NEWMARKET SET FOR BUMPER START TO RITZ CLUB JULY FESTIVAL
Eight thoroughbred races, including a Group One and two Group Two contests and another three races with maximum fields of twenty, plus a Group One Arab race and a sensational line-up of classical music performances, will provide the best possible opening to the Ritz Club July Festival on Wednesday, July 11.
That's without mentioning a very special start to the afternoon at 12 noon when Lester Piggott and Frankie Dettori, the two best known names in Flat racing, will officially open the redeveloped July Course.
Advance ticket sales for the three days are currently running more than 20% ahead of last year's level and, while the strong trend has been for increased advance bookings for all Newmarket race meetings with a decrease in the number of people buying their badges and tickets on the day, it is highly likely that the three-day record attendance set in 2005 of 34,089 will be broken this year. Thanks to the increased capacity on the racecourse as a result of the redevelopment, there will be availability in both Enclosures on all three days for those wanting to pay at the turnstiles.
"To have 123 runners on the first day is amazing, with the addition of the Lancashire Oaks to the card a real bonus," said Newmarket's Managing Director, Lisa Hancock.
"I can't wait for Wednesday because I think that a combination of the new facilities, the great racing and an amazing array of musical talent will create a sensational atmosphere on the course. I am confident that even those who aren't classical music fans will be wowed by what they see and hear on the stage on Classic FM Day and I think it will work so much better having musical interludes between races, rather than waiting for one concert after the last as was the case in the previous two years.
"With Ladies' Day to follow on Thursday and probably the most intriguing Darley July Cup that I can remember in store for us on Friday, plus a weather forecast which currently predicts three dry afternoons, we are all set for a fantastic three days on the July Course."
The first race on Wednesday, the Group One for race for purebred Arabians, which has attracted an international field of 8 runners, is at 1.00pm.
GOING GOOD - WEATHER FORECAST PROMISING
The going is currently GOOD on the July Course ahead of the start of the Ritz Club July Festival, but with the possibility of up to 8mm of rain this afternoon and evening, that could change by tomorrow.
"From the point of view of our three afternoons of racing, the weather forecast is excellent, but with regard to the going it all really hinges on what happens later today," said Newmarket's Director of Racing, Michael Prosser, at lunchtime today (Monday).
"We've had a warm and sunny morning and the ground is continuing to dry out nicely, but we could get some heavy showers later on. If we were to get the maximum prediction of around 8 millimetres, that would put us back to Good-to-Soft for sure.
"The showers are set to clear overnight and tomorrow is forecast to be dry and sunny, as is Wednesday during daylight hours. We could get some more showers overnight on Wednesday and through Thursday morning, but these are due to clear by lunchtime and we are then set to be sunny and warm through to the end of the meeting. Temperatures could reach 24 degrees by Friday afternoon."
CLASSIC FM DAY MUSIC SCHEDULE
Classical music with a modern twist will be a strong opening theme for the Ritz Club July Festival on Wednesday as five different classical performers take to the stage to entertain racegoers during the afternoon.
Exceptional young violinist Ching, charismatic electric string quartet Eclipse, accomplished pianist and flautist Soraya Mafi, stunning all-girl opera group Apassionata and internationally renowned Icelandic tenor Gardar Thor Cortes will all play sets on the July Course stage.
12.30pm – 1pm Ching
1.45pm – 1.50pm Eclipse
2.15pm – 2.30pm Soraya Mafi
2.50pm – 3.05pm Appassionata
3.25pm – 3.35pm Eclipse
4.00pm – 4.15pm Soraya Mafi
4.35pm – 4.50pm Appassionata
5.10pm – 5.40pm Gardar Thor Cortes
RITZ CLUB JULY FESTIVAL ADMISSION DETAILS
Tickets for all enclosures can be purchased in advance with a 20% discount for booking on-line (note: no discounts for the three-day badge/ticket):
Premier Enclosure - £32 each day or £69 for a three day badge
Grandstand & Paddock - £20 each day or £45 for a three-day ticket
Garden Enclosure - Closed
Children aged under 16 accompanied by an adult will be admitted FREE to both enclosures every day.
