KELSO Racecourse will be hosting the Border track stages, for the second time, in-between Christmas and New year on Saturday, December 29.

A grand prize of nearly �50, 000 is on offer, the race meeting promises to be a brilliant day out for all the family with a DJ playing in the Pavilion Marquee after the last race for all race goers to enjoy.

The First Race is off at 12.20 with the gates opening early at 10.20am. The feature race of the card is the Timeform Jury Handicap Steeplechase with a total prize fund of �10,000 run over two miles.

Simon Walker from Timeform will be heading up the party of Internationally renowned form experts that produce many publications including the form analysis for most racecourses in the UK. Course specialist Super Ally - all his four career wins have come at Kelso - is set to build on his excellent strike-rate for trainer Andrew Parker and owner Ray Green.

And The Man was pulled up at the last Kelso meeting earlier this month and Nicky Richards will be hoping for better luck as he tackles handicap company for the first time over fences. Selkirk's Stuart Coltherd is entering talented mare Overlady who hasn't appeared at the track since pulling up on her debut in a bumper four years ago.

Timeform have also sponsored the third race on the card off at 1.15pm where Nicky Richards is entering Hannah Jacques who carried the MS Borders Racing Club's colours to an all the way victory at Sedgefield recently. Talkin Sense drops back in trip after two runs over longer trips at Perth in the spring for Stuart Coltherd.

One of Scotland's most famous racehorse trainers Peter Monteith is remembered poignantly by family and friends who have generously sponsored the 2 mile 1 furlong Handicap Steeple.

His sister Sheila, friend Dennis Coppola and the rest of the family have clubbed together to provide the sponsorship of what is sure to be a very competitive event. Surprise Vendor won the two-mile handicap hurdle on this exact day last year and his Selkirk connections have targeted him at this two-mile chase as he tackles his first handicap over fences.

David Stevenson the proprietor of Ashelybank Investments based in Langholm, has generously continued with the sponsorship of a Memorial race to remember Reg and Betty Tweedie. Reg was Chairman of the racecourse for over 20 years and with his wife Betty promoted Kelso racecourse more than anyone previously. His son Douglas Tweedie will be on hand to share the presentations with David and Alex Stevenson.

The first race has been very generously anonymously sponsored to raise awareness of the Children's Immunology trust. The trust aims to raise funds for an Immunology base at the Royal Hospital for sick children in Edinburgh and help fund research into Children's bone marrow transplant and the Bubble unit in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Iain Middlemiss of Middlemiss Embroidery has stepped in to take the Mares Novices hurdle and penultimate race on the seven race card. This highly respected and much in demand borders based business, has sponsored in the past and nearly always has a Christmas party at the racecourse.

Iain and his family will be on hand to make the winning presentations after their race. St Gregory is trained by Nicky Richards for Sue Johnson, wife of former County Durham handler Howard Johnson, and the filly switches to hurdles after a cracking third in a hot Carlisle bumper last Sunday.

Radio Borders the local Borders radio station based in Galashiels do a huge amount of Charity work and has this year have focused on "Cash for Kids" . Radio Borders will be at the course on the day running the charity tea room and also doing an outside broadcast from the course.

Lynsey Graham, head of the Station commented "We are delighted that the racecourse has given us a great opportunity with race sponsorship to highlight our work for the charity Cash for Kids. We hope everyone donates generously to the charity on the day" The racecourse will be giving all race goers who attended the race meeting on Sunday, December 9, paddock admission for only �5 when they present their paddock slip or members badges from Sunday 9th December at the members office on Saturday, December 29. There will also be a late bar and DJ in the Pavilion Marquee for all race goers to enjoy after the last race at no additional cost.