Latest News Headlines

FIRST GROUP RACE AT SALISBURY IN 18 YEARS

Posted August 4th, 2004

This month will see the first Group race run at Salisbury Racecourse in 18 years, with the £60,000 totesport SOVEREIGN STAKES taking place on Thursday, August 12. The last Group race to run at Wiltshire's racecourse was the Salisbury 2,000 Guineas Trial in April, 1986.

The mile totesport Sovereign Stakes, for colts and geldings aged three and over, has been upgraded from Listed to Group Three status, reflecting the high quality of winners in recent seasons. The 2003 victor Passing Glance went on to win the Group Two Darley Oettingen-Rennen at Baden-Baden, Germany. The 2002 scorer was Prior's Lodge, who went on to finish a short-head behind Passing Glance in the Sovereign Stakes last year before gaining his revenge when a head too strong in the Group Two Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

Jeremy Martin, Salisbury's Clerk of the Course and General Manager, commented: "We are absolutely delighted to be staging our first Group race in close on 20 years at Salisbury.

The £60,000 total prize fund is £10,000 above the minimum requirement to stage this race and there is a great deal of anticipation ahead of what should prove to be an excellent contest."

Salisbury races on both Wednesday, August 11, and on Thursday, August 12, with excellent racing taking place over the two days and a total of £196,500 on offer in advertised prize money. Many top performers appear at Salisbury en route to stardom and other horses that won as two-year-olds at this meeting in recent years include subsequent Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes hero Where Or When and classic-placed Barathea Guest.

The Wednesday six-race programme kicks off with the CARMEN WINS EBF MAIDEN STAKES (2.30pm) and runs through to the GOLDRING SECURITY SERVICES FILLIES' HANDICAP (5pm).

Taking centre stage on August 11 are two Listed contests - the £30,000 WEATHERBYS STONEHENGE STAKES (3.30pm) and the £45,000 EUROPEAN BREEDERS' FUND UPAVON FILLIES' STAKES (4pm). The mile Weatherbys Stonehenge Stakes was upgraded to Listed status last year and was landed by Sgt Pepper, trained locally at Marlborough by Richard Hannon.

Run over just short of a mile and a quarter, the European Breeders' Fund Upavon Fillies' Stakes has developed into a really informative contest in recent years, being won last year by the Michael Bell-trained Hoh Buzzard, who went on to be placed in Group Three contests at Deauville, France, and Arlington Park, USA. The victorious filly in 2001 was Chorist, winner of the Group One Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh, Ireland, earlier this season.

The remaining two thoroughbred races on August 11 are the BEMBRIDGE CLAIMING STAKES (3pm) and the VIOLET APPLIN CHALLENGE CUP HANDICAP (4.30pm), while an Arabian race, for apprentice jockeys, will start the afternoon at 2pm.

Thursday, August 12 also features a six-race programme, with obviously the totesport Sovereign Stakes being the highlight of the day.

Action gets underway with the DOWNS MAIDEN AUCTION STAKES (2.30pm) and concludes with AXMINSTER CARPETS APPRENTICE HANDICAP (5.20pm). The main supporting race of the day is the £10,000 STELLA ARTOIS FILLIES' HANDICAP (3.40pm). The SOVEREIGN WINDOWS & CONSERVATORIES MAIDEN STAKES (3.05pm) and the MATTHEW CLARK HANDICAP (4.50pm) complete the races.

A big screen is in operation on both days of the August meeting to ensure that racegoers miss none of the action and full-colour racecards are also available.

"Jeremy Martin added: "Racing at Salisbury continues to go from strength to strength and we are proud to be offering such a strong two-day meeting on August 11 and 12."

"The quality of our runners has been particularly strong this year and that has helped our attendance figures, which for the last meeting on July 24 were up 35% at 6,500."

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

Salisbury also races later in the month, with the final evening meeting of the 2004 season taking place on Friday, August 20 (first race 5.35pm)..

For further information, please call Salisbury Racecourse on 01722 32646.

Latest News Headlines

Copyright Salisbury Racecourse 2004. Site design by enotions