26 April 2009 New sponsor for the Horse and Hound Cup
by Weatherbys Chase staff
Stratford Racecourse Executive is very pleased to announce that a new sponsor has been found for the 51st running of the Champion Hunters' Steeplechase for the Horse and Hound Cup, which takes place on Saturday evening May 23rd.
The new sponsors are the W+S Recycling Group, who are based in Poole, Dorset. They specialise in waste management services for Dorset and Oxfordshire County Councils and Bournemouth Borough Council. They also have a national logistics network for the disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
The proprietor Geoff Thompson is a very keen owner of racehorses and has horses with Jimmy Frost, Chris Down and Brendan Powell. He also sponsors N.H. jockey Chris Honour.
Stratford's Champion Hunters' Steeplechase has been seen traditionally as the third jewel in the Hunter Chase crown, after the Cheltenham and Aintree Foxhunters and is run virtually at the end of the Hunter Chase season. Whilst the race is in its current sponsorship it will be known as The W+S Recycling Stratford Foxhunters' Champion Hunters' Steeplechase.
Stratford MD Stephen Lambert said ‘we have always been incredibily fortunate to find generous sponsors to support the race, such as The Pertemps Peoples Development Group, with whom we have had a marvellous relationship over their three year term as sponsors and this has enabled us to keep prize money levels as high as possible. Our new sponsors W+S Recycling are very enthusiastic about the race, and all that it means to the Hunter Chasing world, and their support will ensure that the race remains a coveted one to win with a purse of £30,000. Lambert continued ‘Occasionally we are challenged as to why the race conditions allow the top trainers to run horses in this Champion Hunter Chase. Our answer is that it is essential to preserve the quality of the race, and when, as often happens, the top trainers get defeated by an amateur team that has more cows than horses, victory is even sweeter.
The 3 ½ mile race is rich in history. First run in 1959, it has been won by many famous trainers including the legendary names of Fred Winter, W.A.Stephenson, and Tim Forster, as well as Grand National winning trainer Venetia Williams (twice). Lord Oaksey, Chris Collins, John Thorne, Oliver Sherwood, Nicky Henderson, Jim Wilson, Andrew Balding have all ridden the winner one or more times. Among the equine celebrity winners are Bantry Bay 1960/1; Baulking Green 1962/3; Credit Call 1971/2/3; Spartan Missile 1979; Teeton Mill 1998, Castle Mane 2000, and last year's winner Harlov who was ridden by the rising conditional talent Rhys Flint.
For more information call:
Stephen Lambert MD and Clerk of the Course 07836 384932
Ilona Barnett, Assistant to the MD 07774692242
Nick Lees, Chairman Stratford Racecourse 01284 386651
Ian Squires, W+S Recycling 01202 675564
