MICHAEL Owen, the former Liverpool, Manchester United and England star, has praised the launch of Haydock Park’s 2019-20 Racing Club.
Owen, who also played for Spanish giants Real Madrid, said: “It is great that Haydock Park has had the initiative to make racing more accessible, especially with the benefit of flat and jump racing there.
“I’ve made many great friends through racing, and I’m sure that the racegoers in Haydock’s Racing Club will not only enjoy their racing, but the camaraderie of fellow racing enthusiasts.
“It is a terrific idea.
“I always enjoy coming to Haydock Park – it a great course.”
The Haydock Park Racing Club will feature two horses in training, a hurdler with Grand National winning trainer Donald McCain and a sprinter with leading flat trainer Tom Dascombe.
Racing Club manager Victoria Bell said: “The members say it is such a thrill to go behind the scenes with the club’s stable and track visits, and to see their own horse racing in the club’s colours heightens the excitement on a race day.
“For example, we enjoyed a wonderful tour of Haydock Park with the clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright.
“He was brilliant and had people crying with laughter with his racing anecdotes and information.
“It is that sort of experience, and the friendships that have been forged, which makes the Racing Club such a great experience.”
The Racing Club’s exclusive members lounge is ideally situated close to the winners’ enclosure at Haydock Park.
Stable visits to the trainer’s yards will also be organised, as well as annual member launches.”
Haydock Park Racing Club member Ian Meadows said: “There are a lot of syndicates and clubs in racing but there’s nothing out there that gets close to the value this club offers.
“I worked at the Heinz factory in Wigan in my younger days, when Nijinsky, the first horse to win the English Triple Crown, fired my imagination about our great sport.
“I have a painting at home, signed by Nijinsky’s jockey Lester Piggott, and that’s one of my prized possessions.
“So, I’ve been a racing fan most of my life, and the Haydock Park Racing Club has given me a fresh insight into the sport.
“I wear my Haydock Park Racing Club badge with great pride.”
Other Haydock Park Racing Club privileges include free entry to Carlisle and Aintree, except for the Grand National, and half price county badges for three guests at the same courses.
The Racing Club is also planning a trip to the National Stud at Newmarket and a day’s racing at the famous flat course where the 2,000 Guineas is held.
New members have until April 30 to join Haydock Park’s 2019-20 Racing Club. Further info from Victoria.Bell@thejockeyclub.co.uk, 07971 556 348 or www.haydock.thejockeyclub.co.uk/racing club.
