Tuesday, November 16, 2004
THE 2005 JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL TO BE WORTH £700,000
Aintree Racecourse announced today that the prize fund for the John Smith's Grand National, to be run on Saturday 9th April 2005, will be £700,000 (over 1,000,000 (Euros)), an increase of £100,000 (16.6%) from the 2004 race.
BBC Television will cover 14 races live over the three days of the John Smith's sponsored meeting (7th - 9th April 2005) and total prize money will top £2 million, which includes 15 races with a prize fund of over £50,000 - another Aintree record.
Speaking at the annual Grand National Stable Visit, held this year at Ginger McCain's yard in Cholmondeley, Cheshire, Aintree's Managing Director, Charles Barnett, said: "We are delighted to welcome John Smith's as sponsors of the Grand National meeting and its significant contribution has enabled us to raise prize money levels once again.
"Although our relationship with John Smith's is in its infancy, we are already delighted with the contribution and support that has been given and we have no doubt that this will continue to develop over the future years."
Tim Seager, UK Marketing Director, Scottish & Newcastle added: "The opportunity to support three of the biggest days in the UK's sporting calendar is a very exciting prospect for everyone at John Smith's. We will be supporting Aintree in its ambition to create the very first £1 million John Smith's Grand National over the coming years."
ADDITIONAL RACE TO BE STAGED AT JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL MEETING
Aintree Racecourse also announced that it will be staging an additional race during the John Smith's Grand National meeting. A new listed mares only National Hunt flat race will be staged during the three days. This new race, with a prize fund of £25,000, will give additional value for money for racegoers, with 7 races on each day of the meeting.
JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL ON TARGET FOR RECORD CROWDS
Attendance records are once again expected to be broken in 2005 as advance badge and hospitality sales are ahead of preceding years. All County Enclosure admission badges and corporate hospitality packages are now sold out on Friday (Ladies' Day), with limited hospitality available on Thursday and Saturday. County Enclosure badges are still available on Thursday and Saturday, with Tattersalls tickets still available on Friday and the other two days.
Aintree and John Smith's will shortly embark upon new marketing and promotional campaigns that will also deliver record crowds into the Steeplechase Enclosure (to be re-named the 'No Nonsense' Steeplechase Enclosure) on Grand National Day.
RACING'S PERFECT PARTNER
The announcement last week that John Smith's has secured the sponsorship rights to the Grand National for a period of at least three years, underlines the commitment to horseracing of nation's number one ale brand.
As a result of this new agreement, John Smith's is now the biggest financial supporter of racing outside the sport, with a sponsorship portfolio of quality events spread across a number of courses.
The John Smith's brand is synonymous with racing, due mainly to its continuing support of the John Smith's Cup at York, which was first run in 1960 and has the distinction of being the country's oldest-established commercially sponsored race on the Flat.
Britain's biggest brewer is also responsible for the John Smith's Northumberland Plate at Newcastle and the John Smith's Stakes at Newbury and, when Uttoxeter was seeking a sponsor for the Midlands Grand National two years ago, responded with a package which included significant marketing support.
Additionally, John Smith's sponsors a day at Brighton and several regionally promoted races and, together with significant contributions to Racing Welfare Charities, supports racing at many levels.
With such a strong affiliation to racing, John Smith's has also been successful in introducing many new faces to the sport through its innovative and well received customer-linked promotions and, in conjunction with Aintree and its marketing team, looks forward to developing a number of new initiatives in its promotion of the 2005 John Smith's Grand National.
BREEDERS' AWARDS
The 2004 Grand National Breeders' Awards were presented to Robert McCarthy, from The Beeches Stud, Lismore, breeder of the winner Amberleigh House, and to James McDonald, breeder of the first British-bred to finish the 2004 National, Ardent Scout.
TOP TIPSTER
This award was presented to Will Hayler of The Press Association who won the Top Tipster at the 2004 Grand National meeting.
