Haydock Park Racecourse, in Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, North West England is a dual-purpose venue hosting top-class Flat and National Hunt racing throughout the year. On the Flat, the principal race is the Sprint Cup, which was established in 1966, but switched to early September in 1979 and to the straight six-furlong course, which opened that year, in 1986. The Sprint Cup was promoted to Group 1 status in 1988 and incorporated into the British Champion Stakes in 2011.

Haydock racecourse also plays host to three prestigious Group 2 races during the spring and summer months. In chronological order, they are the Temple Stakes, open horses aged three years and upwards and run over five furlongs in May, the Sandy Lane Stakes, open to three-year-olds and run over six furlongs in late May or early July and the Lancashire Oaks, run over a mile and a half and open to fillies and mares aged three years and upwards.

Under National Hunt Rules, the Betfair Chase, open to horses aged five years and upwards and run over three miles and one-and-a-half furlongs in November, has the distinction of being the first Grade 1 steeplechase of the season. Indeed, along with the King George VI Chase, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Aintree Bowl, it is one of just four Grade 1 races in the staying chasing division run in Britain. Of course, jump racing takes place all year ’round and early on, in May, the Swinton Handicap Hurdle, a Premier Handicap worth £80,000, is the feature contest on the sole mixed Flat and National Hunt card staged in Britain.

The personification of the ordinary guy who made it big, Ian Wright is a legend within football circles for good reason. The England international built up a career from non-league activity and even short-term imprisonment to becoming one of the best goalscorers in the history of Arsenal. Across an interesting career, he played for the likes of Greenwich Borough, Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Wet Ham United, Celtic, and Burnley. For his country, Wright played 33 times, scoring 9 goals.

He was, without doubt, one of the hardest working and most clinical forwards of his era.

What made Ian Wright so special?

His story is one that is easy to find and to fall in love with, on top of a bubbly personality and an optimistic demeanour. However, what made Wright so special was his ability on the pitch. He could score from various angles, was decent in the air, and worked tirelessly to pressure defences. He was a player who, to many, carried that knife-between-the-teeth attitude that is needed to succeed at the highest echelons of the game.

He played with respect for his teammates and none for his opponents, making him an absorbing presence to watch as he paraded around Highbury en route to becoming one of the top goalscorers in club history.

What does Ian Wright do now?

Today, Wright is a successful pundit and has become a major part of the media in the English game. His effervescent personality and his human approach to talking about football make him an easy pundit to listen to. Though somewhat light on deep analysis, Wright brings a fans perspective to games and can be incredible to listen to when we opens up on his own insights.

Given his path to stardom, Wright has become a personality known for both his on-pitch expertise and his off-pitch perspective.

 

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