York Racecourse

Record prize money at York's October Finale

Click here to advance book for the October Finale Meeting at York Racecourse on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th October.

The last chance to enjoy racing at York in 2010 comes on Friday and Saturday (October 8 & 9). Record prize money and the world famous Band of the Coldstream Guards promise a rousing conclusion to the season on the Knavesmire as the track looks to post a record annual attendance.

Following a successful campaign to date, a bonus boost of £50,000 has been added to the published prize money kitty for Saturday’s Coral Sprint Trophy Day. This now means a record sum of £175,000 for the final day of York’s season and organisers hope that it will temp some lovers of their live Saturday sport, given the absence of the leading football leagues. The increase is consistent with the philosophy that underpins racing at York; to invest in prize money, facilities and the experience of going racing on the Knavesmire. Total prize money for the season at York will finish in excess of £5 million having risen by over £100,000 to a new record level.

Chairman of York Racecourse, Nicholas Wrigley said “This is what we are all about at York; when we are able to invest in the race programme, then that is what we do. Despite pressure on levy funds, we have received great support from owners, trainers, sponsors and racegoers this year, so our natural inclination is to put money back in to the sport. Across the year, we have been able to deliver record prize money and we remain grateful for the support we have been given that allows us to make this investment.”

The injection of cash into The Coral Sprint Trophy will make this famous sprint the joint richest race on the day, now worth £75,000. Astute form watchers will have their notebooks to hand concerning the Listed Coral Rockingham Stakes, a contest for two-year-old sprinters now offering record prize money of £40,000.

In recent years, Saturday has become the busiest weekend raceday nationwide, so there continues to be a buzz about the grandstands. Already over 327,000 racegoers have enjoyed racing at York, so a modern-era record attendance should be set.

The Band of the Coldstream Guards will perform during the afternoon and bring the curtain down on the season, as they mark The Coldstream Guards Association Stakes.

Friday’s programme blends competitive handicaps with contest to develop two-year-olds and apprentice jockeys. The ongoing support of Acorn Web Offset, Garbutt and Elliott, TSG and The Parsonage Country House Hotel is most welcome for the races which bear their names. Leading sports betting exchange, Betfair, and The European Breeders’ Fund combine to support The EBF Read Paul Nicholls Exclusively On Betfair Maiden Stakes; a sprint contest over six furlongs which offer the £10,000 Racing Post Yearling Bonus. Completing Friday’s card is The Future Cleaning Services Hands & Heels Apprentice Stakes – a test of the riding skills of the younger riders, once again backed by the York firm who hold the cleaning contract at the Knavesmire.

The meeting will also see the conclusion of the season-long championships for York’s leading trainer and jockey. In the Living North-sponsored jockeys’ contest, Paul Hanagan already has 10 triumphs this season, a key part of his attempt to become the UK’s top jockey, a race he still leads going into the final stages of the season. His nearest rivals at York are all former champions, with Kieren Fallon (eight), Ryan Moore and Jamie Spencer (both with six winners) currently filling the places. With twelve races to be won (discounting the contest for apprentice jockeys), the picture could still change, but the bookies will have noted that just eight victories was sufficient to secure Hanagan his first York leading rider title last year.

The majority of Hanagan’s wins have been courtesy of horses trained by Richard Fahey, so it’s no surprise that the Malton handler is once again leading the way in the Minster Jaguar Top Trainer contest. Already with 13 victories to his name, and eight clear of local rival, Tim Easterby, the books have closed on him securing a remarkable fifth consecutive Minster Jaguar title.

As usual, three large screens will cover racing on both the Knavesmire and the major contests from Ascot on Saturday. The totesport-backed ‘Punters Panel’ will offer selections before racing on each day. Racing on Friday is set to begin at 2-10 p.m., while Saturday’s seven-race card commences at 1-45 p.m.

 

 

 

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