Towcester have announced that the Dorando Marathon is to be extended to a 12 runner Category Two event thanks to new sponsors 1st Containers Ltd.
The event has a long distinguished history going back to a pre greyhound racing era at White City and was named after the Italian marathon runner who was disqualified for being assisted over the winning line in the 1908 Olympics. It has always previously been staged as a one-off and produced one of the most incredible races ever staged at Towcester when half the field in the eight runner 2017 final finished within two lengths of each other. It may not be a coincidence that the event was won by Aayamza Breeze, owned by Mitch Brenner of the Ayaamzaboys Syndicate.
Track spokesman Nathan Corden said: “We are delighted that Mitch Brenner of 1st Containers Ltd has agreed to become the new sponsor of the Dorando this year. In fact, both Henlow and Towcester have been regular customers of 1st Container units for storage on both sites.
“All credit to Mitch in that he wanted to boost the prize money and make this special race even bigger. The race will now be a 12 dog Category 2 competition with the heats on the Derby semi-finals night and the first three in each heat qualifying for the £3,000 to the winner on 10th July”.
Mitch Brenner said “1st Containers are honoured to be sponsoring such a great event and we thought by making it 2 semis and a final that every marathon runner will get a shot at the title.”
The race will be run over a shorter eight bend distance than the current 942m trip at Towcester. Corden explained “The 1st Containers Dorando Marathon will appear in the next GBGB Calendar over the 942m trip, however we have plans to install a new set of traps next month giving us the option of a shorter 4 and 8 bend trips.
“As these new distances are not yet approved by the GBGB we thought it important to let those with marathon runners in both the UK and Ireland know the dates now and confirm the new distance at a later date. We anticipate the new distance to be approximately 30 metres shorter.”
A final measurement will not be possible until late April but will also introduce a new shorter four-bend trip of approximately 470 metres. The 500m course will remain the standard distance.
