With the season drawing to a close, Perth Racecourse will end its successful year of racing on a high at its Glorious Finale double-header. The midweek meetings (Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 September) will wrap up what has been a record season for the UK’s most northerly track, with race-goers in for two consecutive days of thrilling jump racing and hospitality.
The racecourse is expected to welcome a crowd of around 4000 to the Glorious Finale, with visitors in for 13 spectacular races over the two days. The double-header closes a bumper season at Perth, with the numbers of attendees for the annual Perth Festival, prestigious Gold Cup and the popular Carnival Raceday all up on previous years.
With National Hunt season fully underway, support from the top trainers down south is high for the double-fixture. Full entries are set to be announced at the end of the week, but top class horses, such as last year’s Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner Ballyandy from Nigel Twiston-Davies, are pencilled in to race at the track.
Hazel Peplinksi, chief executive at Perth Racecourse, said: “We are really looking forward to next week to wrap up what has been a superb season over the summer. We’ve had consistently competitive racing and excellent entertainment, giving us so much to enjoy.
“It is traditional for Perth to close the season with a very strong two-day meeting, especially as the National Hunt season is crossing over in to the winter game and many of the top yards are in full swing. The track is in great condition and we look forward to extending a warm welcome to all our visitors next week.”
Wednesday’s penultimate feature race will be in memory of former Perth Racecourse Chairman David Whitaker. The David Whitaker Handicap Steeple Chase will offer a prize of £13,000, and will pay tribute to the 1996 Perth Racecourse chairman who oversaw a number of defining projects including the building of the Dewhurst and Nelson stands.
David was also responsible for implementing the new stable block which was completed in 2015, as Hazel explained: “David is remembered fondly at Perth and dedicated himself whole-heartedly to the racecourse during his tenure as Chairman.
“David was a very highly-respected businessman within Scottish racing and, together with Sam Morshead, has left a very strong legacy with the new stable yard and the stable staff accommodation which doubles up as a popular hotel open to the public. The Whitakers still have a very strong association with Perth through David’s widow Fiona and his daughter Lucy, who trains locally, and we look forward to welcoming the family next week.”
On Thursday, the winner of the title Lord Mansfield Memorial Handicap Steeple Chase will be presented a trophy by Lady Mansfield of Scone Palace.
Tickets for Perth’s Glorious Finale are on sale now, with packages in the Galileo restaurant still available. Hospitality tickets are priced at £114.00, with Grandstand tickets available at £18.00.
Gates for the Glorious Finale open at 12pm on Wednesday and Thursday (27 & 28 September). The first race is scheduled for 2.20pm on Wednesday and the last race at 5.05pm. Thursday’s first race is scheduled at 2.10pm, with the final race at 5.40pm.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.perth-races.co.uk
Perth Racecourse
Sharing their parkland with Scone Palace in Perth, the original crowning site for the King & Queen of Scots and the Stone of Destiny, Perth Racecourse offers the perfect location for a day at the races in a historical and beautiful setting.
