Goodwood’s May Festival set to be a £450,000 winner

GOODWOOD are confident a big increase in prize money will help ensure their May Festival a winner.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th May 2015, 15:55 BST

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Marsh Daisy after winning last year's Height of Fashion Stakes / Picture by Malcolm WellsMarsh Daisy after winning last year's Height of Fashion Stakes / Picture by Malcolm Wells
Marsh Daisy after winning last year's Height of Fashion Stakes / Picture by Malcolm Wells

The three-day festival, which begins a week today, will see £450,000 up for grabs – up £45,000 on last year.

With four listed races being run over the three days – all of which racecourse bosses are trying to push up to Group 3 status – plus a big handicap on the final day, the quality of the contests looks guaranteed. Thursday’s highlight will be the Height of Fashion Stakes, which is likely to attract a handful of hopefuls for the Oaks, while Friday’s Cocked Hat Stakes is seen as one of the last big trials for the Derby.

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The big races at Epsom come a fortnight after Goodwood – ideal timing for this festival.

On Saturday, the Tapster Stakes and Festival Stakes are complemented by the 888Sport.com handicap – worth £75,000 this year, up 50 per cent on 2014’s prize pot.

Racecourse managing director Adam Waterworth said: “Everything’s set for the May Festival to be one to remember.

“We’ve had a nice period of weather which has seen the course really come on since our opening day – it is looking a picture.

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“Ticket sales are going well. We are ahead of where we were at the same time last year – and we’d hope the increased prize money will have been a factor in that.

“The big races across the three days are all worth significantly more than last year and we’re confident trainers will respond to that with quality entries.”

Meanwhile, race-goers have until May 31 to book tickets for Glorious – the Qatar Goodwood Festival – at a cheaper rate.

STEVE BONE

See a video preview of the May Festival on this website on Wednesday followed by full coverage from Thursday – plus news from Goodwood in the Chichester Observer on Thursday

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Related topics:Racecourse