Randox, a world leader in healthcare diagnostics, has agreed to sponsor the Ulster National at Downpatrick Racecourse for the next five years.
Downpatrick Racecourse, winner of the Sports Venue of the Year in both 2018 and 2019 at the Northern Ireland Hospitality Awards, hosts the £50,000 Randox Ulster National, their flagship race, on Sunday 22 March.
Randox was founded in 1982 by medical scientist and keen horseman Dr Peter Fitzgerald and is based in Crumlin, County Antrim. This five year sponsorship with Downpatrick Racecourse sees Randox expand its racing portfolio which includes the Randox Health Aintree Grand National, and the title sponsorship of the entire three-day Grand National Festival at the Liverpool racecourse.
The Randox Ulster National is one of the most historic races on the racing calendar and is run over three miles and four furlongs. The race first ran in 1939 and has a long and illustrious history.
Cahoo won the 1945 and 1946 Ulster National before winning the 1947 Aintree Grand National with jockey Eddie Dempsey aboard, trained by Dublin-based trainer Herbert McDowell.
And Laffy, owned by the Queen Mother, and ridden by jockey Willie Hamilton, won the Ulster National in 1962 and Pineau De Re also won Downpatrick’s centre piece jumps race in 2013 and subsequently went on to win the Aintree Grand National the following season.
Dr Peter Fitzgerald said: “This is a particularly exciting time to be partnering with Downpatrick Racecourse to add the Randox Ulster National to our racing portfolio. Horse racing is a sport that everyone can enjoy from all walks of life, and a partnership with Downpatrick offers us a fantastic opportunity to share our message of preventative health with a wide and engaged audience.
“We look forward to the first year of the Randox Ulster National, to show our commitment to this wonderful sport and to encourage people to take control of their health and wellbeing with a Randox Health Check.”
Peter Stewart, Chairman of Downpatrick Racecourse, said: “We are really excited to partner with such a respected global brand as Randox for our most prestigious race meeting and look forward to working closely together to create a wonderful race day for our customers and achieve our shared objectives in bringing top class horse racing to Downpatrick.”
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About Randox
- a global leader in healthcare diagnostics.
- 5% of world’s population use Randox products in medical diagnosis.
- Randox has 1500 employees and 430 research scientists.
- Randox products are used in labs, forensics, life sciences, and vets.
- Conducts pioneering research into key diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
- A Randox Health Plan aims to provide you with an accurate health profile and help provide a Personal Health Plan.
