Newbury Racecourse support Walking With the Wounded and 2012 Everest Challenge
Betfair Super Saturday – Saturday 11 February
Newbury Racecourse announced today that their nominated charity Betfair Super Saturday on Saturday 11 February will be Walking With The Wounded (WWTW).
The second race, live on Channel 4, has been generously re-named by Betfair in recognition of the WWTW 2012 Everest Challenge, and is now called the Betfair supports Walking With The Wounded Handicap Hurdle.
WWTW raise funds to assist with the re-training and re-education of servicemen and women, both veterans and those leaving the Armed Forces. Following their successful 2011 expedition by becoming the first team of unsupported war-wounded amputees to reach the Geographical North Pole, this year the charity have set their sights even higher and will attempt to successfully summit Mount Everest in May and put a team of five wounded servicemen on top of the world.
Measured at 8848m Mount Everest is the highest mountain as well as one of the most inhospitable terrains on earth. The summit team will consist of North Pole veterans Martin Hewitt and Jaco Van Gass along with Karl Hinnett, David Wiseman and Francis Atkinson.
Betfair Super Saturday features seven action packed races including the Betfair Hurdle, Europe’s richest handicap hurdle, with fancied Champion Hurdle prospect Zarkandar currently heading the betting. Local trainer Nicky Henderson has indicated that he has earmarked the Grade 2 Betfair Denman Chase for Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Long Run as well as Arkle favourite Sprinter Sacre in the Grade 2 Betfair Super Saturday Chase (registered as the Game Spirit).
Off the track racegoers can get a feel for the challenge of climbing Everest via a climbing wall, as well as the chance to meet members of the WWTW 2011 North Pole and 2012 Everest challenge teams, who will be signing copies of the Walking with The Wounded book, a tale of their North Pole expedition
A silent auction with fabulous prizes up for grabs will be open to all racegoers, featuring a private riding lesson with former World Equestrian Gold medalist Zara Tindall (nee Phillips) and a meet and greet with QPR and Scotland striker Jamie Mackie, a shirt signed by Jamie as well as two tickets to a premiership match at Loftus Road.
The Betfair Denman Chase (formerly the Aon Chase) has been named in honour of the recently retired Denman. A favourite with the public and labeled by many as “The Tank” for his relentless gallop, Denman won 15 races including two Hennessy Gold Cups (2007/2009), the then Aon Chase (2008) both held at Newbury Racecourse, as well as the blue riband of Jump racing the Cheltenham Gold Cup (2008) and won over £1 million in prize money.
Stephen Higgins, Managing Director of Racecourse and Events commented “Betfair Super Saturday is widely regarded as a fantastic day of Jump racing and we are delighted to be supporting such a worthwhile cause in Walking With The Wounded and their forthcoming Everest challenge. We are anticipating are highly competitive day of racing whilst recognising both human and equine heroes and we hope racegoers will whole heartedly join in and support the spirit of the day.”
Ed Parker, Founder of Walking With The Wounded adds “We’d like to thank Newbury Racecourse and Betfair for inviting us to be the beneficiary of Betfair Super Saturday. It’s a fantastic opportunity for the charity engage with the race-going public. We hope that everyone will join us in wishing our Everest team the very best of luck in their forthcoming Endeavour.”
Betfair executive Martin Cruddace said: “Betfair are obviously delighted to be able to sponsor another high class day of racing and in doing so, help to highlight such a worthwhile charity.”
Tickets are available from £20. For more special offers and information, visit
walkingwiththewounded.org.uk