FRIDAY EVENING AND SATURDAY AFTERNOON ACTION AT BEVERLEY

Beverley is set to stage the popular Friday evening and Saturday afternoon July meeting this weekend (July 4 & 5), beginning at 6-45 p.m. and 2-15 p.m. respectively. 

Friday evening’s feature race is The Aunt Bessie’s Yorkshire Pudding Handicap Stakes over the extended mile – one of three races supported by the Hull-based independent family-owned company, William Jackson & Son Ltd., it being the 39th year they have sponsored on the Westwood. The other two races the company is associated with on Friday evening are The Ferguson Fawsitt Arms Handicap Stakes (one mile and a half) and The William Jackson Bakery Stakes (a handicap contest for three-year-old fillies). 

Westbridge Homes Ltd. of South Cave sponsor for the second time at this meeting, with sprinters taking part in The Westbridge Homes Classic Stakes (a handicap contest over the minimum distance of five furlongs), while Hall Construction Group Ltd. of Hull also return to Beverley to support the opening race – a selling contest. Last year, the company celebrated 120 years in business. Also, completing the line-up on Friday evening, Cottingham Parks Golf and Country Club renew their ties with the racecourse by supporting a race for novice two-year-olds in conjunction with The European Breeders’ Fund. 

It’s Coachman Caravans Day on Saturday, with the seven-race programme supported by regular sponsors of racing at Beverley, the award-winning Coachman Caravans of Hull, in conjunction with their suppliers and dealers. The principal race is The Coachman Caravans Handicap Stakes, a contest for sprinters over five furlongs, offering prize money of £10,000, while two-year-olds take part in The Eltherington Maiden Stakes, also held over five furlongs. 

 The giant screen will assist racegoers to follow all of the action on the track.

 

 

For immediate release                                                                                                      30 June 2008

 

 PLENTY OF ACTION AT RIPON ON MONDAY EVENING

 

Ripon’s fourth and final evening meeting of the summer takes place on Monday (July 7), when racing begins at 6-50 p.m.

 The feature race of the evening, an £18,000 handicap contest for three-year-old sprinters, is sponsored for the third year by Commercial First Mortgages, the UK’s leading specialist mortgage lender (a race won last year by El Bosque – trained in Devon by Rod Millman), while the Harewood-based Work Interiors –specialists in designing office and workplace interiors – also return to this evening meeting by once again supporting a handicap contest for three-year-olds over one mile and a half. 

There’s musical entertainment on Monday evening, courtesy of The Ken Stamp Fanfare Band, while Ripon’s permanent giant screen will enable racegoers to follow all of the action, including racing from the other evening meeting at Windsor.

For immediate release                                                                                                          30 June 2008

 

SPRINTERS LEAD THE WAY AT PONTEFRACT ON TUESDAY

 Sprinters are in the spotlight at Pontefract on Tuesday (July 8), when the feature races, The King Richard III Handicap Stakes and The Dianne Nursery Handicap Stakes, are both contested over six furlongs. Racing on Tuesday is scheduled to begin at 2-30 p.m. 

The 25th running of The King Richard III Handicap Stakes – the afternoon’s most valuable race, with prize money of £15,000 – commemorates the granting of a Royal Charter to the Borough of Pontefract in 1484 and the successful will receive a perpetual challenge trophy given by Pontefract Civic Trust, while The Dianne Nursery Handicap Stakes is one of the north’s first handicap races for two-year-olds. 

Harworth Estates, the property division of UK Coal, return to this meeting to sponsor a handicap race for three-year-old sprinters, while regular sponsors, Aedas Architects of Leeds, put their name to a contest for maidens over one mile and a quarter. 

Tuesday’s final race is Round Three of the 2008 Pontefract Apprentice Series. Having won the first two races, Stacy Renwick and Ashley Morgan both lead the way on nine points apiece, followed by Dean Heslop and Adele Rothery. It’s a five-race series for young riders held exclusively at Pontefract and the prize for the top apprentice jockey at the end of the series in September, is a fortnight’s working holiday next winter at Gulfstream Park, Miami based with a leading United States trainer. 

  The giant screen, situated opposite the track, will show all of the action.

 

For immediate release                                                                                              30 June 2008

 

 COURSE SPECIALIST TURMERIC AT CATTERICK

 Former Catterick course specialist, Turmeric, is remembered in this season’s renewal of The ‘Turmeric’ Handicap Stakes over two miles, the feature race next Wednesday at the North Yorkshire track (July 9) - the second of Catterick’s four successive Wednesday afternoon fixtures in July.

 Turmeric was trained at Newmarket by the late David Morley and owned by his wife, Melanie. He won eight races at Catterick between 1987 and 1989. Last year’s winner of this race was Inchnadamph, trained at Malton by Tim Fitzgerald, who went on to win the final race of the 2007 Flat season on turf at Doncaster in November, in a dramatic conclusion to the Jockey’s Championship, enabling his rider, Jamie Spencer to share the title with Seb Sanders. 

