Hursley Hambledon
Hackwood Park
Monday 3rd May 2010
by Robin Gray
Hackwood Park, Basingstoke, is the venue for the final point to point meeting in Hampshire on Monday 3rd May.
In a major effort to encourage runners, more than 100,000 gallons of water will be applied to the racing surface in the next few days.
‘This is the first time the racecourse has been artificially watered’, said Clerk of the Course Bill Welling. ‘We had a test run with the tanker on Tuesday to work out how close to the racing line the vehicle has to go. On Friday 40,000 gallons will be applied, the same amount on Saturday and on Sunday 20,000 gallons complete the exercise.’
Unsettled weather is forecast for the weekend – ‘we would welcome any rain – but of course we cannot count on it. We are determined to provide a safe racing surface and having staged two successful meetings at Hackwood this year, we have been rewarded this time with 109 entries – the most for many years!’
Among those are four probable runners for the Morestead stables of trainer Jenny Gordon who heads the Leaderboard for Champion Trainer at the Hampshire courses.
Jenny will saddle Presenting Express, who will be ridden by owner Fenton Ramsahoye in the Hursley Hambledon Hunt race. Wain Mountain runs in the Novice & Veteran Riders race with his owner Anthony Ward-Thomas in the saddle.
Claire Douglas, in line for the Hackwood leading jockey prize partners Kjetil in the same event while Neil Henderson rides his own Mandalay Bay in the Restricted.
The first race is at 2.00 pm – although there will be the usual brace of pony races as a prelude. Catering outlets and childrens entertainments will be on site and cars are charged at £30 for the course enclosure and £20 outside. Vehicles with single occupancy receive a £10 discount.
Hackwood Park Racecourse is off the A339 – one mile south of Basingstoke – M3 Exit 6. Postcode RG25 2JZ.
