Racing Centre

THREE brand new Tattersalls-sponsored Sales Races, restricted to graduates of the 2007 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (Book One) and carrying a combined minimum total prize fund of £2.2 million, are to be staged at Newmarket starting in 2008/2009.

The three new races will be known collectively as the ‘Tattersalls Millions’ and look set to be the most valuable sales race series in the world.

Top billing goes to a £1-million race for two-year-old colts, geldings and fillies over 7 furlongs, closely followed by an £800,000-race for two-year-old fillies only, also over 7 furlongs. Both will be run for the first time at the Cambridgeshire Meeting in October of next year, each with a maximum field of 30 horses. The £1-million race will be named the ‘Tattersalls Million’ and the fillies’ race the ‘Tattersalls Fillies’ 800’.

The third race is no less interesting - it will be the first Sales Race ever run in Britain for three-year-olds. Worth £400,000 and run over 10 furlongs, the ‘Tattersalls £400,000 3YO Classic’ will be staged for the first time at the Craven Meeting in April 2009 and will be the richest three-year-old race in Britain outside the Classics.

Any horse left in the two-year-old races after the first forfeit will be automatically eligible to run in the three-year-old race the following year at no additional cost.

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said: “Tattersalls has staged Sales Races at Newmarket since 1990 but these three new races - the ‘Tattersalls Millions’ - will raise the bar to unprecedented heights.

“Prize money is the life blood of racing and in association with Newmarket Racecourses, our October Yearling Sale vendors and of course the owners, we are delighted to be staging the two most valuable two-year-old races ever run in Britain, as well as breaking new ground with the unique ‘Tattersalls £400,000 3YO Classic’.

“Never before will a European yearling sale have offered buyers so many opportunities for such spectacular rewards with 80 colts and fillies from Book 1 of the 2007 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale competing in three races worth £2,200,000 in prize money.”  

Michael Prosser, Newmarket Racecourses’ Director of Racing, said: “This is fantastic news for Newmarket and will take the overall value of next year’s Cambridgeshire Meeting to nigh on £3 million. If we run both races on the same day, it will create the richest day’s racing in Europe.

“With three Group 1 races at this meeting - the Shadwell Middle Park Stakes, the Cheveley Park Stakes and the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes - plus the totesport Cambridgeshire Handicap, the addition of these two new races in 2008 will make it a sensational three days and even more of a ‘must’ for flat racing enthusiasts.

“The three-year-old race will be a fascinating addition to the Craven Meeting and to Britain’s spring flat racing programme as a whole, offering a hugely valuable early-season prize for Tattersalls October Yearling Sale graduates in their classic year.”

Newmarket-based trainer William Haggas said: “£2.2 million of new prize money spread over three races is great news for owners and I would like to congratulate both Tattersalls and Newmarket Racecourses on this new initiative. I am already looking forward to the 2007 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.”

Highclere Thoroughbred Racing supremo Harry Herbert said: “Sales Races have always been a major attraction when we are looking to find new owners for the Highclere syndicates and the ‘Tattersalls Millions’ will without doubt prove to be a huge selling point. We had a fantastic day when TAMARISK won the 1997 Tattersalls Houghton Sales Stakes and, with three races to aim at in the ‘Tattersalls Millions’, we will have an even better chance of repeating that success.”

Leading yearling consignor Simon Marsh of Watership Down Stud commented: “The ‘Tattersalls Millions’ will provide wonderful incentives for owners at all levels of the market and the ‘Tattersalls £400,000 3YO Classic’ is a particularly exciting innovation. It adds a new dimension to the Sales Race concept allowing the later maturing horses to have a shot at the massive prize money as well as the more precocious types.”

Book 1 of the 2007 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale will take place Tuesday, 9^th October - Friday, 12^th October and is expected to number approximately 750 yearlings.

Full details of the 2008 Cambridgeshire Meeting race programme will be announced later this year.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Jimmy George (Tattersalls):  tel:  +44 (0) 1638 665931 or +44 (0) 7785 350413

Michael Prosser (Newmarket):  tel: + 44 (0) 1638 675 504 or +44 (0) 7802 844 578

 APPENDICES

Prize Money and Entry Details

 TATTERSALLS MILLION – 7 furlongs for colts, geldings and fillies, October 2008

First: £550,000

Second: £225,000

Third: £100,000

Fourth: £50,000

Fifth: £25,000

Sixth – Tenth: £10,000

Entry mid – January 2008: £2,000

1^st Forfeit – April 2008: £2,500

2^nd Forfeit – July 2008: £2,500

6 Day Declaration: £3,000

 TATTERSALLS FILLIES’ 800 – 7 furlongs for fillies only, October 2008

First: £440,000

Second: £180,000

Third: £80,000

Fourth: £40,000

Fifth: £20,000

Sixth - Tenth: £8,000

 Entry as above except:

6 Day Declaration: £1,000

TATTERSALLS £400,000 3YO CLASSIC – 10 furlongs for colts, geldings and fillies, April 2009

First: £220,000

Second: £90,000

Third: £40,000

Fourth: £20,000

Fifth: £10,000

Sixth -Tenth: £4,000

All entries left in races after April 2008 1^st Forfeit eligible.

6 Day Declaration: Free

History of Tattersalls Sales Races

1990 - the first Tattersalls Tiffany Highflyer Stakes worth £750,000 was run at Newmarket over 7 furlongs.

2000 - the first running of the £100,000 Tattersalls Autumn Auction Stakes  at Newmarket over 6 furlongs.

2001 - the £400,000 Tattersalls Houghton Sales Stakes over 7 furlongs at Newmarket was run for the last time.

2005 - Prize money increased to £250,000 for the Tattersalls October (formerly Autumn) Auction Stakes.