Owners and trainers will be keen to run their horses at Wincanton Racecourse during the forthcoming jump season, as the welcoming Somerset track has record prize money of £650,000 on offer.
Wincanton begins the season on Thursday, October 5, 2000, with a good-quality card featuring six races, with the first race off at 2.20pm. Racegoers can look forward to improved facilities in the Course Enclosure which has been refurbished, while the Kingwell Restaurant in the Members’ Enclosure has been upgraded.
The feature race of the opening afternoon is the £7,500-added Norman & Molly Andrews Handicap Chase (3.20pm), over two miles and five furlongs. Last year’s equivalent contest was won by Devon-based trainer Rod Millman, who sent out Gaysun for a five-length victory from Art Prince.
The Wincanton Executive is delighted that two racing clubs, the Elite Racing Club and the South-West Racing Club, are sponsoring two exciting races on the course’s opening day. The former supports the £4,000-added Elite Racing Club Handicap Hurdle (3.50pm), over two miles and six furlongs, while the latter sponsors the £3,250-added South-West Racing Club ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (2.20pm), over two miles and six furlongs.
Future highlights at Wincanton include the popular charity day on Sunday, October 22, which features the very valuable Axminster 100 Desert Orichid South Western Pattern Chase. This two-mile, five-furlong limited handicap chase is supported for the second time by Axminster Carpets, and the prize money for the event has increased by 8% from last season to £35,000. New Zealand-import No Retreat, trained by Steve Brookshaw, defeated Ashwell Boy by three lengths in last year’s race. The day, which will see a stallion parade, a celebrity parade featuring Lester Piggott and a celebrity Flat race, is in aid of the Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund and the International Spinal Research Trust.
Two very prestigious races, the Badger Beer Handicap Chase and the Tanglefoot Elite Hurlde, take place on Saturday, November 4. The former is run over three miles, one and a half furlongs and is worth £35,000, which represents a 17% increase on last year’s total, while the Tanglefoot Elite Hurdle, over two miles, has a total prize fund of £25,000.
Both of these events were captured by locally-based trainers last season. Paul Nicholls, who trains at Ditcheat, sent out Flaked Oats to land the Badger Beer Handicap Chase by seven lengths from The Land Agent, while champion trainer Martin Pipe saddled Wahiba Sands in the Tanglefoot Elite Hurdle for an impressive nine-length victory under champion jump jockey Tony McCoy.
Wincanton also races on Thursday, November 16 (Irish Day), Thursday, November 30, and Boxing Day, Tuesday, December 26, during the first half of the season.
Ian Renton, Clerk of the Course and General Manager at Wincanton, said: ‘It is always tremendously exciting when the new season begins and everyone associated with Wincanton Racecourse is looking forward to extending a warm welcome to new and regular racegoers alike.
‘The record prize money of £650,000 means that Wincanton will continue to attract good horses and top jockeys.’
For further information, please contact
Ian Renton or Katie Langdell at
Wincanton Racecourse on 01963 32344.