- New venue for event showcasing racehorses turned polo ponies
- Trainer Martyn Meade to judge class with prize fund of over £3,000
The charity, Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) is pleased to announce that this year’s Racing to Polo Challenge will be held for the first time at the illustrious Cowdray Park Polo Club.
The event will take place at the West Sussex venue on Wednesday 19th July between the two semi-final matches for the prestigious Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup. The RoR Racing to Polo Challenge is for horses that have raced in Great Britain and have since successfully forged a second career as polo ponies.
The RoR Racing to Polo Challenge boasts a total prize fund of £3,200, with £1,500 to the winner and prize money down to sixth place. The winning connections also receive a rug, courtesy of Lycetts the insurance company, and the striking ‘Balding Trophy’. Judging the class will be racehorse trainer, Martyn Meade, who recently saddled Eminent to finish fourth in the Investec Derby and who’s two sons play polo regularly.
Di Arbuthnot, Chief Executive of RoR, said: “It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to stage the class on a day of high quality polo at a venue such as Cowdray Park. It will provide a great platform from which to showcase the versatility of former racehorses, as well as highlighting RoR’s increasingly strong relationship with polo.
Previously the RoR Racing to Polo Challenge has been held at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club and Di Arbuthnot said of their contribution: “Without the wonderful support of the team at the Royal Berkshire, this event would not have progressed in the manner it has and I would like to thank them for all their help.
“We are also indebted to Martyn Meade for agreeing to judge the class. His presence serves to underline the close links between racing and polo.”
Last year’s overall winner of the challenge was Ivan B. Formerly trained by Mick Channon, the six-year-old entire was bought to play polo in 2014 andwithin two years was crowned champion.
The RoR Racing to Polo Challenge at Cowdray Park will comprise one class for ponies aged five years and older, entries close on the 30th June and entry will be granted to the first fifteen that apply. To be eligible ponies must have raced in Great Britain and be currently registered with RoR, following the launch of their new database in March 2017.
RoR are also in discussion with the team at Cowdray Park, with a view to holding the other remaining classes on another date. More details on this will be available soon.
End.
For more information, please contact: Henry Lochrane – 01488 648998 www.lycetts.co.uk
