Record prize money for 2009 WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle

Oct. 12, 2009 - PRLog -- The WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle is the first leg of the WBX Hurdling Triple Crown which takes in the three Grade 1 2m hurdle races run in Britain each season: The WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle, The Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and The Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. Any horse that wins these three races in the same season will be eligible for a £1 million bonus.

WBX’s objective in initiating the WBX Hurdling Triple Crown is to create an exciting and clear pathway to the Cheltenham Festival for the leading two mile hurdlers, encourage the top hurdlers from overseas to race in Britain’s Grade 1 events and to create a Championship series that will form the benchmark against which the horses of this and future generations will be measured.

The £1 million bonus for winning the WBX Hurdling Triple Crown sees £700,000 awarded to the owner, £150,000 to the trainer, £100,000 to the responsible stable lad or lass and £50,000 to the remainder of the stable.  

Iain Turner, PR and Sponsorship Manager for WBX.COM said, “We are delighted to be sponsoring the first £100,000 renewal of the WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle. At a time when prize money is being cut by racecourses and sponsors it is fantastic that we have been supported by Northern Racing with this increase.

Since we took over the sponsorship of the race in 2006 it has grown in stature and the quality befits a race which has an illustrious history with Sea Pigeon, Birds Nest and Kribensis all previous winners.

WBX remain committed to National Hunt racing and we are delighted that the WBX Hurdling Triple Crown will continue alongside the WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle which is being run for record prize money. WBX has sponsored over 600 races since April 2006.”

Jim Allen, Head of Racing Development for Northern Racing said, “In 2009 Newcastle Racecourse will stage the WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Grade 1 Hurdle race at a total prize fund of £100,000. Northern Racing are committed to the race as the National Hunt highlight of the year at Newcastle Racecourse. The race has, in the past, attracted some quality hurdlers and was, of course, won by last year’s Champion Hurdler Punjabi who came so close to winning WBX’s £1 million Hurdling Triple Crown.

We are extremely grateful to WBX.COM for their continued support of the Fighting Fifth and indeed of their £1 million Hurdling Triple Crown bonus which has re-invigorated the race.”

ENDS
For more information please contact:
Iain Turner, PR and Sponsorship Manager, 07742252944
www.twitter.com/WBXTRIPLECROWN

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