Tributes have been flooding in for the Aintree legend (pictured with son Donald Jnr) who was also successful with Amberleigh House in the Grand National and who died on Monday two days short of his 81st birthday.
Saturday is a poignant day at the Lincolnshire racecourse too because the winner of the Tom Halliday Scholarship - awarded annually in memory of the young jockey who died after his horse fell at the track in 2005 - will be announced.
In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, the racecourse set up the scholarship through which a conditional jockey - one who is serving his or her apprenticeship - receives expert sessions on schooling, nutrition, and media training, plus coaching from staff at the Northern Racing College in Doncaster.
The feature races on Saturday are the newly Listed £30,000 totescoop6 Prelude Hurdle, run over two miles and one furlong, and the Listed £50,000 totepool Prelude Chase. It's a day of racing that is as prestigious as the racecourse's Totesport Summer Plate in July.
Donald McCain Jnr, who emulated his father with the victory by Ballabriggs in the Grand National in the spring, is aiming to run Drill Sergeant in the hurdle race and Alderley Rover in the steeplechase.
His charges will face stiff competition from 2011 Summer Hurdle winner Viva Colonia and Summer Plate hero Qulinton.
Welsh trainer Peter Bowen, who saddled the winner of the Prelude Chase three years in a row until 2009, is strongly represented with four of the initial 23 entries.
Pip Kirkby, the racecourse's managing director, said: "We have worked hard in recent years to create an excellent racing day in late September which falls between what is popularly regarded as the 'summer' jump racing season and the major National Hunt campaign that leads all the way to the Cheltenham Festival and the John Smith's Grand National.
"The quality of the horses being sent to run at the Prelude meeting continues to improve and that is reflected in the recent upgrading of the Prelude Hurdle.
"There is bound to be big support for the horses of Ginger McCain's son Donald Jnr. And we also have the very important announcement to make about the next Tom Halliday Scholar."
General admission
The first race time on Saturday is 1.50pm, and gates will be open from 12 noon. Premier Members £28; County Enclosure £21; Tattersalls £16; Family Enclosure £10; Picnic Car Park £5 per car + Family Enclosure admission per adult. Accompanied children under 18 always admitted free of charge. More information at marketrasenraces.co.uk.
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For further information please contact:
Pip Kirkby, managing director, at Market Rasen Racecourse, on 01673 843434 or 07796 996081
