WELCOME

Good afternoon and welcome to Hamilton Park for our Aspire Cleaning & Facilities Raceday featuring the Almada Mile Handicap Stakes. We have a great afternoon of racing ahead of us and our thanks go to all of today’s sponsors – Aspire Cleaning Company, Racing TV and our very own Hampton by Hilton Hamilton Park. I hope you and your guests have an enjoyable day.

This afternoon’s feature race is the Aspire Cleaning Company Almada Mile Handicap Stakes at 3.17pm; one of the most valuable races in our racing calendar The beautiful Watson Memorial Cup is presented annually to the winner of this race – a tribute combining local significance of both the race and the Watson family Sir Julian Somerled Watson, 7th Baronet of Earnock, was a shareholder, loyal supporter and regular visitor to Hamilton Park who sadly passed away in May 2016.

Since then the Watson Baronetcy has become extinct. The Watson Baronetcy of Earnock contributed considerably to the local community and Sir John Watson, 1st Baronet of Earnock, owned several collieries in the area including the Neilsland and Earnock colliery on the Neilsland Estate which covered over 2,000 acres. The Watson family also gifted the elaborate Watson Fountain to the town of Hamilton, which still stands proudly at the triangular merging of Cadzow Street and Muir Street.

Six horses have been declared for this year’s race, with the top-weights being shared by course and distance winners Eilean Dubh for Karl Burke and Fantastic Fox for Roger Varian. However, Charlie Johnston will no doubt be expecting a strong run from Austrian Theory who will be looking to win this race for a second time under the in-form Joe Fanning, having taken the honours in last year’s race by half a length.

Looking ahead we have our Jordan Electrics Family Racenight on Saturday 15 July, where we have a host of free kid’s entertainment and live music after racing from Callum Beattie, before our double meeting on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 July, which is always a great meeting and features some fantastic racing with the EBF Glasgow Listed Stakes and the G4 Claims Ltd Scottish Stewards Cup If you haven’t already bought your tickets, then do take advantage of some great discounts by buying in advance on our website www.hamilton-park.co.uk, and remember that under 18s get free admission to all of our fixtures when attending with an adult.

Have a great day today and I hope you back a winner or two!

Kind regards,

ASHLEY MOON, RACECOURSE MANAGING DIRECTOR