Legendary jockey Lester Piggott will make a special guest appearance at the finale to Haydock Park's 2008 Flat racing season this weekend.

The nine-times Derby winner, whose first and last winners 46 years apart were at the racecourse, will present the prize for Saturday's Betfred Lester Piggott "Start To Finish" Handicap Stakes.

The 72-year-old's achievements are commemorated in a bronze which was unveiled at the North-west racecourse two years ago.

The most valuable race on Saturday is the £50,000 Betfred Ladies' Poker Tour Handicap. Betfred is supporting the meeting following the abandonment of Betfred Sprint Cup day earlier this month.

The race meeting is over two days, and Friday and Saturday are also the last chances to go racing at Haydock Park for almost six weeks.

The next fixture on Thursday, November 6, is the resumption of the 2008/9 jump racing season, the highlight of which is the first day of the North-west Racing Masters featuring the £225,000 Betfair Chase on Saturday 22 November.

Clerk of the Course Kirkland Tellwright is already looking forward to the jumping season, having framed Friday's Vale UK Selling Stakes to attract horses whose futures may be over hurdles.

The first race times on Friday and Saturday are 2pm and 2.25pm respectively. Friday is the raceday of Vale UK, the shopfitting business from Prescot in Merseyside.

  • Admission: (Friday) Newton Enclosure £7, Tattersalls £14, County Enclosure £23, and Premier Enclosure £34; (Saturday) £9, £17, £28 and £43 respectively. Accompanied children aged under 16 enter free. Senior citizens and students, with appropriate identification, enter Tattersalls and the Newton Enclosure at half price.