Race day gears up

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), June 10, 2008

ORGANISERS are stocking up booze supplies for one of the biggest dates on the racing calendar.

Up to 50,000 punters are expected to knock back 70,000 pints of beer and 30,000 bottles of wine and champagne at the 128th Northumberland Plate Festival between Thursday, June 26, and Saturday, June 28.

Passes to the premier enclosure for the major day of the festival, at Newcastle Racecourse, Gosforth Park, have already sold out.

However, enclosure tickets for the event will be available on the day.

Commercial manager Mike Elliott, who has overseen preparations, said: "Everything is in place and set for a wonderful sporting and social occasion for the North East."

Book a ticket at www.newcastleracecourse.co.uk by Friday, or call (0191) 236 2020 before June 20.