SALISBURY stages its most prestigious fixture of the season this week, with the historic two-day Bibury meeting.

Established in 1681, the Bibury Club is the world's oldest and the meeting is one of Britain's longest-running, with the racing staged at the now-defunct courses of Bibury and Stockbridge before moving to Salisbury in 1899.

This year, almost £140,000 in prize money is on offer. Centrepiece of Wednesday's six-race card is the Totetrifecta Bibury Cup, a 12-furlong handicap for three-year-olds where the market may be headed by Luca Cumani's Selebela, winner of her last three races, including one on the track at the last meeting on June 13.

Lochbuie, pulled out of Royal Ascot because of the ground, and Mark Johnson's King of Dreams are likely runners. Mick Channon has also entered Le Tiss, named after the legendary Saints player, who was a last-gasp winner also at the track this month, before a fast-finishing fourth in a major handicap at Royal Ascot.

The other leading race on the card - which has attracted several entries from Newmarket including Godolphin and Sir Michael Stoute - is the Noel Cannon Memorial Stakes over a mile for three-year-olds and upwards.

Taking centre stage on Thursday's card is the Piper Heidstick Champange Stakes for two-year-olds bought for less than £50,000 at public auction. The last two seasons it has introduced juveniles who both went on to win the Dewhurst Stakes - Milk It Mick and Pas Suel.

The seven-race card is complemented by the Alderholt Sprint, a five-furlong dash for three-year-olds and upwards, and the Herbert & Gwen Blagrave Maiden Stakes remembering the late trainer and his wife and won in 2002 by the talented Norse Dancer.

"The Bibury Meeting is a historic and unique meeting in the British racing calendar and has seen plenty of good horses,'' said clerk of the course Jeremy Martin, who reports that their Sunday fixture on June 13 attracted more than 5,250 racegoers.