Scotland’s richest flat race meeting - the totesport Ayr Gold Cup Festival has just become richer, and will hit the £500,000 mark in prize money for the first time ever this year.

Ayrshire, Scotland, Thursday 30 August 2007--Scotland’s richest flat race meeting - the totesport Ayr Gold Cup Festival has just become richer, and will hit the £500,000 mark in prize money for the first time ever this year.

The festival, which runs from Thursday September 20 through until Saturday September 22, features three Class 1 races in addition to the Gold Cup and the Silver Cup, both Class 2 events, and many more great races.

Both the Laundry Cottage Stud Firth Of Clyde Stakes, a Group 3 event, and the Doonside Cup, a Listed Race, have £10,000 increases to their prize funds, making the cash on offer £60,000 and £50,000 respectively.

The 28 runners which will contest the totesport Ayr Gold Cup, Europe’s richest sprint handicap, will be vying for a share of £121,000 - while the similar sized field in the totesport Ayr Silver Cup will be chasing £35,000.

Other notable races include the Knight Frank Handicap for the Kilkerran Cup (£20,000), the James Barr Chartered Surveyors Harry Roseberry Stakes, a Listed Race (£30,000) and the Totescoop6 Ayrshire Handicap Stakes (£25,000).

Ayr Racecourse managing director Richard Johnstone said: “It is a bit of a landmark to hit £500,000 in prize money for the Gold Cup Festival. In addition to the Gold Cup and Silver Cup we are keen to build the likes of the Doonside Cup and Firth Of Clyde Stakes.

“The latter this year is sponsored for the first time by Laundry Cottage Stud, which is actually owned by a Scot in Colin Bryce, and I am delighted by that.

“I believe the three days racing will be amongst the best ever on the flat in Scotland.”

Ayr Racecourse is a member of The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle is a newly formed association of some of the top companies in Ayrshire.

Its purpose is to publicise its members, and to celebrate and promote the rich diversity of industry, commerce and business services available within the county boundaries of Ayrshire.

Members include the Clydesdale Bank, Ayr Racecourse and the Western House Hotel, and member company activities include building and construction, architectural practice, estate agency and land management, chartered accountancy, insurance broking, legal services, golf club management, marketing services and brand creation, web design and public relations consultancy.

As well as regularly updated illustrated articles about member companies, Ayrshire Business News also features rolling news, business and sports headlines, and its own online department store.

For further information about The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle and to apply for membership, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ayr Racecourse http://www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk Western House Hotel

CKD Galbraith Property Consultants http://www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk Frazer Coogans Solicitors

MacKay Corporate Insurance Brokers http://www.mackaycorporate-brokers.com Donald Ross Estate Agents:

William Skinner & Son Building Contractors http://www.willamskinner.co.uk Sinclair Scott Chartered Accountants

Paligap Creative Agency http://www.paligap.com ARP Lorimer & Associates Architects

Brunston Castle Golf Club http://www.brunstoncastle.co.uk Accident & Injury Claims Centre

Fame Publicity Services http://www.famepublicity.co.uk

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Issued on behalf of Ayr Racecourse by Fame Publicity Services.

Contact:

Murdoch MacDonald

Fame Publicity Services

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AYR, Ayrshire

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Scotland UK

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