Focus on Fontwell: We're back with a big night for ladies

It has now been almost ten weeks since Fontwell Park stopped racing for the summer break '“ and we are eager to get back to it, writes Fontwell Park marketing manager Max Roberts.
Visitors at last year's Ladies' Evening / Picture by Tim HaleVisitors at last year's Ladies' Evening / Picture by Tim Hale
Visitors at last year's Ladies' Evening / Picture by Tim Hale

Since the last winner Kingston Mimosa crossed the finishing line at the Farmers’ Market raceday in June with James Banks, staff at the Sussex course have been busy replacing all the fences on site.

Racing comes back for the most stylish event of the year, Ladies’ Evening, tonight (August 18) sand sees the first of seven races get under way at 5pm, with gates opening at 3pm.

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At this fixture last year, Royal Battalion was the first of three winners for Gary Moore’s Sussex stable and the horse is due back looking for another Fontwell victory at Ladies’ Evening.

The evening will see the return of the best-dressed lady competition – the winner will pick up a fantastic prize of £1,000 and a luxury hamper by House of Fraser Chichester.

There is live music before and after racing with JD the “Soul Machine” serenading racegoers as they enter and the Abba Revival playing after races.

With racing back under way, there is a lot to look forward to before the year’s big finale of Boxing Day racing.

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After Ladies’ Evening, Fontwell will be hosting summer afternoon racing on Thursday, August 25 followed by some of the most popular fixtures in their calendar.

The second family fun day on Sunday, September 4, which will play host to plenty of free attractions including a farmyard petting zoo, fun fair, laser quest, pony rides, bungee trampolines, a bouncy castle, giant inflatable assault course, zorbing and face painting. Under-18s go free to all Fontwell fixtures.

Next up is the popular two-day Oktoberfest, back bigger and better than ever, with more beers, more bars, more food and more entertainment. The fixture is not one to miss.

It starts on September 30 with Fuller’s Friday raceday and followed by the Southern Water Saturday Raceday on October 1.

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There is a vote taking place on Fontwell Park’s Facebook page for the act which will perform after racing on the Saturday, so head over to there now to pick who you would like to see.

Get your tickets from www.fontwellpark.co.uk

n Gary Moore is opening up his stables next Wednesday (Aug 24) as part of the Heart of the South Racing charity event, An Evening with the Handicapper, at Cisswood House Hotel in Horsham.

You can learn more about the handicapping system in this thrilling sport, and have a tour of trainer Gary Moore’s yard which is a stone’s throw away. Tickets are £18 each and proceeds will go to Charity. Contact Heart of the South Racing directly to book your place on [email protected] or 01403 891403.

Observer sports editor Steve Bone’s tips for today: 5.00 Red Orator, 5.30 Town Mouse, 6.00 Satellite, 6.30 Pied Du Roi, 7.00 Excellent Team, 7.30 Royal Battalion, 8.00 Deise Diamond.

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