Tuesday 9th June 2009
Tattersalls & Newmarket Racecourses unveil all new Tattersalls Millions
Tattersalls, Europe's leading bloodstock auctioneers and Newmarket Racecourses, the home of horseracing, have unveiled a new look Tattersalls Millions race series for graduates of Book 1 of this year's Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
The revamped Tattersalls Millions will break new ground with eight races worth a massive £1,750,000 open only to horses from Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale which takes place October 6-9. The eight races will make the Tattersalls Millions the most extensive sales race series ever run in the Northern hemisphere and it promises to be the best value and most ‘owner friendly' series of its type in the world.
The eight races will be for both two and three year olds over distances from 6 to 10 furlongs and the owners' race entry costs have been dramatically reduced to only £4,000.
All eight Tattersalls Millions races will take place at either Newmarket's Rowley Mile or July Racecourses, with five two-year-old races over 6 and 7 furlongs and three three-year- old contests, one of which will be a 6 furlong race and the other two over 10 furlongs. Two of the eight races will be for fillies only and three of the two-year-old year old races will be Auction Races with weight bandings determined by sale price.
Commenting on the new Tattersalls Millions, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said: "Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale is Europe's premier yearling sale and the £1,750,000 Tattersalls Millions takes the sales race concept to new levels. The series has been devised in close consultation with Newmarket Racecourses and also the BHA Racing Department, but above all, the Tattersalls Millions has been created to cater for the needs of owners.
“Prize money has never been more important and the eight Tattersalls Millions races will all be worth from £100,000 to £500,000 with the race entry costs at an unprecedented low level. By increasing the number and variety of races we are providing opportunities for horses from all levels of the October Book 1 market to compete for six figure prize money."
Michael Prosser, Newmarket Racecourses Director of Racing, added: "To be jointly involved in staging a brand new series of eight races, all worth between £100,000 and £500,000, is exciting. Newmarket Racecourses and Tattersalls have been staging high value sales races for many years but the new Tattersalls Millions will appeal to a wider cross section of owners than ever before. The £500,000 Tattersalls Millions Trophy will be the most valuable two-year-old race in Europe next year and the £300,000 Tattersalls Millions Fillies' Trophy will be Europe's most valuable two-year-old fillies' race. In addition the £250,000 Tattersalls Millions 3YO Trophy will be the most valuable 10 furlong three-year-old race in Britain and the £150,000 Tattersalls Millions 3YO Sprint the most valuable three-year-old sprint in Europe. There is genuinely something for everyone."
Racehorse Owners Association President Paul Dixon commented: "From an owners' point of view the new Tattersalls Millions is quite simply the best sales race series ever devised in Europe. Low entry costs, a great variety of races and massive prize money is the perfect formula. I can see the Tattersalls Millions proving to be a huge incentive for owners."
Trainer Andrew Balding said: "I always try to buy a handful of yearlings at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and the new Tattersalls Millions will make the sale a priority for me this year. Owners need as many opportunities to compete for big prize money as possible and this is precisely what the Tattersalls Millions delivers."
Leading consignor Simon Marsh of Watership Down Stud said: "Year after year we send the best Watership Down yearlings to Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and the new Tattersalls Millions hits exactly the right spot. The eight races cater for all different types of horses and the low race entry costs will encourage owners at all levels of the market. It is exactly what we need."
