Silver Bell is record event for the winner

Jun 18 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

A HORSE called Record Breaker set a new course record at Hamilton Park last week as Scottish trainer Mark Johnston comfortably won the prestigious Silver Bell race.

A bumper crowd turned up for the glamorous annual charity event, which was held in aid of Radio Clyde’s Cash for Kids appeal.

Six high quality races took place but the one everybody wanted to catch was the Cash for Kids Lanark Silver Bell Handicap Stakes.

Ridden by Royston Ffrench, Record Breaker smashed the course record over the 1 mile 4 furlong race by two seconds, winning in 2 minutes 30.52secs.

Sitting proudly on display in the winner’s enclosure the Silver Bell trophy was presented to Johnston who, on being given a replica, said: “It is fantastic to win this trophy although I wish I could take the real one home!”

The prestigious Lanark Silver Bell is thought to be one of the oldest sporting trophies in the world, and is believed to have been given to the town of Lanark by King William in the 12th century.

However, since Lanark Racecourse closed its gates back in 1977 the Silver Bell was kept safe by South Lanarkshire Council until Hamilton Park brought the important piece of local sporting history out of storage and back into horseracing.

An excellent evening’s racing was followed by a live set by rising starlet Pixie Lott.

The 18-year-old didn’t disappoint, wowing the crowd.

Also on hand was Clyde 1’s inimitable Suzie McGuire, who hosted her Drive Time show live from Hamilton Park and several well-known faces mingled with the crowds, including former Celtic star Andy Walker, ex-Rangers striker Derek Johnstone and commentator Peter Martin.

Last year the charity, which raises money to support some of the most vulnerable children across the Strathclyde area, gave funding to almost 100 community groups and schools across South Lanarkshire alone.

And this year there were plenty of auction and raffle prizes on offer to tempt racegoers to part with their cash for the good cause, including tickets to see Duran Duran at Edinburgh Castle, and a chance to join Clyde 1’s George Bowie live in the studio as he presents his morning show.