SENSATIONAL SUMMER NIGHTS AT SALISBURY HAVE PLENTY TO OFFER
Salisbury Racecourse is definitely the place to be this month, when the picturesque Wiltshire course hosts two fabulous evenings of entertainment that offer thrilling racing action alongside the best of live music and fashion.
The ever popular Ladies Evening on Saturday, July 14, is being held for the fifth year in 2007 and is always a night to remember, providing the course’s female visitors with a chance to strut their stuff.
Fantastic prizes will be awarded for the best dressed lady overall, as well as for the most exotic outfit, best hat and best shoes.
The action on the track sees a six-race card including the £15,000 EBF Ladies Evening Fillies’ Handicap (9.05pm), a competitive mile contest for three-year-old fillies, that went to the James Fanshawe-trained Caressed last year. The first race is at 6.35pm and the gates open at 4.30pm.
New for 2007 is the exciting 60s, 70s and 80s Night on Saturday, July 28, which is sure to prove very popular and features live music from The Rolling Clones, widely regarded as the leading Rolling Stones tribute act.
The Rolling Clones formed in 1997 and feature band members Mick Jogger, Ronnie Woodbine, Keefy Ripoff, Bill Wayeyman and Charlie Rocks. They have played sell-out concerts at home and abroad and always deliver a memorable performance.
For those racegoers getting into the spirit of the evening and decking themselves out in retro gear from their favourite era, prizes will be handed out to the best dressed male and female from each decade.
The £10,000 United Taxis & Value Cars Fillies’ Handicap (8.40pm), run over seven furlongs for three-year-old fillies and upwards, is the most valuable event on a six-race programme, which also features the £6,500 Highland Park Single Malt Whiskey Maiden Stakes. Zafeen, victorious in the 2003 Group One St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, took this six-furlong contest as a juvenile in 2002. Racing starts at 6.10pm with the gates open two hours before that.
Children who are aged under 16 and accompanied by an adult gain free admission to all Salisbury racedays. A bouncy castle and face painting are among the entertainment on offer for the younger brigade at both the Saturday evening fixtures in July.
The giant screen will be in operation at all of Salisbury’s fixtures in 2007, supplying racegoers with excellent pictures of the racing action.
Sandwiched between Salisbury’s two Saturday evening meetings this month is a midweek afternoon fixture on Tuesday, July 24, offering a six-race card. The first race takes place at 2.15pm and the gates open at 11am.
With Salisbury’s season approaching the half-way stage, no horse has impressed more at the course to date than Sakhee’s Secret, who produced an exhilarating performance in the Listed Axminster Carpets Cathedral Stakes over six furlongs on June 17, storming to a four-length success over Prime Defender.
Hughie Morrison’s charge looks potential champion sprinter material and is currently disputing favouritism for the Group One July Cup at Newmarket on July 13.
Looking further ahead, Salisbury stages its most valuable and prestigious two days racing of the year on Wednesday, August 15 and Thursday, August 16, with the ‘Salisbury Splendour - Summer Festival.’
The highlight on the first day is the £38,000 Listed EBF Upavon Fillies’ Stakes over 10 furlongs, taken in grand style last year by Pictavia, while the following day’s feature contest is the £65,000 Group Three totesport.com Sovereign Stakes for colts and geldings, one of the richest races of its type in the calendar, and captured in 2006 by Godolphin’s Belenus.
Now an established mid-season target for high-class milers, the totesport Sovereign Stakes has been won by a host of classy performers, including Priors Lodge (2002), Passing Glance (2003) and Norse Dancer (2004), who landed the first renewal with Group Three status.
Ticket prices for Salisbury Racecourse are Members Enclosure £18, Tattersalls Enclosure £11, Course Enclosure £6. Accompanied children under 16 are admitted free. Car parking is free. Book online at least seven days in advance and save 10%. See www.comehorseracing.com/salisbury for more details.
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