The Old Newton Cup is a valuable mile and a half handicap run at Haydock in July. Contrary to popular belief, is not sponsored by the Newton & Ridley, the authentically Lancashire-sounding brewers associated with the Rovers Return pub in Coronation Street.
The race was inherited from the old course at Newton, or Newton-le-Willows, two miles from Haydock. Racing had taken place since 1751, and the Newton Gold Cup was on the very first programme. It made sporadic appearances in the rest of the 18th century but the plain Newton Cup was instituted in 1807.
When Lord Legh (Baron Newton), the owner of the struggling meeting that bore his name, saw how well Manchester racecourse was doing under John Davies (qv) and the Frail family he hired them to restore its fortunes. They presented Haydock, which started in 1899, to the Jockey Club as a transferred rather than a brand new meeting. Via a series of minor name changes the race known as the Newton Cup (a handicap) became the Old Newton Cup by 1903. Indeed, by 2022 the Haydock management were marketing their three-day meeting in early July as the Old Newton Cup Festival. Well done them, for boosting the heritage aspect.