Families on to a winner at Hamilton Park on Sunday

Apr 28 2011 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

FAMILIES are on to a winner when Hamilton Park’s 2011 season is off and running on Sunday.

The Bothwell Road race track will hold their annual Cancer Research UK Family Day with first race at 2.30pm.

The traditional season opener has free entry for all under-16s accompanied by adult.

As well as a seven-race card, the afternoon fixture features fun and games for kids such as fairground rides, Laserquest, paintball, and face painting.

The anticipated large opening day crowd will also be given an intriguing insight into the inner workings of a racehorse using graphic imagery safely painted onto a live horse by equine anatomists.

There will be fundraising activities throughout the day for Cancer Research UK, including a fancy dress race on the track by some of the charity's volunteers.

Vivien Kyles, chief executive at Hamilton Park, can't wait for the action to begin.

She said: “Cancer Research UK Family Day is now well established as one of our standout fixtures and allows everyone connected with the racecourse to support a most worthy charity which carries out so much vital work.

“It is a real family occasion and we are looking forward to seeing a mix of old friends and new faces to help us get 2011 off to a winning start.”

The seven-race card has two Tote-sponsored feature races and will also include the Alex Fergusson Memorial, with Hamilton Park paying tribute to its former award-winning groundskeeper after the Ayrshire man lost his three-year battle with cancer in December.

Joining Hamilton Park in 1985, Alex was employed as the track's head-groundsman before retiring in 2003. Under his leadership, Hamilton Park's groundstaff team won the prestigious Neil Wyatt Groundstaff Award in both 1997 and 2002.

Hazel Peplinski, Hamilton Park clerk of the course/racing manager, said: “The racecourse owes Alex a huge debt of gratitude for the power of work he put into improving not just the track itself but also the grounds, with manicured lawns, flowerbeds and woodland. Alex was a highly respected individual within the racing community and it is only fitting that we honour him at the opening fixture of our 2011 season.”

The first race on Sunday's card will start at 2.30pm, with gates open from 12.30pm. Tickets for the meeting and for the rest of the season are available via the Hamilton Park website – www.hamilton-park.co.uk – or by calling the racecourse on 01698 283806.

The full seven-race card this Sunday is as follows:

2:30 totepool Maiden Stakes

3:05 totepool Tangerine Trees Conditions Stakes

3:40 Alex Fergusson Memorial H’cap

4:15 totepool Buttonhook Handicap

4:50 Live Equine Anatomy Here Today Handicap

5:25 Cancer Research Claiming Stakes

5:55 Racing UK On Sky 432 H’cap

For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, call 020 7121 6699 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org