New supporters SG Hambros are sponsoring a three-race series at the new Les Landes facilities, with the overall winner receiving the championship silver perpetual trophy and an additional £1,000.
The championship will be decided over the three races on points with horses gaining points depending on their finishing positions in each race. The first race is at the Easter Monday meeting on 24 March over one mile and two furlongs with the other two races being one mile and 100 yards on 13 June and 25 August.
There is also an additional ?1,000 per hurdle race this year increasing prize money to ?3,300; resulting in record entries for this early Easter meeting.
Another new venture should also help the extremely popular race season to pull in the crowds. A ‘no whips’ race, called Stickless and Fancy Free sponsored by a group of racing enthusiasts, takes place on 13 April over one mile and one furlong.
A similar race is run for apprentice jockeys in the UK but as Jersey does not have any the professional jockeys will ride with no whips therefore relying on their riding skill with hands and heels.
A total of ten race days are being staged in Jersey this year, the final one the Clarendon meeting on Bank Holiday Monday on 25 August.
All the new building work at the Les Landes race course is now competed. The old buildings and toilets have gone, replaced by a large grassed viewing bank which provides spectacular views of the course with the back drop of other Channel Islands.
The new cloakrooms, jockey changing facilities and steward’s room will be a welcome change for the visiting jockeys and officials.
There is also a new electronic scoreboard and the new winners’ enclosure and presentation areas offer a great new look to the Members’ Marquee and the public bar.
First race on Easter Monday is at 2.30 pm.
