IT was great to hear that prize money at Hamilton Park will break the £1 million mark. The 15 per cent boost from 2016, up to over £1.166m, is part of an investment programme designed to bolster things on and off the track with a further £800,000 earmarked for refurbishment of the grandstand restaurant, bar and private hospitality facilities.
Work has already begun on the project and will be complete in time for the start of the new 18-meeting season on May 7. Suggestions for new names for the rebranded bar and restaurant, encapsulating the racecourse and history, are being invited across Hamilton Park’s social media network.
In addition, all fixtures will be worth at least £50,000 and no individual race will be staged for less than £5000.
Chief executive Vivien Currie said: “This is a very exciting time at Hamilton Park and we never stand still. As a venue and a business we continually strive to improve the race-day experience for our customers and the wider community and this landmark programme of improvements reflect that ethos.”
WELL done also to Kelso for winning the Event Of The Year 2017 at the Live Borders Celebration Of Sport Awards. The popular track received a magnificent crystal trophy on the eve of its high-profile Premier Hurdle and Chase card last weekend.
Malcolm Jefferson was all smiles after Mount Mews strolled home in the Grade 2 hurdle and he said afterwards that Aintree was the plan. He is set to tackle the Grade 1 novice hurdle won a couple of years ago by recent Morebattle Hurdle scorer Cyrus Darius who is a live outsider in Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle. I’ll be giving the Malton raider an extra cheer as he’s owned by Scotsman Graeme Calder.
Keep an eye too on recent Haydock winner Captain Redbeard who has a great chance of running a big race for Selkirk father and son combination Stuart and Sam Coltherd in the final event on Tuesday.
And big shouts also to our other Scottish runners Mixboy for Keith Dalgleish, another likely to run on Tuesday, and Shade Of Midnight for Hawick’s Donald Whillans in Thursday’s Pertemps Final.
The trio are all available at between 20/1 and 33/1 so an each-way treble could be the way to go!
Don’t forget to check out our Twitter feed (@ScottishRacing) and scottishracing.co.uk for all the latest news
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