Top dance act The Box set to take centre stage at Hamilton Park’s Family Day

Sep 16 2010 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

TOP dance act The Box are set to take centre stage at Hamilton Park Racecourse’s Family Day on Sunday afternoon.

The group, who shot to fame on Sky 1’s Got To Dance final, will entertain the crowd in between races.

The first race in Hamilton Park’s Totepool Family Day, which is packed with quality racing and entertainment, is at 2.10pm.

The Lanarkshire track’s final meeting of the season, the Totesport Final Fling, takes place on Monday.

All under-16s accompanied by a paying adult can enjoy free entry to both meetings.

The double-header kicks off on Sunday when there will be a raft of free children’s entertainment and activities as well as:

l Seven quality races, including the £14,000 feature race at 2.40pm, with jockey championship rivals Paul Hanagan and Richard Hughes set to compete throughout the afternoon.

l The Lanarkshire International Children’s Games 2011 bus offering advice on volunteering opportunities, providing information on the Games in general, featuring an on-board large screen TV showing previous Games footage and handing out ICG magazines and badges.

l Retired racehorses registered with The Scottish & Northern Ex Racehorse Club charity parading before the first race.

Monday’s highlights include:

l A seven-race card including the Hamilton Park Apprentice Series final which currently has four jockeys tied for first place.

l A presentation by Isle of Skye Whisky to the top trainer at Hamilton Park this year; Mark Johnston currently leads the standings with 10 winners, with Bryan Smart, Richard Fahey and Linda Perratt all challenging.

l The culmination of the Hamilton Park Owners Championship, with Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum set to repeat his 2009 success.

Vivien Kyles, chief executive of Hamilton Park Racecourse, said: “We are looking forward to providing a fitting finale to our racing season and there is no shortage of entertainment over the two days.

“It is another season where we have broken new ground thanks in no small part to our hugely successful stand-alone JLS concert in July which saw the venue packed to capacity.

“With plans in place to stage at least one similar event next year as well as the 2011 Lanarkshire International Children’s Games on the horizon, it’s an exciting time both for Hamilton Park the venue and Hamilton the area.

“We’d like to thank everyone who has supported Hamilton Park this season.

“We look forward to celebrating the end of the season with race fans, families and friends at the racecourse this weekend.”

The seven-race card for Sunday’s Totepool Family Day is: 2:10, toteplacepot Nursery Stakes: 2:40, totepool.com EBF Flower of Scotland Fillies Handicap; 3:10, European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes; 3:40, toteexacta Premier Claiming Stakes; 4:10, totesuper7 Handicap; 4:40, toteswinger Flexi Betting Handicap; 5:10, totetrifecta Flexi Betting Handicap.

The seven-race card for Monday’s Totesport Final Fling is: 2:10, European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes; 2:40, totesport.com Conditions Stakes; 3:10, Play Bingo At totesport.com Apprentice Handicap (Final of Hamilton Park Apprentice Series); 3:40, Play Blackjack At totesport.com Handicap; 4:10; Play Roulette At totesport.com Maiden Stakes; 4:40, Play Slots At totesport.com Handicap; 5:10, Free Racing Post Form At totesport.com Handicap.

Tickets for both meetings start at just £13.

They can be obtained from the Hamilton Park Racecourse website, whose address is www.hamilton-park.co.uk, or by calling the racecourse on 01698 283806.