MEDIA RELEASE – THE HUNTER
The second running of the $1 million ‘The Hunter’ will take place on Saturday, November 14, headlining an exciting nine-race metropolitan standalone meeting at Newcastle Racecourse.
The Hunter, a 1300 metre race for top class sprinters, was first run in 2019 as part of The Everest carnival. Godolphin mare Savatiano took out the race’s inaugural edition, from locally-trained pair Tactical Advantage (Kris Lees) and Bon Amis (Jason Deamer).
Once again in 2020, The Hunter will be supported by two other features races on the program, the Group 3 New Zealand Bloodstock Spring Stakes for three-year-olds over 1600 metres and the Max Lees Classic for two-year-olds over the 900-metre short course.
The meeting’s metropolitan status will ensure high quality fields of city and provincial-trained runners accept across all nine races on the card, with all bar the TAB Highway Handicap carrying a prize pool of $125,000 or more.
The Hunter meeting will again feature Fashions on the Field, but this year with a difference due to social distancing requirements. Fashions on the Field will be hosted online via the Newcastle Racecourse Facebook page where Facebook followers will get to be the judges.
With the current Covid-19 protocols in place, incredibly all hospitality options for The Hunter sold-out within a 24-hour period of being on sale to the public. Wait lists are now in place, contact events@njc.com.au for all wait list enquiries.
A ‘Covid’ day at Newcastle Racecourse is a little different given the social distancing and bio-security requirements, including temperature and QR code checks on entry.
Matt Benson, NJC Chief Executive, said The Hunter Race day would provide another welcome boost to the region in 2020.
“We can’t wait to host the second running of our million-dollar race, The Hunter, after a thrilling first edition in 2019 that saw a huge crowd turn out in support” Benson said.
“This year has been a challenge for everyone, but there’s been a huge jump in online enquiries for all of our Spring events, so we’re really looking forward to a fun and safe day of elite racing at Newcastle Racecourse.
“We saw last year how the Hunter, plus the lucrative support races, attracted seriously good fields for the entire meeting. And with Newcastle-trained runners filling the minor placings in the feature, we know the locals are hellbent on going one better this year.”
For more information, please contact Nicole Fitzgerald at nicole@njc.com.au