GOODWOOD RACECOURSE RELEASE

GOODWOOD RACECOURSE RELEASE
for immediate release, Tuesday, July 24, 2007

RACECOURSE OPTIMISTIC AHEAD OF GLORIOUS GOODWOOD

After walking the course on Tuesday, July 24, Seamus Buckley, Goodwood’s Clerk of the Course and Grounds Manager, revealed: "We are delighted with the way the course has recovered since our early summer meetings and we have a wonderful covering of grass. The current going is good to soft with a going stick reading of 7.2.

"The thing about Goodwood is that it has a natural drainage system and it is amazing how quickly the course can dry out here on top of the hill.

"It has been a lovely day today, really drying, and a few more dry days between now and the Festival race week, which starts on Tuesday, July 31, would be appreciated.

"I predict the going to be on the soft side of good come next week if we have the necessary dry days, but we are completely in the hands of the weather.

"Both Rod Fabricius and myself cannot remember a time when we haven't had to water for the Festival meeting.

"It seems ironic that at this time last year we worked around the clock to produce good to firm ground. It will be nice to run a Festival in natural conditions."

The last six furlongs on the round course (from the six-furlong marker to the winning post on the far side of the course) have been dolled out to a width of six metres. This will be taken down at some point during the five days of racing, depending on the weather and going. Likewise, the top bend has been dolled out by three metres.

Buckley added: "We are delighted with the early closing entries of our two Group One races, the BGC Sussex Stakes on Wednesday, August 1 and the Blue Square Nassau Stakes on Saturday, August 4.

"The latter race is shaping up to be a cracker with four Classic winners and seven Group One heroines among the entries. We are looking forward to the possible third-round battle of Light Shift versus Peeping Fawn as well as the presence of Nannina (see below)"

For further information, please contact:
Sarah Gollins, Goodwood’s Racecourse PR & Marketing Executive,
on 01243 755000 ext. 1221, or by email, sgollins@goodwood.co.uk