Ladbrokes St Leger hits £550,000 in prize money

Today's racing takes place at Southwell, Kempton, Jebel Ali and Wolverhampton, with Aqueduct chipping in with simulcast racing from North America.

News coming out of Britain is that England runners taking part in this year's Ladbrokes St Leger will be competing for the most valuable ever running of the world's oldest classic, with total prize money on offer hitting £550,000.

An extension in Ladbroke's sponsorship deal by a further three years take their backing of the classic, which was first sponsored in 2005, to 10 years.

"The Ladrokes St Leger over 14 furlongs now attracts top-quality horses and the racegoing public have returned in their thousands," said a representative of the sponsor.

"With horses such as the Sor Michael Stoute-trained CONDUIT going on to win the Breeders' Cup Turf and be voted Turf Horse of the Year in the USA, as well as triumph in the 2009 King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, winners from the Gosden stable and Godolphin, the top yards have supported the race magnificently and have helped the Ladbrokes St Leger return to its rightful position," he added.

Tickets for the 2012 St Leger Festival, which runs from September 12 to 15, went on sale this week.

Today at the all-weather course of Southwell in the 10th race over six furlongs, the recent winner CLODHOPPER (D. Sweeney) is confidently expected to repeat as the 9-5 ante-post favourite for trainer Jamie Osbourne. Eight horses are slated to run.

Post time 7:30 a.m.

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