Family Fun Is On Course For Our Big Race Night

Jul 6 2008 By Gordon Brown

THE race meeting where everyone is guaranteed to be a winner is back for another fun-filled night.

Yes folks, the only place to be on Saturday is Hamilton Park for the Sunday Mail Family event.

There's sure to be a bumper crowd - and no wonder.

It's all go from the off with a host of attractions that will keep everyone entertained.

And to help the evening go with a bang you can take advantage of the two great offers on this page. For just £20 two adults and four children can get entry into the grandstand. And to help the kids stay amused, pick up a FREE Sunday Mail goody bag.

The fancy dress competition is always a popular draw. And with a family holiday up for grabs standards will be higher than ever.

Judges Tam and Liz Cowan have the difficult job of trying to sort out the winner from a huge entry. Some of the previous gems dreamed up by the kids - no doubt with a bit of parental guidance - include Superman, a jockey and a King Kong lookalike.

Even for those not scooping the jackpot there are loads of consolation prizes.

Other attractions on the night include inflatable paintballing, a puppet show, face painting, a bouncy castle and laser quest.

Local band Rhythm Kingswill keep everyone entertained throughout the procedings.

Hamilton racing manager Hazel Peplinski said: "Sunday Mail Family Night is always been one of the highlights of our year.

"It promises to be a great occasion again and there will be something for everyone.

"The racing's competitive and the kids love to get involved with everything. There is always a great atmosphere."

Feature race of the night is the Sunday Mail Handicap.

Carrying £10,000 in prize money it's a five-furlong dash for the three-year-olds and upwards.

Ace Renfrewshire trainer Jim Goldie intends to saddle three runners and said: "It's a good prize to win and I'm hoping to run Rothesay Dancer, Killer Class and Blazing Heights.

"Blazing Heights ran a cracking race last time and looks ready to be winning again soon.

I'll probably end up having quite a few runners and it's always a meeting we enjoy."

Gates open at 4.10pm and action on the course kicks off at 6.10 with an apprentice race.

Next up is the contest in memory of legendary Glasgow layer John Banks, the man who coined the phase "bookies' shops are a licence to print money!"

Then there is the Sunday Mail Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

This is another five furlong sprint but one that's confined to three-year-olds.

There are also two tricky handicaps and a claimer and a lot of the top jockeys will be making the journey north.

The seven-race card boasts nearly £34,000 in prize money so get there early and beat the traffic heading for a top night out.