Wednesday, March 30, 2005
AT THE RACES LAUNCHES CASINO & POKER ROOM FOR HORSERACING FANS
Horseracing and interactive betting channel At The Races (ATR), watched by over 1 million people every month, has launched At The Races Casino (www.attheracescasino.com) and At The Races Poker (www.attheracespoker.com). The online casino and poker room aims to become the No.1 destination for European horseracing punters.
Members will soon be able to play poker against their favourite racing presenters and pundits in special tournaments featured both online and on the ATR television channel. Loyalty rewards schemes and promotions will offer exclusive access to racing event hospitality and tickets to meetings, including Royal Ascot at York in June this year.
Licensed in Alderney and powered by leading gaming software company, Wagerworks, At The Races Casino offers over 56 non-download games with a 100% sign up bonus. Members can play for real, or just for fun, and get up to £250 free when they register. New games to watch out for include Sterling Downs, a horseracing instant win game, and the great new 5 reel, 9 line slot game Baywatch slots.
A casino account gives members automatic access to the At The Races Poker Room, bringing the horseracing community to multiplayer poker tables. New poker players will get a £100 freeroll tournament token and have chances to enter daily Texas Hold'em tournaments and the Poker Points freeroll tournaments.
"Our aim is to operate a dedicated casino and poker room for true horseracing fans," said Matthew Imi, Chief Executive of At The Races. "We're offering thousands of pounds in cash prizes each month, loyalty points which convert to cash bonuses and special member offers which will be of real appeal to casino gamblers and, in particular, racing fans".
"We value our customers highly and we want to make them feel special. Casino and poker players will all have the opportunity to earn or win days at the races as well as gain exclusive access to jockeys and presenters - all with VIP treatment."
"The new casino will enjoy the benefits of powerful cross promotion from our At The Races television channel and from the attheraces.com website which has now become one of the leading racing and betting information sites in the UK with 12m page views in March and traffic doubling monthly. TV sponsorship credits launch today along with a banner advertising campaign online. Uniquely, we have integrated a horseracing look and feel within our advertising both on and off air".
"The launch of At The Races Casino and At The Races Poker is an exciting opportunity to bring a new wave of horseracing fans to the online gaming community via a name they know and trust," Matthew Imi continued.
RACEGOERS URGED TO PRE-PURCHASE FOR JOHN SMITH'S GRAND NATIONAL MEETING
Aintree Racecourse urged racegoers today to pre-purchase all tickets for their chosen enclosure for both Friday (Ladies' Day) and Saturday (Grand National Day) for the John Smith's Grand National meeting.
As announced previously, advanced sales have been exceptionally strong for all three days of the meeting and record attendances are expected once again.
Saturday
A limited number of Tattersalls Enclosure tickets are still available for Saturday; however, these will undoubtedly sell-out prior to the raceday itself, leaving only John Smith's No Nonsense Steeplechase Enclosure tickets available to purchase on the day.
Friday
A limited number of Tattersalls Enclosure tickets are still available; however, racegoers are strongly advised to pre-purchase these tickets prior to the raceday itself. There will be no guarantee of tickets being available to purchase on the day.
Thursday
A limited number of County Stand and Princess Royal Stand Roof badges, West Tip Seat badges and Tattersalls Enclosure tickets are still available.
Tickets can be purchase from the Advance Booking Office on Grand National Avenue at the racecourse, or by telephoning 0151 522 2929.
EUR 2.1 MILLION GIVES IRISH NATIONAL HUNT FESTIVAL A POWERFUL PUNCH!
With just under four weeks to flag fall at the Irish National Hunt Festival, Punchestown hosts the launch of this superb meeting at the Guinness Storehouse this evening. The magnificent EUR 2.1 million prize fund up for grabs at the Festival, up a staggering EUR 400,000 from last year, is sure to draw Ireland's and Britain's best chasers and hurdlers to the Festival. Tonight many of Ireland's racing personalities will attend what promises to be a spectacular launch.
The festival is sure to get off to a thrilling start on Tuesday, April 26, when Champion Chaser, Moscow Flyer, returns to defend his title in the EUR 180,000 Kerrygold Champion Chase, the feature race on the opening day of the festival. The opening card will also feature the new EUR 75,000 Tote Ireland 75th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle and as always the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle, which has produced some top class performers in the past such as Brave Inca and Back In Front. Racegoers will be treated to an extravagant performance on the opening day of this ever-expanding festival that will set the scene for and create a carnival atmosphere for some 80,000 plus attendees over the four days.
Wednesday, April 28, will feature the first running of the Punchestown GUINNESS Gold Cup in which Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Kicking King will make his reappearance after winning that coveted prize. The EUR 225,000 race will also be contested by the English-trained Gold Cup defector Kingscliff amongst many other top class horses vying to capture this valuable prize fund and superb trophy. Willie Mullins' rising star, Missed That, will also be on show on the second day of the festival in the EUR 100,000 Paddy Power Champion Bumper, the richest Grade 1 Bumper in Britain and Ireland.
On day three of this EUR 2 .1 million fête, the Blue Square Steeplechase for the La Touche Cup will provide an exhilarating start to a superb days racing when Spot Thedifference, yet another Cheltenham victor, will aim to take home a EUR 50,000 bonus if he can win again over this diverse and arduous course. The EUR 170,000 prize in the feature race of the day, the Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers hurdle could easily provide Jonjo O'Neill with his second win in the race when Iris's Gift could return to contest the race yet again. It is sure to be a spectacular race again this year on a day's racing when there are no less than three Grade 1 races on the card.
