Horse Racing: Golden Button Challenge falls victim to snow
The cross-country race that was scheduled to take place on the 31st of December over a distance of three miles has now been postponed to the 15th of January due to extreme weather conditions in the country.
The 2010 Golden Button Challenge was going to feature 30 of the most talented racehorses. The race was planned to take place on the banks of the river Severn. The last edition of this event was claimed by the rider Paul Carberry, who was aboard Brendan Powell’s
trainee Blaze Ahead. All these 30 entries will remain as such even for the rescheduled race that will be taking place in mid January.
This is going to be the fifth running of the Challenge and will consist of a gallop across country during which the horses and their riders will jump over around 25 fences that will consist of natural hedges along with timber and
ditches.
Apart from Carberry, those who have clinched victories in this event include the team chaser Yvonne Goss, the flat race rider Eddie Ahern and the point-to-point jockey Patrick Millington.
On the other hand, the Newbury racecourse will now be hosting the Long Walk Hurdle that has been rescheduled for the 29th of December after the Ascot meeting was abandoned last Saturday.
The field of ten horses will be participating in this five-day event. The field of these competitors will also include the winner of the last running of this event, Big Bucks.
The Grade I hurdle event will be staged over a distance of 3 miles and half a furlong and carries purse money of 40,000 pounds. This event will be sponsored by Andy Stewart along with his family. The race has also been renamed,
as it is now known as the AP Wins Sports Personality Long Walk Hurdle. Newbury racecourse also staged the Long Walk last year when the Ascot fixture was called off, and this time will be hosting an eight-race card on the 29th of December. The card
will also be featuring the Grade I Challow Novices’ Hurdle.
According to the clerk of the Newbury course, Richard Osgood, the course is covered with snow at the moment, but some improvement in the weather is expected somewhere around Christmas. He was reported as saying,
“The course is covered with snow, there is probably about three to four inches and its keeping the frost out of the ground. We’ve covered the take-offs and landings.”
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