‘THURSDAY NIGHTS’ BEGINS ON JUNE 25

The summer season gets underway at Newbury this Thursday, June 11, with an eight-race card running from 1.50pm through to 5.35pm.

Thursday’s action kicks off with a Group One contest for Purebred Arabians, the Shadwell Arabian Stallions International Stakes over a mile and a quarter.

The highlight of the seven thoroughbred races is the Listed Lord Weinstock Memorial EBF Stallions Stakes (3.25pm), run over a  mile and a quarter for three-year-old fillies who have not won at Group One or Group Two level. A field of 13 is set to go to post including Alonsoa (Henry Candy/Dane O’Neill), a Listed scorer at Sandown last season and Encore L’Amour (David Simcock/Ryan Moore) who chased home Lady Of Dubai, who subsequently finished third in the Oaks, in the Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood on May 21.

John Gosden and Frankie Dettori, fresh from their Derby success with Golden Horn, are represented by Miss Giler, who finished fifth in the same Goodwood contest, while those with form at Newbury include Group Three Dubai Duty Free Stakes fourth Jelly Monger (Dominic Ffrench Davis/Pat Dobbs) and Victoria Pollard (Andrew Balding/David Probert), who captured a 10-furlong maiden on April 17.

Newbury has also confirmed the line-up for its new series of Thursday Nights, which will begin with Pump Technology Irish Night on Thursday, June 25.

Coaches and staff from Premiership rugby union side London Irish, based just down the M4 at Reading’s Madejski Stadium, will be present to give coaching sessions. There will be Irish dancing performances, live music from celtic rock band BibleCode Sundays after racing, and the first 100 racegoers to arrive will receive a free steak and Guinness pie with their first drink.  Gates open at 5.00pm with the first race at 6.00pm.

The Key4Life Charity Race Evening & 80s Night will follow on Thursday, July 2 and will feature an 80s disco after racing in partnership with JackFM. Eighties icon Mr T will also be present, in the form of the UK’s leading impersonator, John L.

The George Frewer Charity Race at 5:55pm will feature double Olympic Gold Medallist Victoria Pendleton as she takes up her first ride in public in her attempt to become an amateur jockey as part of the Betfair-sponsored ‘Switching Saddles’ initiative. Gates open at 4.30pm.

The inaugural Proms In The Paddock will take place on Thursday, July 9, with an evening of top-class racing followed by a Proms-style classical music performance from the Southern Symphonia. Music will also be provided during the evening by Berkshire Young Maestros. Gates open at 4:30pm with the first race at 5:55pm.

Newbury’s Thursday Nights end on July 23 with the NSPCC Charity Race Evening & Comedy Night, which will feature a comedy show in the Crafty Filly Bar after racing and an appearance by jump jockey and renowned funny man Mattie Batchelor. Gates open at 4pm with the first race at 5:30pm.

Andy Clifton, Newbury’s Head of Communications, said: “Thursday Nights at Newbury is a new initiative this year and we are really looking forward to welcoming a vibrant local crowd to experience exciting racing and plenty of entertainment. I’m reliably informed that Thursday is the new Friday, so I’m sure that these evening meetings will become a popular part of the local summer social scene.”

Tickets and full information about each of the days is available here.