Haydock Park

Haydock Park racecourse is based in Merseyside. It hosts both flat and national hunt racing.

It is a left-handed oval track that covers one mile and five furlongs. Haydock also includes an extension that allows then to hold a six furlong sprint on a straight course.

It was opened in 1899 after Sydney Sandon was instrumental in its development. He held a number of positions at the racecourse including course secretary, chairman and managing director in the early years of its existence.

In 1998 and 2000, Haydock was awarded Racecourse of the year in the UK.

The most prestigious flat race held at Haydock each year is the Group One Sprint Cup that is scheduled for early September on the calendar. This is run over six furlongs and has been going since 1966. Be Friendly was the first ever winner at the age of just two. He finished with a time of 1:16:40. The horse then won the race again in 1967 and is the only runner in history to win the contest more than once. It is now only open to three-year-olds and above.

One of the leading races in the middle distance division for fillies and mares in flat racing is the Lancashire Oaks. This Group Two has been held at Haydock since 1965.

Barshiba has been the most successful horse, having won the 1m4f race in 2009 and 2010. Trainer Sir Henry Cecil scored in this race on seven successes. His first came in 1982 with Sing Softly, while his last was with Sacred Song in 2001.

The Grade One Betfair Chase is the most lucrative national hunt contest hosted by Haydock. This is the first Grade One of the jumps season and usually attracts the best stayers in the UK and Ireland. This is normally used by horses who are set to run in the King George or Cheltenham Gold Cup later in the campaign. Since its launch in 2005, Kauto Star has won it on four occasions between 2006 and 2011.

Haydock is also used as a Grand National Trial for the world famous steeplechase held at Aintree in April. The distance for the trial is 3m4f in which 22 fences are jumped. It is a handicap and takes place two months before the big race in February. Silver by Nature is the only multiple winner as he scored in 2008 and 2009.

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