Member Article

Tickets race ahead for Newcastle’s £100k racing prize highlight

ONE OF the region’s most prestigious racing highlights is set to be the biggest in recent years, following unprecedented demand for tickets this week after it was announced that significant names from the horse racing world will be represented.

Newcastle Racecourse’s StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle, which will take place this Saturday, November 29, is expecting some 5000 race-goers through the gates for the Grade 1 National Hunt spectacle. General admissions have soared over the past few days after final entries unveiled that a high calibre of horses are set to compete in the fixture’s £100k feature race.

Paul Nicholls, the current champion national hunt trainer is represented by Irving who is set to line up alongside the Willie Mullins trained, Arctic Fire. North Yorkshire’s Aurore D’estruval represents the 2012 winning trainer John Quinn and other prospects include Sea Lord trained by Newmarket based John Ferguson.

The Gosforth Park venue has already added an additional marquee to the area surrounding the racing track to meet the high levels of demand for hospitality admissions, something usually reserved for the racecourse’s largest meetings, the Northumberland Plate Festival and Ladies Day.

David Williamson, executive director at Newcastle Racecourse, said that he believed the high quality entries has been instrumental in drawing in the crowds.

He said: “Fighting Fifth is one of the most prestigious racedays in our calendar, attracting a good field of competitors each and every year. The racing we will have on offer this year really is some of the best action we have ever seen at Gosforth Park, with the stables of Paul Nicholl’s and Willie Mullins among the prominent names represented.

“The interest we have enjoyed to date really does demonstrate the appreciation that people in the region have for good quality racing, and of course this meeting is attracting interest from beyond just the North East.”

The raceday will feature a seven race card with the historic StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle getting underway at 2.05pm.

Mr Williamson added: “This year’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle has really captured the imagination of the race-going public more than ever before, and we’re looking forward to what is sure to be a top-class day of racing action.”

For more information about the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle or to buy tickets contact Newcastle Racecourse on tel: 0191 236 2020 or go to www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Narrative Integrated Communications .