Punters can bet on a great afternoon

May 28 2008

PUNTERS can swing into action at the golf-theme race meeting at Hamilton Park next Thursday.

The ‘19th Hole at Hamilton Park’ meeting takes place six days before the eagerly-anticipated Cash For Kids Silver Bell Night on Wednesday, June 11.

The feature race next Thursday is the £5000 Tokio Marine Handicap Stakes over a mile, which is a qualifier for the racecourse’s £15,000 RBS Scottish Trophy Handicap Series Final on August 20. The Sexual Health Sprint Maiden Auction Stakes at 2.10pm, sponsored by NHS Lanarkshire, is the first time two-year-olds have had the chance this season to race over the full 6f.

Up until now, 5f has been far enough for these young horses, and it may be that some of the bigger trainers will relish this early opportunity to run over the longer distance with their juveniles.

Following next Thursday’s afternoon meeting, all attention will turn to Cash For Kids Silver Bell Night — replacing the Saints and Sinners meeting.

The meeting, being held in partnership with Radio Clyde, aims to raise funds for the Cash For Kids charity.

Highlights of the meeting will include the running of the Lanark Silver Bell race, believed to be the oldest in the world, for the first time since 1977.

As well as a seven-race card, there will be a live musical performance after racing with the yet-to-be-announced act following in the footsteps of recent performers Jason Donovan, Dannii Minogue and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Hazel Peplinski, clerk of the course, said: “Braveheart Night was very much the early season highlight, but we are now leading up to our biggest night of the year in Cash For Kids Silver Bell Night.

“When this charity night was in aid of The Saints & Sinners, the one thing it lacked was a major race. Now, with the Lanark Silver Bell, we have one of the most historic races in the racing calendar as our feature event, which is very exciting and gives the event a huge lift.

“This night is sold out on the corporate front already, but tickets are still available to the public via our website.

“For Scottish racing fans it is an occasion that shouldn’t be missed and we are all looking forward to it very much.”  

At 19th Hole meeting at Hamilton Park next week, gates open at 12.10pm, with the first race taking place at 2.10pm.  Tickets for the meeting are available through the new Hamilton Park website — www.hamilton-park.co.uk — or by calling the racecourse on 01698 283806.

The full seven-race card next Thursday is as follows:

2.10 The Sexual Health Sprint Maiden Auction Stakes

2.40 The Rectangle Group Claiming Stakes

3.10 The Alliance and Leicester Handicap Stakes

3.40 The Tokio Marine Handicap Stakes

4.10 The DM Hall Handicap Stakes

4.40 The Sam Collingwood-Cameron Handicap Stakes

5.10 The Cash For Kids Next Week Handicap Stakes