2 minute read
Welcome
Welcome to our first race meeting of September on 1 September. Where has the summer gone?
It’s often a lovely month weather-wise and we will hope for that this year as we host four fixtures for you all to enjoy. Today we have a lovely evening of racing planned with good ground for the runners and riders to experience. The track team has done an excellent job maintaining the racing surface over the summer on some days where it has been incredibly warm and dry compared to other seasons before.
With a full card of sponsors supporting this evening’s racing I’d like to thank CAE Technology Services, Weatherbys, EBF, and Scottish Racing Academy for their sponsorship and partnership with us all here at Hamilton Park to be able to enrich the prize money and racing that we have staged this year. We have been able to offer a total prize money purse of over £1M this year in our attempt to attract the best of the trainers and their horses to Hamilton Park during this testing of years. I hope all of the sponsors here today have a most enjoyable time with us.
This evening’s racing opens with EBF’s Novice Stakes at 4.50pm with course winner Jilly Cooper from Mark Johnston’s yard back to win again after doing so here on 16 June. The Weatherbys Bloodstock Pro 2yo Series Final Nursery Handicap is always a great race with Ryan’s Party the favourite, having won just two weeks ago here for Kevin Ryan, looking to double that success rate ahead of Mark Johnston’s I’m a Gambler who was cheered home by our big crowd on Ladies’ Night, 31 July. Tonight’s feature race, the Flower of Scotland Fillies’ Handicap has seven strong contenders closely rated so I will leave it up to you all to pick your winner from that field.
We are so delighted to be again allowed a full capacity crowd to come racing here at Hamilton Park. With the help of South Lanarkshire Council, and you our customers being so accommodating with the changes in restrictions over the summer, we have had our well thought out and structured plans approved to allow us to operate a safe and secure site for our customers and staff. We must all remember however, that the virus has not gone away and so I would ask that you all remember to wear a mask when you are indoors on-site, (unless you are seated to eat or drink), which includes when you go inside to the bathrooms, enter and exit the hospitality suites, are in any of the official buildings of the racecourse such as the office, or Weighing Room. We would also encourage you still to wear a mask, in line with Scottish Government’s recommendations, when you are in a crowded area e.g. the Parade Ring, around the stage tonight, or in a large group outdoors.
We have three fixtures still to go this season after this evening on Sunday 19, Monday 20 and Monday 27 September. After too long a time, we have invited the very popular Big Vern n the Shootahs back to join us after racing on Sunday 19 September and so why not get your tickets now for what I know will be a super Sunday afternoon? Also, our finale of the season on 27 September will be a fantastic family day with lots on offer for the children so be sure to book now and secure your tickets.
Kind regards,
