the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. The following season he finished fourth in the opening classic of the season, the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Thursday's seven-race action gets underway with the LEVY BOARD HANDICAP (2.10pm) and runs through to the TELETEXT RACING "HANDS AND HEELS" APPRENTICE HANDICAP (5.10pm).

The main supporting race of the day is the £10,000 added ALDERHOLT SPRINT HANDICAP (3.40pm), a five-furlong contest for three-year-olds and upwards. Rod Milman's tough veteran Lord Kintyre was triumphant in this event 12 months ago, prevailing by a head from Milton Bradley's Corridor Creeper.

Completing the Thursday programme are the HERBERT & GWEN BLAGRAVE EBF MAIDEN STAKES (2.40pm), remembering the late trainer and his wife and won by the multiple Group One-placed Norse Dancer in 2002 when he defeated the subsequent Grade One Canadian International hero Phoenix Reach, the H S LESTER MEMORIAL HANDICAP (4.10pm) and the CATISFIELD HINTON & STUD MAIDEN STAKES (4.40pm).

A big screen will be in operation on both days of the Bibury Meeting to ensure that racegoers miss none of the exciting action and full-colour racecards will also be available on both days.

Jeremy Martin, Clerk of the Course and General Manager at Salisbury, commented: "The Bibury Meeting is a historic and unique meeting in the British racing calendar and has seen plenty of good horses.

"Our Sunday fixture on June 13 was a great success with a crowd of around 5,250 witnessing some top-class racing, including Moss Vale's impressive success in the Listed Axminster Carpets Cathedral Stakes. He certainly looks like a sprinter on the upgrade."

The gates open at noon on both days of the Bibury Meeting. Admission prices are Members £16, Tattersalls £10 and Course £5 and, as at all Salisbury's meetings, children under 16 are admitted FREE.

For further information, please call Jeremy Martin at Salisbury Racecourse on 01722 326461

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