Hamilton Park primed for opening day as future racing stars set to be unleashed again

Hamilton Park chief Ashley Moon admits he’s excited to see more future racing stars being unearthed as the track gets set for Sunday’s 2024 opener.

The venue's season gets underway with the Les Hoey MBE DreamMaker Foundation Family Raceday. Moon is relishing the new campaign and further improvements have been made to the facilities at the Lanarkshire track including a refurbishment of both the Annual Members bar and the ever-popular Racing TV bar.

Sunday is set to sizzle with seven exciting races and an array of free children’s activities as well as big screens showing the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Moon said: “Everyone here is looking forward to opening our doors for a busy season. This year promises to be our most exciting yet, including our much-loved Ladies’ Night, historic Lanark Silver Bell and the Sky Bet Sunday Series, which will become our richest ever race-day on Sunday June 2, with a huge £225,000 in prize money up for grabs.

“Throughout the season, we have an electric line-up of top-tier racing and after-racing entertainment along with some special celebrity appearances that are sure to be a hit with our racegoers.”

Hamilton’s prestigious Glasgow Stakes alone has thrown up three winners who have gone onto greater Group 1 glory.

Postponed in 2014 did the damage and progressed to win a Sheema Classic at Meydan, a Coronation Cup at Epsom and a Juddmonte International at York.

Three years later, Defoe won in Lanarkshire before he also took a Coronation Cup and a Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Subjectivist’s 2020 triumph beside the M74 was followed up by wins in a Prix Royal Oak at Longchamp and a famous Ascot Gold Cup victory for Mark Johnston, who is on the board at Hamilton and was winning the Glasgow for a sixth time.

Other Hamilton winners include Hunter’s Light, who went on to win Group 1s in Dubai and Italy, Royal Ascot winner Bapak Chinta and Red Cadeaux, who won the Braveheart Listed Race in 2011 and advanced to win the Hong Kong Vase in 2012 as well as being placed second in the Melbourne Cup in 2011, 2013 and 2014.

Moon, Hamilton’s MD, added: “Hamilton has a strong history of welcoming top-class thoroughbreds in the early stages of their track careers before they go on to even bigger successes at Group level.

“Our feature races, such as the Glasgow Listed Stakes, have been won by a number of notable horses such as Subjectivist and Postponed, both of whom achieved Group success at Royal Ascot as well as abroad.

“Red’s Wine Bar at Hamilton Park is named in honour of the great Red Cadeaux and features memorabilia of his career and is well worth a visit.”

Gates open at midday on Sunday with the first race at 2.05pm.

Adult tickets are priced at £26 when booked online during the advance booking window, saving £4 on the full adult price and are available now at www.hamilton-park.co.uk.

As always, children under-18 go free when accompanied by an adult.

For more information on Hamilton Park’s facilities and 2024 fixtures visit www.hamilton-park.co.uk.