The Haydock Sprint Cup carries a total prize fund of £400,000, with the winning horse securing a princely £226,840.
Staged annually at Haydock Park Racecourse, this prestigious six-furlong Group 1 contest stands as one of the most financially rewarding sprints in the Flat racing calendar.
What is the Haydock Sprint Cup?
Forming a vital leg of the QIPCO British Champions Series sprint category, the Haydock Sprint Cup is run over six furlongs on the completely straight turf track in early September.
It is a long-standing custom at Haydock Park to design the metal or enamel Annual Members’ Badges using the exact racing silks (colours) of the previous year's winner of their flagship race.
Being as the 2025 Haydock Sprint Cup was won by Big Mojo, the 2026 Haydock Park annual membership badges are styled after the silks of his owner, Paul Jacobs, which is an incredibly nice touch.
Who have been the race sponsor down the years?
For the first 22 years of its existence, the event was officially known as the Vernons Sprint Cup.
Robert Sangster, the visionary who devised the race in 1966 was the heir to the flourishing Liverpool-based Vernons Football Pools business, and therefore he put some of his wealth into the venture.
- 1966 – 1988 (Vernons Football Pools) Founded the race and saw its transition to a straight track and promotion to Group 1 status.
- 1989 – 1997 (No official sponsor) The race was temporarily run without a singular title sponsor after Vernons departed. The Jockey Club put in all the prize money.
- 1998 – 2005 (Stanley Leisure)
- 2006 – 2007 (William Hill) Supported the race during its brief single-year relocation to Doncaster.
- 2008 – 2015 (Betfred)
- 2016 – 2018 (32Red)
- 2019 – Present (Betfair)
Prize Money Distribution
The BHA racing data outlines the exact breakdown of the £400,000 purse among the top six finishers:
- First Place: £226,840 (56.71% of the total purse)
- Second Place: £86,000 (21.5% of the total purse)
- Third Place: £43,040 (10.76% of the total purse)
- Fourth Place: £21,440 (5.36% of the total purse)
- Fifth Place: £10,760 (2.69% of the total purse)
- Sixth Place: £5,400 (1.35% of the total purse)
Who are the 2026 contenders?
Comanche Brave, he brilliant July Cup winner heads to Haydock Park with his sights set firmly on securing a historic Group 1 double.
Representing trainer William Haggas, Almeraq boasts an Official Rating of 119 and is widely respected in the early antepost betting.
Coppull was stepped up to seven furlongs for the Hungerford Stakes, but now returns to a blistering, flat-out straight six furlongs.
Japanese raider Satono Reve is a highly regarded international top-level contender and has attracted significant market attention alongside the horse racing betting favourites.
Big Mojo is the defending champion who won for trainer Michael Appleby. He returns to Haydock looking to become the first dual winner since Be Friendly in 1967.
*Odds subject to change - prices accurate at the time of writing*
