Scampi on the menu for 180 owners heading to York hoping to win £500k historic handicap

Scampi will be on the menu at York on Saturday where 180 of the horse’s owners hope their horse can serve up victory in the richest handicap in Europe.

Worth £500,000, the 1m6f handicap is also one of the most competitive events of the year with 22 horses set to run.

Already a winner at the York Dante meeting this season, which secured his place in the field, the RaceShare-owned Scampi is guaranteed a huge following at track with his owners identifiable by their black, white and gold rosettes.

Lucy Delaney, managing director of RaceShare, said: “As a Yorkshire-based operation, having a runner in the Ebor is a fairytale outcome in just our first season as an ownership syndicate.

“In total, Scampi now has well over 1,000 owners owning one share or more, with more joining every day at £96 per share, and the support we have had from our owners has been fantastic."

RaceShare owner Paul Dalton is travelling north from Essex and said: “Ever since Scampi’s win at York in May we have been dreaming about the Ebor for what seems like ages. But now it is finally here, and we are buzzing with excitement.”

Scampi, who is trained by Andrew Balding, was victorious at the Shergar Cup last time out taking his winnings past £100,000 and with the possibility of more adventures to come in Australia, where he holds entries for the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.