IN his monthly column Haydock Park racecourse general manager Garry Fortune looks ahead to upcoming events...

With Easter and spring sunshine upon us, we have plenty to look forward to over the coming months at Haydock Park Racecourse.

The next racing fixture, this Saturday, April 19, is our Easter Family Fun Day, which is always a popular day for racegoers and their families.

This year it will be themed the ‘Magic and Mystery’ Family Fun Day, and there will be plenty to keep children amused, including a Mystery Mansion ride, an inflatable Crooked Cottage, face-painting, craft workshops and an Easter Egg Hunt.

There will also be an Illusionist Magic Workshop to help develop kids’ tricks, as well as walk-about entertainers showing off their skills.

Entry for youngsters aged 17 and under is absolutely free when accompanied by a paying adult.

There will be some top-class racing, with the first race at 1.30pm and the gates opening at 11.30am.

For tickets and further information, go to www.haydock-park.co.uk.

In addition to this, if you join us for our Easter Family Fun Day you will be entitled to a ‘two for one’ offer for our afternoon of racing on Saturday, April 26.

 

 Tickets are on sale for Saturday, April 19, at www.haydock-park.co.uk.
They can also be bought in person at the racecourse or by telephone on 0844 579 3006 in advance at the following prices: £11.70 (Newton), £18 (Tattersalls), £27 (County Stand), £40.50 (Premier).
The gates open at 11.30am.

 



 

Chart-topping band Wet Wet Wet will be playing an open air concert following a day of top-class racing at Haydock Park Racecourse on July 19.

Tickets start from just £30 but in this month’s competition you could win a pair of tickets to see the band perform.

To be in with a chance of winning, email your contact details, along with your answer to the following question, to haydockpark@thejockeyclub.co.uk.

Please include ‘St Helens Star
Competition’ in the subject line of your email. The closing date for entries is Monday, April 28. Terms and conditions apply.

 


 

We have some great racing fixtures to look forward to in the coming months, with two premium fixtures – the Pertemps Swinton Hurdle and the Betfred Temple Stakes – on the Saturdays of May 10 and May 24 respectively.

The Betfred Temple Stakes is a prestigious race that was won for the second time last year by Kingsgate Native – only the second time a horse has won it twice.

In addition to the outstanding racing, we have some world class music acts to look forward to this summer, kicking off with a brilliant ’80s night, ‘Here And Now’, which follows a great evening of racing on Saturday, June 21.

Eighties icons T’Pau, Rick Astley and Katrina of the Waves will be joined by Curiosity Killed The Cat, The Christians and The Real Thing, taking turns on stage to belt out their hits of yesteryear.

Next up is one of the UK’s most successful artists, Wet Wet Wet, on Saturday, July 19. They will entertain the Haydock Park crowds with some of the country’s best loved pop songs, including ‘Love Is All Around’ and ‘Goodnight Girl’.

Finally, we have a superb August weekend music listing, with two of the UK’s most loved artists – Jessie J and Tom Jones.

Brit Awards winner Jessie J has recently joined our summer line-up and will play at our picturesque open-air setting on Friday, August 8. The singer-songwriter will thrill the crowds with hits such as ‘Laserlight’, ‘Do It Like A Dude’, ‘Domino’ and the chart topping single ‘Price Tag’.

To complete our summer music in style, on Saturday, August 9, one of the world’s most successful artists, Tom Jones, will return by popular demand following a hugely successful appearance at the racecourse in 2011.

A whopping 12,500 fans attended the last Tom Jones concert, and tickets are already selling like hot cakes – demand has been massive so far. Advance purchase is strongly advised for all performances.

For tickets and further information, go to www.haydock-park.co.uk or call 0844 579 3006.

We also have a special evening with former England footballer Paul Merson on Tuesday, May 27.

Paul, a current star of Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday show, will appear as the guest of honour at an exclusive black tie event at the racecourse.

With 21 England caps and 623 senior level caps during his glittering career, Paul will provide guests with an entertaining and honest account of his career, life and ups and downs.

The night will also feature a three-course meal, a comedian and music from Haydock Park’s resident DJ.

Finally, I would like to congratulate everyone involved in such a successful and thrilling Crabbie’s Grand National. The hard work and commitment that was shown by all staff was first-class.
Also, congratulations to champion horse Pineau De Re, jockey Leighton Aspell, owner John Proven and trainer Dr Richard Newland for winning the first £1 million Crabbie’s Grand National.
The 167th running of the most famous horse race festival in the world was enjoyed by almost 150,000 people, with a record crowd of 33,456 on Grand Opening Day and a sell-out crowd on Grand National Day.

It was also enjoyed by 8.5 million people on Channel 4 and approximately 600 million people worldwide.

To register your interest for the 2015 Crabbie’s Grand National, please go to www.crabbiesgrandnational.co.uk.
However, before the next Crabbie’s Grand National, we have plenty going on at Haydock Park Racecourse, so I hope you enjoy our great spring and summer racing and music line-up and look forward to meeting as many of you as possible in the coming months.