As usual, the giant screen will be in use.

For immediate release                                                                                                  30 June 2008

For immediate release                                                                                                  30 June 2008

 

  

 

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And they’re off!.....Yorkshire’s All New ‘Summer Festival of Racing’ Set To Boost Local Tourism

In a drive to attract more tourists from outside the region, Go Racing in Yorkshire (GRIY) is launching its first ever ‘Summer Festival of Racing’, due to be held from 19-27 July 2008 at eight of the region’s racecourses, it is announced today.

Based around the existing summer racing calendar, the Festival will mark the first time the racecourses - Beverley, Catterick, Doncaster, Pontefract, Redcar, Ripon, Thirsk and York - have worked together to promote such an event, which is set to be the biggest of its kind in the UK.

With nine fixtures happening at the different courses over nine days, the Festival promises an amazing ‘racing extravaganza’, and will feature behind-the-scenes tours at local racing yards, a visit to the Northern Racing College, prizes for jockeys and trainers, prize draws and host of competitions.

A range of special discounts and offers will be available, redeemable at the different courses and linking in with local hospitality providers.

Simon Channon, Chairman of Go Racing in Yorkshire, said: “We are really excited to be launching The Summer Festival of Racing. It breaks new ground for as many as eight courses to be working this closely together and it’s going to be a fantastic showcase celebrating the excitement and diversity of racing in our region.

“As well as promoting it locally, we are planning to market the Festival to visitors from outside the region as an exciting new summer event that they can come and enjoy, only available here. It’s a great opportunity for the local tourism industry to work with us to promote the Festival, and we look forward to a successful and busy July 2008!”

GRIY is currently seeking support from local agencies to help coordinate and market the Festival. Any tourism operators interested in becoming involved should contact Jo Mapletoft, Festival Coordinator on 07855 852026.

List of Festival Fixtures:

Saturday 19 July Ripon
Sunday 20 July Redcar
Monday 21 July (evening) Beverley
Wednesday 23 July Catterick
Thursday 24 July (evening) Doncaster
Friday 25 July Thirsk
Friday 25 July (evening) York
Saturday 26 July York
Sunday 27 July Pontefract

SPECIAL YORKSHIRE AWARD FOR JOHN QUINN

Leading dual-purpose trainer John Quinn was honoured for his outstanding achievements this year at the 2007 ‘Go Racing in Yorkshire’ Awards Lunch held at Doncaster Racecourse.

The ‘Go Racing in Yorkshire’ Award is presented annually to the person judged by a panel of northern racing journalists to have made an outstanding contribution to the sport of racing in the county.

Malton-based Quinn has displayed versatility at the highest level under both codes this year. He had two winners at the Grand National meeting (Blythe Knight and King’s Quay). Blythe Knight recorded a victory at York in May and going on to land the Group 3 Diomed Stakes at Epsom on Derby Day. Pevensey won at Royal Ascot; Zomerlust took The Sky Bet Dash at York and Leslingtaylor won the prestigious Swinton Hurdle at Haydock Park.

LEADING TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS IN YORKSHIRE

The Sky Bet Trophies for the leading trainer and jockey on the Yorkshire racecourses during the 2007 Flat season went to Mark Johnston and Paul Hanagan with 37 and 32 winners respectively on the county’s tracks this year. Johnston is the top trainer on the Yorkshire racecourses for the fifth consecutive year, while it’s the first time Hanagan has achieved the feat. The rider tied on the same number of winners as David Allan, and wins the award by virtue of having more second places.

As far as racing over Jumps was concerned, the battle for the Sky Bet Trophies presented to the top trainer and jockey on the trio of Yorkshire tracks which stage Jump racing, was won by Howard Johnson (13 winners trained) and Phil Kinsella (15 winners ridden). It’s the second successive season Johnson has taken the award, while Kinsella – who is a Conditional rider – received this prize for the first time…

.AND THANKS GO TO CHAPMAN AND GARRITTY

Stillington trainer David Chapman – who is relinquishing his licence in January in favour of his granddaughter, Ruth – and Russ Garritty, who retired as a Jump jockey in May to become assistant trainer to Tim Easterby both received presentations in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Yorkshire racing.


 
£10,000 UP FOR GRABS ONCE AGAIN IN WETHERBY’S SPECIAL TRAINERS’ CHALLENGE
         
With Wetherby’s 2007/08 campaign over Jumps starting next Wednesday (October 17), the racecourse will, for the fourth season, host The Wetherby Trainers’ Challenge which offers bonuses totalling £10,000 for trainers and stable staff according to winners and placed horses accrued throughout the course’s season which ends next June.

Last season’s winners were Howard Johnson and Harry Hogarth. Based at Crook in County Durham, Johnson amassed a record points tally of 548, to be Wetherby’s leading trainer and clinch the top prize of a memento and £6,000, with a further bonus of £1,000 going to his stable staff.

