Horse Racing: Hamilton invests in big prizes

The significant rise in contribution, from 252,000 in 2010 to 376,000 for the season ahead, means that every race at all 18 meetings at the Scottish track this calendar year will exceed the tariff levels recently suggested by the Horsemen's Group.

The move follows a successful 2010 and means the Hamilton Park executive's contribution to prize-money now represents 56 per cent of the overall season total - up from 42 per cent last year and the 15 per cent of five years ago. The average contribution over the past three years has been 265,000.

Hamilton Park chief executive Vivien Kyles said: "The racecourse as a business had an excellent year in 2010 and the executive were unanimous in wishing to reinvest in higher prize-money to attract more owners and trainers to the course in 2011.

"Hamilton Park's policy of developing 'non-race day' activity enables us to reinvest in our raison d'etre which is horse racing and we were determined to do that across all 18 meetings for season 2011. It is a real demonstration to owners and trainers that we are serious about doing everything we can to meet their requirements. Equally the board have recognised the importance of maximising prize-money to attract the best quality fields."

Admission prices will be frozen for the third consecutive year for Hamilton's season, which begins on Sunday, 1 May.

Meanwhile, Ruby Walsh has suffered a nasty final-flight fall at Naas just days before the Cheltenham Festival.

The Irish jockey was reported to have a cut under his left eye which may require stitching following the tumble from King Of The Refs in the Tote Jackpot Maiden Hurdle. He was stood down for the rest of the day and had to give up his only other ride, Forty Foot, in the Tote Daily Double Handicap Hurdle for Charlie Swan

Walsh only returned to action last Friday after being sidelined for four months with a broken leg and the latest scare comes close to Cheltenham where Walsh has a powerful book of rides, mainly for Irish trainer Willie Mullins and Ditcheat handler Paul Nicholls. They include Master Minded in the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase, Big Buck's in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle and Kauto Star in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Last year's winner Binocular heads a field of 13 left in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old is one of two probables from the Nicky Henderson team. The other is Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Oscar Whisky, while last year's runner up Khyber Kim goes for Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Menorah is a strong candidate from the Philip Hobbs stable, having won both of his starts at Cheltenham this term.Peddlers Cross represents trainer Donald McCain, along with Overturn.

Alan King is double-handed with the progressive Mille Chief and Salden Licht, while there are three Irish challengers in the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Hurricane Fly and Thousand Stars, plus Philip Fenton's Dunguib. Clerk's Choice and Bygones Of Brid make up the field.