AINTREE RACES AHEAD TO THE BECHER MEETING
Aintree Racecourse is gearing up for its final meeting of 2004, with the Becher meeting taking place this weekend (Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st November). The betfair.com Jockeys' Challenge will again take place on the first day of the Becher meeting and will be staged over four races on the day, including the betfair.com Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (over the Grand National fences). Sunday's totesport Becher Chase will see the return of Amberleigh House to Aintree to race over the Grand National fences for the first time since his glorious victory in the 2004 Grand National.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Grand Prix circuit at Aintree on Friday 19th November and on both days of the Becher meeting (Saturday and Sunday), motorsport will return to Aintree. Throughout the day on Friday and prior to racing on Saturday and Sunday, displays of historic Grand Prix cars will take to the original Grand Prix circuit for the first time in 20 years.
For further information, please call:
Charles Barnett 0151 522 2901 or 07711 880123
Nigel Payne 07768 025265
Dickon White 0151 522 2915 or 07798 928924
2005 JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL MEETING - PRIZE MONEY SCHEDULE
Time Distance Name 2004 £ Actual 2005 £Proposed Increase 2005 in Euros**
Thursday 7th April
2.00 3m 110yds THE LIVERPOOL HURDLE LONG DISTANCE HURDLE (CLASS A) 50,000 60,000 10,000 85,800
2.35 3m 1f THE AINTREE CUP STEEPLE CHASE (SHOWCASE RACE) (CLASS A) 150,000 150,000 0 214,500
3.10 2m 110yds THE 4-Y-O NOVICES' HURDLE RACE (CLASS A) 110,000 120,000 10,000 171,600
3.45 2m 5f 110yds THE JOHN SMITH'S FOX HUNTERS' STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS B) 30,000 35,000 5,000 50,050
4.20 2m THE RED RUM HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS A) 65,000 70,000 5,000 100,100
4.50 2m 4f THE AINTREE HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS B) 40,000 40,000 0 57,200
5.20 2m 4f THE MERSEY NOVICES' HURDLE RACE (CLASS A) 50,000 50,000 0 71,500
Total £495,000 £525,000 £30,000 750,750 euros
Friday 8th April
2.00 3m 1f THE MILDMAY NOVICES' STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS A) 75,000 75,000 0 107,250
2.35 2m 110yds THE TOP NOVICES' HURDLE RACE (CLASS A) 50,000 50,000 0 71,500
3.10 2m 4f THE MELLING STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS A) 150,000 150,000 0 214,500
3.45 2m 5f 110yds THE JOHN SMITH'S TOPHAM STEEPLE CHASE (SHOWCASE HANDICAP) 70,000 80,000 10,000 114,400
4.20 3n 110yds THE SEFTON NOVICES' HURDLE RACE (CLASS A) 80,000 80,000 0 114,400
4.50 3m 1f THE AINTREE HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS B) 40,000 50,000 10,000 71,500
5.25 3m 110yds THE AINTREE HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS A) 40,000 40,000 0 57,200
Total £505,000 £525,000 £20,000 750,750 euros
Saturday 9th April
1.45 2m 110yds THE JOHN SMITH'S HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS B) 45,000 50,000 5,000 71,500
2.20 2m THE JOHN SMITH'S MAGHULL NOVICES' CHASE (CLASS A) 100,000 110,000 10,000 157,300
2.55 2m 4f THE JOHN SMITH'S AINTREE HURDLE (CLASS A) 150,000 150,000 0 214,500
3.45 4m 4f THE JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL CHASE (SHOWCASE HANDICAP) 600,000 700,000 100,000 1,001,000
4.35 2m 4f THE JOHN SMITH'S NOVICES' HANDICAP CHASE* 30,000 30,000 0 42,900
5.15 2m 1f THE JOHN SMITH'S CHAMPION STANDARD NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE 30,000 30,000 0 42,900
Total £955,000 £1,070,000 £115,000 1,530,100
THE MARES ONLY NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE (Additional Race) 0 25,000 25,000 35,750 euros
JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL MEETING £1,955,000 £2,145,000 £190,000 3,067,350 euros
* Amateur riders ** 1.43 Euros = 1 GBP
NB Sponsor prefixes for races on Thursday and Friday will be announced at a later date
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