To reward the smaller yards for their efforts (i.e. those trainers with 25 horses or less in their care as in the official January returns), the top trainer in this category receives a memento and £2,000, along with a bonus of £1,000 for his or her stable staff. Harry Hogarth, based at Stillington near York, took this prize last term, having accumulated 112 points.

The points system is based on winners and placed horses, with double points awarded for Grade and Listed races, along with Chases for Novices and Beginners.

James Sanderson, Wetherby’s Chief Executive said “This special competition highlighted the outstanding performances of both Howard and Harry and everyone at Wetherby is looking forward to a new season and a fresh battle for the cash!

“The incentives are there to reward trainers and their hard-working staff for their efforts at Wetherby and we are delighted to continue this very popular competition.”
 
PLANS FOR IMPROVED DRAINAGE
AND A FOUR DAY EBOR FESTIVAL AT YORK RACECOURSE

York Racecourse has confirmed that its famous racing surface is due to get one of its most significant overhauls since racing started on the Knavesmire in 1731 and as a consequence the racecourse plans to stage a four day Ebor Festival in August 2008.

In plans which were submitted to the City of York Council last week, the course confirmed it is set to undertake a major project to improve the performance and consistency of the racing surface at York. These plans involve three elements.  Firstly to install a comprehensive drainage scheme throughout to allow better management of the track, thus reducing risk of abandonments and improving conditions, particularly in excessively rainy periods or periods of drought.  Secondly, to widen and re-grade the south bend which will allow more options for producing fresh ground with rail movements and to improve the camber around the home bend.  In the final element of the scheme, which racecourse chiefs hope to commence in September 2008, is a plan to improve the surface of the track around the inside of the racecourse used by the ambulance and vets on a raceday and racecourse maintenance vehicles.  It will also provide an all-weather alternative for joggers and walkers on the Knavesmire.

As a result of these works an exciting plan to hold a four day Ebor Festival has been submitted to the racing authorities and is being considered by them as part of the full 2008 fixture review process, with a formal announcement due in July of this year.

Commenting on the plans, the Chairman of the York Race Committee, Nicholas Wrigley said; “We are keen to improve every aspect of the racecourse and the actual track is at the very heart of our operation.  The current racing surface has served us well and has been host to many famous contests; with the recent improvement in turf technology, drainage and irrigation, we want to ensure we can compete at the highest level and continue to attract the best horses to race at York.  The works to achieve this commence in autumn 2008 and as a result give us a wonderful opportunity to stage a four day Ebor Festival in August 2008 from Tuesday to Friday.  We plan to invest record prize money and want racegoers to enjoy the first ever four day Ebor Festival.  It is yet more exciting times at York.”

Subject to the various formal approvals, the racecourse is seeking to adapt its 2008 fixture list to accommodate the schedule of the drainage works in the autumn; the intention is to retain the full complement of 15 days racing between the May Festival and four day Ebor Festival in August 2008.  This will leave the project team sufficient time to conduct the works before the 2009 May Festival gets the following season underway.

William Derby, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course, said: “Once we decided to make these improvements to the track we began discussions with other racecourses about swapping our autumn fixtures for 2008 and the possibility of a four day Ebor Festival emerged.  Paramount in our thinking was our desire to ensure that the quality of the race programme and racing surface at the Ebor Festival was not diluted.  By moving to a six race programme each day we will have the opportunity to stage three extra races.  These are planned to be the Group Three Strensall from our September Meeting, a high quality nursery handicap that was a feature of the Ebor Festival until last year, and a brand new feature handicap.”

The details of the four day Ebor Festival will be developed in conjunction with the racing industry and partners such as the City of York Council and Channel 4 Racing.  However, Mr Derby set out the plan for the main races, saying: ”We’re proud of the depth of quality in the Ebor Festival and believe the switch to four days will allow us to make even more of our famous race programme.  We intend to continue to open the Ebor Festival 2008 on the Tuesday with our flagship contest, the Group One Juddmonte International; the Wednesday is famous for being Ebor Day and will continue to feature the totesport Ebor; Thursday is Ladies Day so the Group One Darley Yorkshire Oaks joins the Jaguar Cars Lowther as the fillies take centre stage; the Coolmore Nunthorpe, the UK’s only Group One five furlong sprint, will therefore be a thrilling climax on the Friday to both the Ebor Festival and the 2008 season.  The balance of the week will include the three further Group Twos – the Ladbrokes Great Voltigeur, the Ireland Gimcrack and the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup, two Group Threes – the Acomb and Strensall, three Listed contests and the £300,000 St Leger Yearling Stakes.”

Summarising the reason for the changes to the 2008 season William Derby concluded: “The quality of the racing surface is one of our key assets.  By investing in the track we will be able to improve the performance and consistency of the racing surface, particularly during excessively rainy periods or periods of drought.  This will help us to consistently produce a top class surface for the best thoroughbreds in the world to come and compete at York.  It is a further step in York’s development to be one of the finest racecourses in the world.”
For tickets and more information on the 2007 season, please call 01904 620911, extension 225 or visit www.yorkracecourse.co.uk
 
 
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