After yet another thrilling winter over the jumps, it’s very exciting to be well and truly underway with our flat season offering at Haydock Park – which was kicked off in some style at the beginning of the month.

We do things a little differently to everywhere else at Haydock and Swinton Hurdle Day offers a unique changing of the guard from winter to summer, with the UK’s only mixed card which features flat and jump racing on the same afternoon.

The racing action didn’t disappoint either, with N’golo (not that one!) winning the feature race over hurdles, while it would be no surprise should Aldaary and Brad The Brief prove themselves to be Group level performers later in the year after particularly impressive victories on the level.

“It’s at this time of year where we rarely stop for breath at Haydock and our fantastic offering continued with the two-day Cazoo Temple Stakes meeting last weekend, which is one of my personal favourites as along with the racing, we also show our support for the British Armed Forces.

It is a day that never disappoints and we were treated to a display in-between races from the Silver Stars Army Parachute Display Team of the Royal Logistic Corps, who landed on the track!

The racing was fantastic too and it would be no surprise if we saw a future star in the making in El Caballo, who impressed when tenaciously winning the Group Two Cazoo Sandy Lane Stakes – which is a key trial for the Group One Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Meanwhile, the big race of the day was the Group Two Cazoo Temple Stakes and it was absolutely fantastic to see King’s Lynn come out on top for Her Majesty The Queen.

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The race is one of the firmest pointers around for the two Group One sprints at the Royal meeting and it’s brilliant that The Queen will have a serious chance of top level glory in the year of her Platinum Jubilee.

The action continues this weekend with some more top-class action at our three-day Summer Social meeting, which is kindly being supported by Betfred and kicked off on Thursday, May 26.

Beginning with two days of racing perfect for those who enjoy a more relaxed race day atmosphere, the Saturday ramps up a gear with no less than three pattern races on the card.

It should be a fantastic atmosphere as we’re once again holding our hugely popular ‘Sparkling Saturday’ promotion, which allows each racegoer to bring their own bottle of sparkling wine, Prosecco, Champagne or soft drink along with them.

The gates will be opening just after 11am, so there’s plenty of time to enjoy a tipple before the racing!

On the track, the feature is the Group 3 Betfred John of Gaunt Stakes over seven furlongs, which usually attracts some of the big hitters in that sphere, while both the Listed Betfred Nifty Fifty Achilles Stakes and the Group 3 Betfred Pinnacle Stakes complementing the action perfectly.

Meanwhile, the day is also being held in support of our charity partner the Alzheimer’s Society – which will hopefully raise funds and help to build awareness of such a wonderful cause.

It’s not too late to join us at Haydock Park in May, with tickets still available for each of our race days.

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Starting at just £20 - with children under 18 going free – we hope there is plenty of value for a day of extraordinary sport.

We encourage all racegoers to purchase their tickets in advance from our website and with a range of fixtures and events coming up at Haydock Park between now and the end of the Flat season there really is something for everyone.

To find out more head to www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/haydock.