Familar faces feature among substantial entry for Saudi Cup raceday

Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck, Magic Wand and Ghaiyyath feature among the near-1,000 nominations for the eight races at the inaugural Saudi Cup fixture in February.

A total of 143 horses have been put forward for the $20 million Saudi Cup, run over nine furlongs on dirt and for which there is free entry and all travel expenses paid, including the likes of Midnight Bisou, Ghaiyyath and McKinzie.

Horses from across the globe could compete in the world’s richest race with trainers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Britain, France, Ireland, Norway, Italy, Poland, Turkey, America, Canada, Argentina, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Bahrain hoping to be involved on February 29.

Magic Wand and Anthony Van Dyck are the big names in the $2.5m Neom Turf Cup, a 1m2½f turf contest, while Circus Maximus, Desert Encounter and Barney Roy also feature.

Magic WandCredit: Patrick McCann

Familiar names feature across the entries for the remainder of the card including the likes of Bound For Nowhere, Oh This Is Us and Sir Dancealot (Turf Sprint) and Kew Gardens, Cross Counter, Verdana Blue and Prince Of Arran (Red Sea Handicap).

Tom Ryan, director of strategy and international racing for the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia said: “The response to the Saudi Cup from the international racing community has been fantastic. We couldn’t be happier with the entries that we’ve received and we are now fully focused on putting on a spectacular first Saudi Cup race day to live up to the calibre of these entries.”

Horse Racing Ireland launches special membership offer for 18-25s

Horse Racing Ireland has announced a new initiative designed to get more young people going racing, with reduced annual memberships on offer for those aged 18 to 25.

HRI Racing25 is open to all full-time students and anyone aged 18 to 25, and costs just €25.

It allows members free entry to five key fixtures from a selection of 21 racedays in Ireland, including Navan this Saturday, January 18, Clonmel Oil Chase day, Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase day at Cork, Super Sunday at Tipperary in October, Fairyhouse's Winter Festival and Christmas racing at Leopardstown.

In addition, HRI Racing25 members will also have access to exclusive behind-the-scenes trips to racing yards, stud farms and meet-and-greet opportunities with racing stars. Members will also be offered reduced admission for additional premium racedays.

The first trip of 2020 for HRI Racing25 members is a stable tour to trainer Joseph O'Brien's yard in Owning, Kilkenny on Friday, January 24. Places on the trip are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

All details on HRI Racing25 and membership forms can be found at www.hri.ie.

HRI Racing25 annual membership allows free entry to any five of the following 21 racedays

Navan - January 18
Gowran Park - March 7
Naas - March 8
Wexford - April 3
Dundalk - April 15
Down Royal - May 4
Naas - May 9
Ballinrobe - May 25
Listowel - May 31
Punchestown - June 6
Naas - July 4
Roscommon - August 17
The Curragh - August 22
Ballinrobe - August 24
Naas - September 17
Tipperary - October 4
Clonmel - November 12
Limerick - November 17
Fairyhouse - November 29
Cork - December 6
Leopardstown - December 29

Ray Peacock service

The life of late trainer Ray Peacock will be celebrated at 2pm at Emstrey Crematorium in Shrewsbury on Wednesday week.

Peacock died last month at the age of 86, having been involved in the sport for nearly 65 years.

He rode 25 winners before he turned to training, becoming best-known for his handling of the classy Rushmoor, who became the first British-trained winner of the Galway Hurdle in 1986.

Based near Worcester, Peacock, whose last winner and final runner came in 2014 and 2019, broke his neck in a gallops accident in 1999, an injury that left him paralysed from the waist down.

Funeral details for Harry Parkes

The funeral of horse transporter Harry Parkes, who died at the age of 68 this month after a short illness, will take place on Friday week at 1.30pm at Charlton Park Crematorium, Andover, SP11 0TA.

A graduate from the University of Bradford, Parkes had a long and distinguished career in the equine movement industry, which began in Paris in 1973 with Hipavia before a 12-year spell with Peden Bloodstock.

Fluent in French and Spanish, skills that were a big benefit to his business, he founded Parkes International Transport in 1994.

Family flowers only, while donations in memory of Parkes can be made to Lambourn's Oaksey House and Jack Berry House in Malton at the funeral service or online at .

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