Just Like Merrie Old England (Except the Beer is Cold) | |
| By NYRA Press Office | July 28, 2008 |
Racing fans can watch and wager on the best of British racing from the comfortable confines of Bunbury’s Pub in the backyard of Saratoga Race Course every morning and afternoon from Wednesday through Saturday. Wagering on English races will also be available through Telebet only on Tuesdays, when Saratoga Race Course is closed. With a full bar featuring authentic British brews and traditional English pub-style décor – right down to the Union Jack – fans will feel as if they’re really “across the pond” during special Thoroughbred racing simulcasts from such legendary courses as Sandown, Newmarket and York. The featured track this week is “Glorious Goodwood,” offering a dozen graded stakes beginning Tuesday, July 29 through Saturday, August 1. With a first race post time of 9:15 a.m. on the weekdays, top events include the Grade 2 Lennox Stakes on Tuesday, the Grade 1 Sussex Stakes on Wednesday, the Grade 2 Goodwood Cup on Thursday and the Grade 2 Richmond Stakes on Friday. Pointing for the Sussex are Coolmore’s Henrythenavigator, winner of both the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas and undefeated this year in three starts, and Stonerside Stables Raven’s Pass, second to Henrythenavigator in both the English Guineas and also in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot Saturday’s card, with a first race post time of 9:05 a.m., is highlighted by the Grade 1 Nassau Stakes and the $200,000 Steward’s Cup Handicap. Free past performance programs are available and handicapper Scott Finley will be on hand to analyze the cards every Wednesday through Saturday. Through August 30, fans must purchase a wristband to get admission to Racing UK during traditional “Breakfast at Saratoga” hours from 7 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. That wristband, however, will allow fans to stay in the area as the breakfast crowd is cleared out. It also allows them to remain at the track throughout the day. During the afternoon, with no cover and no admission charge, the pub’s four high-definition flat screen televisions will feature courses such as Sandown, Kempton Park and Salisbury as well as twilight simulcasting from Del Mar in Southern California. For a complete Racing UK simulcast schedule, click here. |










