This coming Tuesday sees a parade of famous retired race horses visiting Sedgefield Racecourse, adding something extra for race goers to enjoy at the annual Chelt Fest Raceday.
Champion racehorses Cinders and Ashes, Peddlers Cross and Montonya’s Son will be in the parade ring which will take place before Cheltenham’s Stan James’ Champion Hurdle Race. Jackie Storey, Regional Coordinator for the North Retraining of Racehorses Charity will also be in attendance. Jackie rode in point-to-points for her father and Ferdy Murphy, and spent time in flat racing with Ann & George Duffield. Now she helps her husband Brian Storey with his small training yard, as well as retraining and showing several former racehorses. Her North region also includes the Scottish Borders.
Cinders and Ashes was purchased for just £4,500 by the legendary Ginger McCain in 2009 as an unraced 2-year-old. Trained by Ginger’s son Donald McCain, Cinders and Ashes was most successful over hurdles with his biggest success in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2012.
Nine year old Peddlers Cross and winner of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle is also trained by Donald McCain. His career came to an end following last year’s World Hurdle due to some minor problems which was beginning to hinder his performance.
Montoya’s Son was five times winner at Newcastle under the reign of Kenneth Dagleish and had tried his luck in a number of Class1 races at Aintree. Montoya’s Son retired following his final run at Southwell in August 2016 finishing fourth in a field of eleven.
The parade will allow race goers to have an up and close experience with some high calibre racehorses as they start their new lives retraining.
Tuesday 15 March, day one of the Cheltenham Festival, will also see Sedgefield racing along with all of the live action from Cheltenham aired on the big screen. Gates open at 11:15am for the first of seven races to begin at 1:15pm. Cheltenham’s Champion Day Raceday will get started at 1:30pm and the day will conclude with a live band performance from the Emerald Thieves.
Jill Williamson, “I am really looking forward to welcoming these three well known horses. It is fantastic and an important fact people know they are retraining after their successful careers.”
“We always expect good attendance at our Cheltenham Festival Raceday on Tuesday, March 15, when guests at the racecourse will have the chance to enjoy seven live races here, teamed with televised action from Cheltenham via a large screen at the courseIt is a great opportunity for people who unfortunately cannot attend Cheltenham to come racing locally and enjoy the atmosphere.”
A Chelt Fest Package is available for just £16* and includes admission, race card, Cheltenham race card, pint of Guinness and a £2 bet. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.sedgefield-racecourse.co.uk or call 01740 621925.
