Nick Bannister Will Be Next Racing Welfare Chairman

Nick Bannister will become the next chairman of Racing Welfare on June 12, the organisation announced on Wednesday. Currently chairman of Haydock Park Racecourse since 2020, Bannister will succeed William Barlow, who will be completing his five-year term.

Bannister, who first worked for three decades in financial services, also manages the family-owned Coniston Hotel & Spa and its associated estate in the Yorkshire Dales. He has served as chair of The Countryside Alliance Foundation for six years and spent over 10 years as the deputy governor of the Hunt Staff Benefit Society.

At one point an amateur jump jockey, Bannister said, “I am very much looking forward to immersing myself in this position and helping Racing Welfare evolve, navigate the challenges ahead and continue the excellent work they do for a cause so close to my heart.”

Dawn Goodfellow, chief executive at Racing Welfare said, “Nick's vast background of working in finance will undoubtedly be hugely beneficial. Added to that is his experience of political matters with the Countryside Alliance, which can hopefully serve to further strengthen our relationships with key industry stakeholders.”

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Tattersalls To Sponsor 2024 Polish St Leger

The 2024 edition of the Polish St Leger will be sponsored by Tattersalls, the sales company announced on Wednesday.

Held at Warsaw's Służewiec Racecourse, the 1 3/4-mile race on Westminster Day, Aug. 31, joins other Classic sponsorships by Tattersalls including the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas and G2 Tattersalls Italian Oaks. Multiple group winner Va Bank (Ire) (Archipenko), a €4,500 Tattersalls Ireland September yearling buy, won the Polish St Leger. In addition, Tattersalls Ireland will sponsor the Nagroda Dakota, a juvenile race over 6 1/2 furlongs, also held on Westminster Day.

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said, “We are delighted to add the Polish St Leger to the Tattersalls portfolio of Classic sponsorships in Europe. It is an exciting time for Polish racing, with the country staging their first ever internationally recognised listed race in October last year, and Tattersalls and Tattersalls Ireland are thrilled to be involved with the 2024 Westminster Day at Tor Służewiec.”

Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins said, “Tattersalls Ireland are committed to supporting the markets that support us, and our Polish client base has seen year on year growth over the last few years, making this agreement beneficial to both parties. This partnership will extend our Flat racing sponsorship portfolio, which is headlined by our €250,000 Super Auction Sales Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival.”

Westminster Group President Marian Ziburske added, “Opened in 1939, Tor Służewiec in Warsaw is one of the most beautiful and important racecourses in Eastern Europe, and it is fantastic to have Tattersalls join world-class companies such as Dell, Land Rover and Panattoni in sponsoring on our charity raceday. We are very proud to have such a respected partner and look forward to the further development of Polish racing.”

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Eleven Foreigners To Challenge Home Team On FWD Champions Day

A record 11 overseas-based gallopers, including Group 1 winners Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) from Great Britain and Japan's Mad Cool (Jpn) (Dark Angel {Ire}), are among the 35 total horses invited to participate in the trio of races which comprise FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin Racecourse on Apr. 28.

Trained by William Haggas, the globetrotting Dubai Honour pays a third visit to Hong Kong and will look to improve on his performance from 12 months ago, where he was a low-odds third behind the re-opposing, three-peat seeking Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and Prognosis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the richest of the afternoon's events, the HK$28 million (£2.84 million/€3.29 million) G1 FWD QE II Cup. Also among the invitees is recent BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Massive Sovereign (Ire) (No Nay Never).

Whereas Dubai Honour was set for a strenuous two-race Australian Group 1 prep last term, he enters this year's contest a much fresher horse, having won Kempton's Listed Magnolia S. by a smooth three-length margin Apr. 1. Dubai Honour was also a respectable fourth in the 2022 G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup over the QE II Cup course and distance.

The G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize lost some of its lustre when the world's top-rated sprinter Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) was ruled out via injury, and it will be left to last-out G1 Al Quoz Sprint victor California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) to fly the Bauhinia flag. Victor the Winner (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) is also set to make an appearance, having set the pace before finishing a brave third to Mad Cool in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo Mar. 23. Trainer George Boughey is set to be represented by his first Hong Kong runner in the 4-year-old filly Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), a dual listed winner in England and victorious in the G3 Prix Texanita at Chantilly in 2023.

Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) will try to win the G1 FWD Champions Mile for a record fourth time in what could be his final career appearance. The 8-year-old, a three-time Horse of the Year, will have the services of Vincent Ho as they look for an 11th Group 1 success together. Hong Kong Derby runner-up Galaxy Patch (Aus) (Wandjina {Aus}) drops back to the 1600 metres in a race that has also attracted All-Star Mile winner Obamburumai (Jpn) (Discreet Cat), beaten under three lengths in last weekend's G1 Doncaster Mile H. at Randwick, and Middle Park Racing LX's Brave Emperor (Ire) (Sioux Nation), a stakes winner in no fewer than five different jurisdictions for trainer Archie Watson, including the Listed Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup in Qatar Feb. 17.

“FWD Champions Day is one of the most prestigious meetings on the international racing stage and we are delighted to have such a strong group of world-class horses heading to Sha Tin for our spring flagship meeting,” said Andrew Harding, executive director, racing, for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “With eight visitors from Japan and three from Great Britain, the might of Hong Kong's team will be tested in all three feature races.”

 

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