By: Iain Ferguson
THE 2013 William Hill Ayr Gold Cup Festival which runs from Thursday 19 September until Saturday 21 September promises to be one of the busiest and best yet.
[Pictured: The runners pan across the full width of
Ayr Racecourse in last year’s William Hill Ayr Gold Cup.]
More than 20,000 people are expected to flock to Ayr Racecourse over the three days for Scotland’s richest flat race meeting, which this year boasts £587,000 in prize money.
There are 22 races in all – seven each on the Thursday and Friday and eight on Saturday.
The opening day’s action features The William Hill – Download The App Handicap for the Kilkerran Cup run over one mile two furlongs with £25,000 on offer.
Friday’s main event is the William Hill Ayr Bronze Cup with a capacity 27 runner field thundering down the six furlong straight, and there’s also a top supporting race in The Shadwell Stud/E.B.F. Stallions Harry Rosebery Stakes, a Listed Race.
On Saturday Europe’s richest sprint handicap – the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup takes centre stage with £155,000 in prize money. Sponsors William Hill have installed the Richard Fahey trained Baccarat as favourite, while the Jim Goldie trained pair Jack Dexter and Hawkeyethenoo are also fancied.
Other big races over the three days include the William Hill – Bet On The Move Doonside Cup, a Listed Race, and the William Hill – In the App Store Firth Of Clyde Stakes which carry prize funds of £60,000 each. These are run on Saturday along with the £50,000 William Hill Ayr Silver Cup.
And after racing on all three days there is superb entertainment with live bands performing in the Horseshoe Bar on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and in addition a disco playing in the Ayrshire Suite on the Friday and Saturday.
For further information please contact Iain Ferguson on 01292 294972 or 07795 565691.
Ayr Racecourse and the associated Western House Hotel are Founder Members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.
