Winning owners at Huntingdon Racecourse in the forthcoming season will receive a bottle of Roundwood Gin after the course agreed a sponsorship deal with the nearby distillery.

Roundwood Gin, which is distilled less than ten miles from Huntingdon Racecourse, is handcrafted in extra small batches and inspired by the surrounding Cambridgeshire woodland and countryside.

The company is now the official sponsor of the Owners Prize for 2020/21 season and are presenting a 70cl bottle of Roundwood London Dry Gin to each race-winning owner, having begun with the season’s opening fixture last month.

Winning connections will have even more to compete for this season at Huntingdon, with a deal also being agreed with Fairfax Saddles to sponsor prizes for the leading trainer across the duration of the campaign.

The trainer with the most winners at the course by season’s end will receive five sets of Fairfax Saddles training system, comprising a saddle, pad, girth and bridle, a prize worth a combined £5,000. The runner-up will pick up three sets, while the third-placed trainer will receive one.

Furthermore, the yard responsible for the winner of each race will be presented with a Fairfax bridle, which is suitable for use in training and race riding.

Jonjo O’Neill, who has trained 94 winners at the Cambridgeshire venue, said: “We have always loved having runners at Huntingdon and it’s fantastic news in these challenging times that they have teamed up with Roundwood Gin and Fairfax Saddles to provide high quality prizes for owners and trainers. I’m already looking forward to hopefully having a winner or two at the next meeting on Sunday 1st November.”

James Wilcox, General Manager of Huntingdon Racecourse, said: “We are proud at Huntingdon of the strong relationships we have built up over the years with the trainers, owners and jockeys who race with us.

“We are delighted, therefore, to be able to offer an attractive array of prizes this season to successful connections, displaying our commitment to an outstanding raceday experience for all. If our opening meeting is anything to go by, these new prizes will be a welcome addition to our offering.

“In this most challenging of years, we are more grateful than ever for the support of our sport’s participants and we hope are excited to provide some respite, fun and entertainment in the coming weeks and months.”

Racing continues behind closed doors at Huntingdon with three fixtures on 1st, 10th and 21st November. Huntingdon’s feature race of the year, The Fitzdares Club Peterborough Chase, will be staged on Sunday 6th December and will be screened live on ITV Racing for the first time.