GOLF: Racing elite descend on Marlborough
5:20am Thursday 4th August 2011
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SIX champion jockeys will be swapping riding silks for golf shirts at the 21st annual Jim Old Racing Golf Day at Marlborough Golf Club on Monday, August 8.
AP McCoy, Kieren Fallon, Josh Gifford, Wally Swinburn and John Francome return for the event, while Kevin Darley, the 2000 champion flat jockey, makes his golfing debut this year.
The six will be helping Old, the 63-year-old National Hunt trainer who has been based at Upper Herdswick Farm, Barbury Castle for 20 years, raise another £20,000 for charity.
“I am indebted to all my many friends in racing for continuing to support one of the best golf days for the racing fraternity,” he said.
This is the 21st year of the fund-raiser and has attracted a record entry of 61 teams who will be operating on a two-tee morning and afternoon start at one of Wiltshire’s premier golf courses.
This is the 16th year it has been held at Marlborough. The first two events were staged at St Mellion in Cornwall followed by two at Tracy Park in Bristol and one at Wrag Barn.
More than £350,000 has been raised for charity. This year’s beneficiary will again be the Injured Jockeys Fund.
The day takes the form of a team contest with the best two of the four scores to count on each hole. there are also chipping, putting and long putt competitions, a sweepstake and auction.
The galaxy of racing notabilities includes racing trainers Nicky Henderson, Carl Llewellyn, Graham Bradley, Mick Fitzgerald, Alan King, Oliver Sherwood, Richard Hughes and Wiltshire’s Jeff King, who is a Marlborough member.
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