Masked Marvel on his way to winning last year's Ladbrokes St Leger
PICTURE: Getty ImagesRecord prize-money on offer in St Leger
RUNNERS taking part in this year's Ladbrokes St Leger will be competing for the most valuable ever running of the world's oldest Classic with total prize-money on offer hitting £550,000.
An extension in Ladbrokes' sponsorship deal by a further three years takes their backing of the Classic, which they first sponsored in 2005, to ten years.
Mike Dillon, director of media affairs at Ladbrokes, said: "We have worked closely with Arena and Doncaster to rebuild the reputation of this great race.
"The Ladbrokes St Leger now attracts top-quality horses and the racegoing public have returned in their thousands.
"With horses such as the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Conduit going on to win the Breeders' Cup Turf and be voted Turf Horse of the Year in the USA, as well as triumph in the 2009 King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, winners from the Gosden stable and Godolphin, the top yards have supported the race magnificently and have helped the Ladbrokes St Leger return to its rightful position."
Mark Spincer, managing director at Doncaster, said: "We have a fantastic partnership with Ladbrokes and are extremely grateful for their long-term support at Doncaster racecourse.
"This latest announcement shows their dedication to the Ladbrokes St Leger and the festival in which they have played a major part in enhancing and promoting over the past decade."
Tickets for the 2012 Ladbrokes St Leger Festival, which runs from September 12 to September 15, went on sale this week.
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