NEWS

STRONG CARD FOR FIRST MEETING OF THE NEW YEAR

 A very strong entry has been made for Kelso’s first meeting of the New Year on Sunday 15th January with the first race off at 12.50.  The Racecourse ended 2011 on a real high with a very well attended new meeting between Christmas and New Year. 

A packed seven race card, which has moved from its regular Wednesday slot to the Sunday which will hopefully allow a lot more people to attend.

Stark Main sponsor the feature race of the day to thank their staff for the amazing feat of winning “The UK’s best accountancy practice for 2011”.  This prestigious award was won by the Selkirk firm against  hugely competitive opposition and this accolade acknowledges the tremendous effort the firm goes to in helping clients grow their business and maximize profit potential.

Ian Main,  his partner Jim Stark and their Associate Director, John Dunney are to be hugely congratulated on their AVN Accountancy Firm of the year award and their Scottish Borders Business Excellence award win, the firm are one of the great success stories of the Scottish Borders. 

The three Directors will be on hand to do the honours after a very competitive two mile one furlong Handicap Chase, Bruce Mactaggart has Grand National-winning jockey Graham Lee booked for his Bonchester Bridge raider and Kelso hurdle winner Cassius, while 2009 course and distance scorer Super Baby travels up the A7 from James Ewart’s Langholm stable

Kelso entrepreneur Mark Hay, well known as Owner of  the Queens Head Hotel and his mobile bar facility Cheers Bar, are celebrating the New year with a tremendous party at the racecourse which he has combined with sponsorship of the first race off at 12.50.  Mark Hay will be on hand to judge the best turned out and to make the presentations.  A massive entry of 33 includes Becausewecan one of a select band of jumpers leading Flat trainer Mark Johnston has in his Kingsley House yard. Borders businessman Geoff Adam could be represented by the Lucinda Russell trained Rhymers Ha’, who was second on his hurdling debut at Kelso’s final fixture of 2011

The EBF National Hunt Hurdle - a qualifier for the final at Sandown, and has attracted a very competitive field Good to see young James Reveley back in action after his Boxing Day spill and he has several booked rides including Crowning Jewel for his father Keith.  Mini The Minx represents Hawick’s Donald Whillans, whose Shadow Boxer landed a massive gamble at Newcastle recently. Sadly Sam Sheppard of the EBF is unable to attend Kelso on the day so the course are pleased to welcome another Scottish success story of the year. Andy Bennett manager of the Scotbet branch in Selkirk who has won the UK’s Betting Shop Manager of the year award, which the firm are celebrated at the Border track.  Andy and his close knit team will be joined by 100 supporters who are travelling to Kelso in coaches supplied by Scotbet who own and run the shop in Selkirk from which Andy is based. 

The European Breeders Fund together with the Thoroughbred Breeders Association have jointly combined to sponsor a Mares Novice Chase, the second race on the card, which is designed to give Owners and Breeders an opportunity to increase the value of their mares before retiring them to stud. Well known Border character Tim Finch who is the local representative of TBA will be on hand to make the presentations after the race. Susan Corbett, who also runs the Girsonfield Stud in Otterburn, had her first winner under Rules with Definite Appeal at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day and she has entered her mare Claresburn in this, Irish trainer Stuart Crawford has also pencilled in Streamtown who was fourth at Kelso last April

Sale & Partners who have been responsible for the management for the Border track longer than MD Richard Landale cares to remember, are sponsoring the two mile six furlong Handicap Hurdle.  Ewan Harris who recently became a full equity partner in the firm, will be on hand make the presentations to winning connections, along with Trish Spours who has been involved with the day to day management of the track  for over twenty years, since Sale & Partners took over from managing agents Taits.  The Hurdle has attracted significant local interest, Alistair Findley is due to ride Charming Knight for his mother Jane Walton while there is another family connection with Ewan Whillans is set to partner Dundock for his Hawick trainer father Alistair. Charming Knight was third at Hexham before Christmas but Dundock hasn’t raced since finishing third at Perth in May 2010

The 3.20 Handicap Chase over three mile one furlong  has seen entries from Willie Amos who was out of luck at the last Kelso meeting and he will be hoping Billsgrey will enjoy better fortune in this. Harry Hogarth’s horses have yet to start firing but ex-Irish hurdler and hunter chaser Mister Bloom has slipped to a very tempting mark as he reverts to regulation fences.

Ray and Anita Green have very kindly stepped into sponsor the Bumper which is the last race on the card off at 3.50.  Ray and Anita are hugely supportive of the Border track and also work tirelessly  for the NSPCC. Flaming Arrow, by Sadler’s Wells and trained by Kevin Ryan, was only beaten a short-head on his debut at Wetherby in December and wasn’t disgraced in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham on January 1st. Wolf Shield, by King’s Theatre, is an interesting newcomer from George Moore’s Middleham base.

 

For Further Information:

Richard Landale:           01668 281 041

Louise Grey:                 01668 280 800

 

Next Race Meeting:  Wednesday 15th February ”Morebattle Hurdle Day”