Tuesday, September 21, 2004
FITTING FINALE TO RIPON’S 2004 SEASON
The curtain comes down on Ripon’s 2004 season on Saturday (September 25) when racing at Yorkshire’s ‘Garden Racecourse’ is scheduled to start at 1.50 p.m.
Saturday’s highlights include The sportingoptions.co.uk Commission
Cutters Handicap Stakes, a £20,000-added sprint contest over six
furlongs sponsored by the betting exchange company Sporting Options and The Weatherbys Bank Nursery Handicap Stakes (two-year-olds over the minimum five furlongs), supported by Weatherbys Group Limited of
Wellingborough who provide administration services to the British
Horseracing Board, along with commercial services to the racing industry in general.
Juveniles are also catered for in two newly-sponsored races – The
Homesale Network Novice Stakes (six furlongs), a race which welcomes new sponsors to Ripon in Homesale Network - the leading and largest network of independent estate agents in the U.K., and The Ark De Triumph Fillies’ Maiden Auction Stakes (five furlongs), supported by Ark Design & Print Limited, a company also making its racing sponsorship debut.
Going into the final meeting, the battle to be Ripon’s top trainer and
jockey in 2004 looks like going down to the wire. Both competitions are sponsored by Glenfiddich Whisky, with the trainers’ category led by the current champion, Tim Easterby with 55 points – closely pursued by Richard Whitaker (54), James Bethell (50), Mick Channon, Barry Hills and Kevin Ryan (all on 49 points), while Mark Johnston has accrued 48 points.
Tony Culhane (93 points) leads the way for the jockey’s prize at Ripon
this season, ahead of Robert Winston (77), Philip Robinson (68), Kevin
Darley (63), Joe Fanning (61), Paul Hanagan and Seb Sanders (both on 60 points).
The Ripon City Band provide the musical entertainment from the
racecourse bandstand, while racegoers will be offered an even better
view of proceedings, courtesy of the permanent giant screen.
Looking forward to next year, Ripon’s 15-day 2005 season begins on
Thursday, April 14.
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