1. Next Meeting - Friday 1st October 2010
1st Race 2.10pm. Last Race: 5.05pm. News about the meeting will published in September.
We will be running a courtesy bus service to and from the course, with pick-ups from Hexham Railway Station and Hexham Bus Station. Times of the Tyne Valley Coaches, www.tynevalleycoaches.co.uk, service will be announced closer to the meeting date.
2. Ladies' Day - Sunday 20th June
The ladies of Tynedale dressed up in their finery to attend the last race meeting before the summer recess at Yarridge Heights.
There were prizes for the Best Dressed Lady, Little Miss aged 12 years or under and the Most Elegant Hat. See the winners in 'all their finery' on our 2010 Ladies' Day page - click here.
"totesport Ladies' Day," which this year coincided with Fathers' Day, was one of the most popular meetings of the year so far.
3. Bob Champion Charity Day - Sat 8th May
Two major charities benefited from the race meeting which is one of 60 racecourses in Britain that former Grand National winning jockey Bob Champion aims to visit in 60 consecutive days in a 10,000 mile marathon.
 Ascot Racecourse was the start of an epic journey on 18th April, in aid of The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and the Injured Jockeys Fund.
Each course, including Hexham, is visited for a special race meeting and Bob arranged a special package for all the supporters who wished to join him and has obtained a pass for the Champions 60:60 Charity Challenge. Bob's aim is to encourage 50 supporters a day to raise a minimum of £50 each to entitle them to participate in the challenge event.
In return for their £50 minimum donation, each person gains free entry to the Club enclosure of their chosen meeting, discover how racing works behind the scenes, meet with Bob Champion, walk the course before racing, combined with a photo opportunity with Bob and some of the jockeys on the day plus visiting celebrities. Also they will receive a free bet courtesy of the Tote and a Golden 60:60 Grand Draw Ticket with some unique prizes.
The event sponsor is Lotus, who has provided their latest Evora sports car for Bob to travel from course to course. Other sponsors include Almond Resorts, Godolphin, The Gore Hotel, Saint Lucia Tourist Board, The Tote and Weatherbys. The event website www.champions6060.org.uk has all the information about the challenge.
4. Gee Aker Malayo Remembered at Hexham
On 19th April the feature race was the intriguingly named Gee Aker Malayo Handicap Steeplechase.
© Grossick Racing Photography |
Gee Aker Malayo was a characterful horse owned by Suzanne and Nigel Williams and a firm favourite with Hexham race goers. In just 6 months, at the height of his racing career, 'Gee' was in the frame no less than six times in seven appearances at Hexham, Carlisle and Perth.
"His and our proudest day, was when, after being written off by many people, he won the feature race at Hexham" explained Suzanne.
Yet his early connections had believed that he was too temperamental to race. |
"When we first met him at trainer Richard Phillips yard we immediately fell in love with his engaging character and when he came up for sale at Doncaster we simply had to give him a home."
"We tried him at point-to-pointing but he felt that was a bit of a come down and pulled himself up at every opportunity – usually right in front of the horsebox."
The advice given by everyone was that his racing days were over but Suzanne and Nigel never lost faith in him.
"We saw him for the character he was and our faith was well founded" explained Suzanne.
Gee Aker Malayo ran his last race at Stratford when he fell - victim of an accidental mid air collision.
There is still one piece of the heart-warming 'Gee' story missing. Despite exhaustive, worldwide research, Suzanne and Nigel have been unable to discover the origins of the name.
"We have searched every possible contact and website and so far we have learnt that Gee Aker Malayo could be either an anagram of an old school motto or some sort of war cry" said Suzanne.
"Nigel and I would love to discover where the name originated." If you have any ideas please click here to email our website producer.
5. 'Back a Winner by Train' Promotion
This is a new promotion organised jointly by the Racecourse Executive, several rail companies and The Tote to encourage more race goers to travel to Hexham by train.
The "Back A Winner By Train" incentive enables race goers using the train, to enjoy £4 discount off the FULL price admission to Hexham. In addition there will be a £2 discount off a toteplacepot bet of £5 or more. Race goers will be able to buy their tickets at more than 90 stations throughout the North.
PLEASE NOTE: This promotional offer is NOT available in conjunction with existing racecourse entrance discounts - this includes the Concessions Gate entrance which is already discounted.
6. Annual Members' Badge
The Racecourse is reporting brisk business from race goers subscribing to the Annual Members' Badge scheme.
“Applications are not only being received from our very loyal regulars but also from an encouraging number of new subscribers from throughout the Country,” Ron Woodman explained.
The Annual Members' Badge not only gives subscribers access to the fifteen Hexham meetings but also free admission to thirty eight additional meetings at Courses up and down the Country.
7. Need help with a website?
Our multi-award winning website producer and media consultant is available to give expert impartial advice on developing, improving and maintaining high quality websites. To find out more details by click here.
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