The Open Sunday
Here are the details for 2011 to give you a flavour for what takes place on Open Sunday. The 2012 details will appear here closer to the event.
Another cracking six race card on a day that is very popular with families and racing enthusiasts alike
Gates open at 11.05am with the first race at 1.10pm. The last race is at 4pm with the charity race at 4.10pm.
The highlight is The Greatwood Hurdle, which sees the up and coming stars of the hurdling world take centre stage. Earlier in the day, there are two high class 2 mile chases. in 2010, these featured Captain Chris, just beaten on his debut over fences before winning Grade 1 races at both Cheltenham and Punchestown in the spring; and by Gauvain, who beat Forpadydeplasterer in a thrilling encounter.
There is an exciting Open Sunday Sporting Challenge in the Parade Ring at 12.10pm, followed by the presentation of the JETS awards to jockeys who have achieved highly in developing a second career.
Shortly after the final race, The Greatwood Charity Sweepstake takes place, at approximately 4.10pm. This is a flat race over 1m5f with 12 jockeys going all out to raise funds for Greatwood's work with retired racehorses. The list of riders is as follows:
| Harriet Bond |
University student Harriet regularly work rides at Jonjo O’Neill’s where her mother has horses in training. |
| Carey Buckler |
Daughter of Dorset trainer Bob, Carey is an experienced amateur jockey and Sales & Marketing Executive at Huntingdon Racecourse |
| Andrew Barr |
Racing journalist Andrew has enjoyed many years of riding out and has also ridden in a point-to-point but this is his racecourse debut in the saddle. |
| Becky Furber |
Becky is attached to Paul Nicholl’s yard and has ridden in point-to-points. |
| Diana Hobbs |
Daughter of Somerset trainer Philip, Diana is an experienced point-to-point jockey and has just completed her degree at Cirencester Royal Agricultural College. |
| Gemma Hogg |
Gemma is assistant to trainer Micky Hammond and rides in the charity race to celebrate her 30th birthday! |
| Clare Luck |
Clare has ridden out for Oliver Sherwood for four years and is Director of a travel company specialising in self-drive safaris in Africa. |
| Maurice McCarthy |
Maurice rides regularly in charity races, having ridden at Cheltenham raising funds for the TAWC Fund. |
| Patrick Neville |
Limerick trainer Patrick recently trained a double at the Killarney Festival and was a successful amateur jockey before taking out his trainer’s licence. |
| Tracey Phillips |
Tracey worked for Tim Holland-Martin for many years. She rides out regularly for Nigel Twiston-Davies. |
| Lee Thomas |
Lee is sales director of his own engineering company and rode in Newbury’s charity race in June. He regularly rides work for Bill Moore near Chester. |
| David Weston |
A financial and property consultant from Thirsk, David fulfilled his lifetime’s ambition of riding in a race not only at Towcester but also here at Cheltenham 2 years ago on old warrior Amjad. |