TAUNTON Racecourse hosts the biggest and most valuable meeting in its history on Saturday (January 19) when the first race goes to post at 1.10pm.

The fixture, sponsored by Betfair, comprises a seven race card offering a massive £115,000 in prize money, much more than anything else that has ever been on offer at the Orchard Portman course.

The big race of the afternoon is the Read Paul Nicholls Exclusively on Betfair Open Handicap Steeple Chase (Class2) over two miles three furlongs which is due off at 4pm has a huge prize fund of £30,000.

David Pipe, who has notched up 60 winners so far this season, is one of the top trainers expected to have runners on Saturday.

He said: “Taunton have done extremely well to get this level of prize money and I’m sure that the racing will be very competitive.”

“With the prize money so good we hope to have a few runners."

Bob Young, the Chief Executive at Taunton Racecoure, said: “This is the richest meeting in our 85 year history with £115,000 prizes and it is our first ever Saturday meeting that we own so we hope to set a standard on this one going forward.

“We are expecting a large crowd so anyone coming along should visit our website www.tauntonracecourse.co.uk for a suggested alternative route to avoid the queues.”

In an effort to provide ease of access there will only be one enclosure at the course on Saturday.

Racegoers are reminded that a courtesy coach departs from Taunton Railway Station an hour before the first race, picking up at the Bus Station in town shortly afterwards and returning from the course 30 minutes after the last event.

For all ticket information, including discounted prices if booked 48 hours in advance on-line, or for further details log onto www.tauntonracecourse.co.uk