HORSE RACING: It was a case of the Lord ruling for the King in Huntingdon Racecourse’s opening fixture
Huntingdon Racecourse. - Credit: Archant
There was an aptly-named winner as the tapes went up on a new season of National Hunt racing at Huntingdon Racecourse last Sunday.
Lord Huntingdon was the star of the show at the Brian Martin Pallets Big Family Fun Day fixture.
The three year-old made a smashing debut over obstacles by taking the two-mile juvenile hurdle at odds of 6/4 and provided the first half of a double for trainer Alan King - the top man at Huntingdon in recent times.
King also claimed the biggest pot of the afternoon as Presenting Lisa landed the two-and-a-half mile novice chase at 3/1. Both horses were ridden by King’s stable jockey, Wayne Hutchinson.
Reigning champion jockey, Richard Johnson, also tasted victory when steering Bells of Ailsworth home in the three-mile, one furlong handicap hurdle for Welsh trainer Tim Vaughan.
Last Sunday’s action was the first of 18 fixtures to be staged at the local course between the beginning of October, 2016 and the end of May, 2017 - with the next one following swiftly on Tuesday (October 11).
That will be followed by regular favourites such as Winter Ladies’ Day on November 19, Betfred Peterborough Chase day on December 4 and the popular Boxing Day meeting.
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And racecourse bosses will then be hopeful of attracting potential Cheltenham Festival contenders with races such as the Listed 32Red Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle, the 32Red.com Chatteris Fen Juvenile Hurdle and the Lady Protectress Mares’ Chase all scheduled for early next year.
Such a busy fixture list means that Huntingdon Racecourse is likely to be graced by more than 900 runners during the new season, with more than 35,000 spectators also expected.
We’re offering a family of two adults and two children the chance to be among them for the October 30 fixture which includes the annual beer festival.
To be in with a chance of winning, simply tell us which company sponsored last Sunday’s Big Family Fun Day.
Email your answer along with contact details to sport@huntspost.co.uk by 5pm on Wednesday, October 12. A winner will be selected at random - the editor’s decision is final.