The final day of the festival is sure to bring a spectacular end to an incredible Irish National Hunt season when dual Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace will return to defend his title in the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle. He will of course be opposed by the talented Harchibald and the very consistent Brave Inca, ensuring a battle royal for the EUR 160,000 prize fund. For the second year running Ladies Day will take place on Friday, April 29. As Newbridge Silverware are the sponsors of a exclusive prize for the Best Dressed Lady, worth no less than EUR 10k, the 'Fashion Stakes Race' may well turn out to the be the hottest contest of the day!
The Irish National Hunt Festival is the largest corporate event held in Ireland where 16,000 guests are entertained in superb locations around the enclosures. Excited by the hype and build up to this spectacle, Dick O'Sullivan, Manager of Punchestown commented: "At this point, we are in great shape ahead of our festival with ticket and corporate hospitality sales well ahead of previous years. Our EUR 2.1 million prize fund has ensured that the best overseas and Irish trained runners intend to run and we anticipate that at least seven of the nine Irish Cheltenham winners will run here. There will be some colourful performances by flamboyant dancers to open each day's racing which will set the scene for a carnival that will provide the best of entertainment for the young, the old, the brave and the bold!"
The Irish National Hunt Festival kicks off on Tuesday, April 26 and runs through to Friday, April 29. There are 10 Grade 1 races on the card, each worth a minimum of EUR 100,000 and worth a cumulative value of in excess of EUR 1.3 million.
For further information, please contact:
Dick O'Sullivan, Manager, Punchestown Racecourse 045 897704
Janet Williamson , PR Manager, Punchestown Racecourse 087 9198683
IRISH NATIONAL HUNT FESTIVAL 2005 FACT SHEET
· Record Prize Fund of EUR 2,100,000 on offer
· Over EUR 400,000 increase in prize fund on last years Festival.
· 10 Grade 1 Races, cumulative value in excess of EUR 1.3 million.
· Tues, April 26th - KERRYGOLD Champion Chase, 2 Miles, EUR 180,000.
· Wed April 27th - Punchestown GUINNESS Gold Cup 3 Miles 1 furlong, EUR 225,000.
· Thursday, April 28th - BALLYMORE PROPERTIE Stayers' Hurdle 3 Miles EUR 170,000.
· Friday, April 29th - EMO Oil Champion Hurdle 2 Miles EUR 160,000.
· All Grade 1 races worth a minimum of EUR 100,000.
· Blue Square are offering a EUR 50,000 bonus for the winner of the Sporting Index Cross Country Race in Cheltenham to repeat victory in the Blue Square Cross Country Chase for the La Touche Cup.
· Tote Ireland are sponsoring the most valuable and first ever Listed Handicap Hurdle staged in Punchestown worth EUR 75, 000.
· Incentive Scheme in place to encourage International Grade 1 Runners -
* Package offered to Winners and Placed horses at Cheltenham and Aintree festivals.
Focus will be mainly on
The Smurfit Champion Hurdle
The Queen Mother Champion Chase
The totesport Gold Cup
The Ladbrokes World Hurdle
Other Grade 1 contenders at Cheltenham and Aintree
* 4 Star Accommodation for up to 4 Owners for the 2 nights surrounding the relevant race day .
* 4 Star Accommodation for Trainer and partner for necessary duration of stay at Festival.
* All accommodation booked by Punchestown.
* Up to EUR 1,600 Travel Allowance on Air Fare / Ferry Costs for Owners.
* Up toEUR 400 Travel Allowance for Trainers.
* VIP Hospitality for Race Day.
* Provision of necessary Badges and Passes for remainder of festival.
· 7 Grade 1 winners and a Grade 2 winner at the 2003 and 2004 Festivals.
· 21 Overseas runners Placed in 2003 from only 47 runners.
· VIP Hospitality for connections of Irish trained Cheltenham and Aintree Winners and Placed Grade 1 horses participating at the festival. Owners of Graded race runners are entitled to 6 Owners & Trainers badges and Pavilion Bar passes.
· Staff Accommodation will be provided by Punchestown on a 1 groom per horse basis.
· Fresh Ground The Festival track has not been raced on for 12 months. 42mm of rain fall at the track since 21st March 2005 , compared to 13mm for the same period last year.
· Going is currently SOFT. The ground has been Good or Good to Yielding throughout the past six festivals.
· If necessary, an Umbilical watering system will be utilised as in 2003 and 2004 to ensure that at least Good ground will be provided at the Irish National Hunt Festival.
· Ladies Day will be on Friday, April 29th and the Best Dressed Lady Competition is sponsored by Newbridge Silverware, who will present the winner with a once off specially designed and created piece of jewellery.
· The Best Dressed Man will also be judged on Friday, April 29th and is also sponsored by Newbridge Silverware who will deck your home in style, with a complete collection of fashionable home accessories.
· Ireland's biggest annual corporate event (with 14,000 corporate covers).
· Once again, a state of the art Double Decker marquee will be present at the festival - the facility will hold 900 people.
· 50,000 meals will be served in Punchestown throughout the festival.
· 700 staff and 65 chefs will be working at Punchestown throughout the festival in 12 kitchens.
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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