Silver Bell night is voted a winner

Jun 19 2008 by Andrew McGilvray

HAMILTON Park’s inaugural Cash for Kids Silver Bell Night was last week voted a resounding success.

A crowd of over 7000 watched as Liverpudlian Liam Jones lifted the £35,000 Silver Bell competition on the William Hagges-trained Tifernati.

Silver Bell Night replaced the Saints and Sinners meeting, as jockeys and stables competed for the world’s oldest sporting trophy, the Lanark Silver Bell, which came out of storage for the first time since 1977.

Hamilton Park won the right to host the prestigious race in a vote over rival racecourse Ayr, with the management keen to keep this precious piece of Lanarkshire’s sporting heritage in the county.

With the help of Lanark Community Council, South Lanarkshire Council, and the high-profile Cash for Kids charity, the racecourse pulled it off and gave racegoers a night to remember.

An amazing £100,000 was raised on the night, and given to the charity by Hamilton Park chairman Sir Ian Good – and that total was generously boosted by a £50,000 donation from South Lanarkshire Council.

Spotted among the punters was multi-platinum-selling Texas singer Sharleen Spiteri, who was a guest of Radio Clyde boss Paul Cooney.

Suzie Maguire broadcast her Clyde One radio show live from the racecourse, and BBC TV cameras followed the celeb crowd closely as the MacDonald Brothers and David Jordon provided entertainment.

Hamilton Park chief executive Vivien Kyles said: “Saints and Sinners was a great name, but our new Cash for Kids Silver Bell Night is a very worthy replacement.

“£150,000 was raised for a very good cause, and we’re proud to have played a part in that.”

Hamilton Park’s next major event is the John Smith’s Fair Friday meeting on July 18, followed by Ladies’ Night on August 2.

For more information, visit www.hamilton-park.co.uk or call 01698 283806.