This story is sponsored by Ripon Races

Ripon Races are under starter’s orders for another exciting season, with thoroughbred stars providing the thrills on the track and live musical entertainment adding to a memorable day or evening out at ‘Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse.’

The first fixture for 2023 will be held on the afternoon of April 20 with a further 16 days featuring races over sprint, middle and long distances to follow,

Dates for the diary include Ladies’ Day on Thursday June 22 and the highlight of the season on Saturday August 19, when many of the UK’s top stables will have sprinters vying for the £75,000 prize money in the ultra-competitive  six furlong Great St Wilfrid Handicap, which has been sponsored by William Hill since 1994.

Free entry for under 18s

Famed for its floral splendour, Ripon provides an attractive and welcoming setting for racegoers of all ages, including families, where accompanied under 18s go free of charge and groups of 11 people and above, can enjoy discounted entry to the paddock area by booking in advance.

Catering to suit all tastes

Alongside the floral beauty that provides a feast for the eyes, the Boroughbridge Road course has a wide range of food and beverage outlets to suit all tastes and budgets, from the award-winning Club Restaurant and Silks and Saddles Bar in the Club Enclosure to the Fountains Bar in the Paddock Enclosure. There’s also the stylish Champagne and Seafood Bar and the Wakeman and Claro bars.

Jon Mullin, operations and marketing manager at the course, said:

“Racegoers wanting to dine in style can enjoy the a la carte menu at the Club Restaurant, while The Fountains Bar caters for those looking for a quick bite to eat.”

He added:

“The aim of our friendly racecourse team is to provide a fantastic and affordable day or evening out at great value for money, including four family fun days throughout the season, free parking and a free shuttle bus service on race days between Ripon city centre and the course.

“Mindful of our award-winning  environmental credentials and our aim to cut carbon emissions, we offer reduced price entry to people arriving by bicycle or those whose race day journey  includes travel on the 36 Leeds/Harrogate bus service to and from Ripon.”

A day out for all the family

Ripon prides itself in being a family friendly course and in addition to providing free entry for under 18s who are accompanied by adults, it is hosting four special family fun days during the season.

These will be held at the afternoon meetings on  April 29, May 21, August 7 and August 28 (Bank Holiday)  where there will be a wide range of activities and fun for all ages from Punch ‘n’ Judy and fancy dress to Kub Karts, bouncy castles, fairground rides, arts and crafts, circus, face painting and much more all free for children

Evening meetings

The delight of an evening at the races can be enjoyed by Ripon racegoers on May 12, June 7, June 21 (when the course will hold its Best Dressed Gentleman competition) July 10, August 8 and September 5.

An award winning course

Ripon finished ahead of a strong field of entrants to become a winner at the 2022  RCA Racecourse Association Showcase & Awards.

It beat Hamilton Park, Go Racing in Yorkshire, Scottish Racing and The Jockey Club to collect the Racing Connection Award, for an innovative scheme that it ran to recognise and reward the work of stable staff.

This followed on from the RCA Spotlight Award that the course received in 2019 for its Green Cycle Maps initiative.

Ripon Races are under starter’s orders for another exciting season, with the first fixture for 2023 on the afternoon of April 20th. 

Click or tap here to get your tickets for Ripon Races now. 

Ripon Races holds its final meeting of a lockdown-affected season today.

In common with other horseracing venues across the UK, Yorkshire’s garden racecourse, with its paddock-side geraniums and lush lawns, can reflect on a reined-back and restricted year of business.

From February, the Boroughbridge Road course played an important role in the fight against the covid pandemic.

Over six months, more than 27,000 jabs were put in the arms of people from Ripon and surrounding areas, who attended the temporary vaccination centre  set up in the Wakeman Bar.

With the 2021 horseracing season now at an end for the course, it will again be utilised as a centre for the delivery of booster jabs.

Ripon Races marketing manager, Jon Mullin, told the Stray Ferret:

“It was surprising to discover that for many local people, it was the first time they had been through our gates.

“We hope that some of them returned later in the year to enjoy a day at the races and they will be made most welcome if they come to join us on Saturday.”

For many years, Ripon has been known as Yorkshire’s garden racecourse

The seven-race card begins at 2.20 with a novice stakes and features the Class 2 Ripon Cathedral City of the Dales Handicap over six furlongs.

Ripon’s management is hoping for a good-sized crowd as the curtain comes down on a 17-day season.

It can look back on a difficult year, whose highlights were the William Hill-sponsored Great St Wilfrid Handicap and EBF Ripon Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy, both run in August.

Mr Mullin pointed out:

“We have been pleased to see racegoers of all ages back on course and with life steadily returning to normal, we will build on this year and plan ahead with more certainty for next season and another 17 days of racing.”

Ripon’s restricted season began in April and its first four meetings took place behind closed doors, with strict social distancing and hygiene measures in place.

As the vaccination programme picked up pace and the covid lockdown eased, crowds of up to 4,000 were allowed in the enclosures from 27 May and with the complete lifting of restrictions in July, the course began its return to business as usual.

Read more:

• How can you hear The Lark Ascending at Ripon Cathedral?
• Ripon unveils Christmas lights plan for town hall

Ripon’s racing history

Meetings have been held at the racecourse for 121 years and the city has a rich horseracing heritage.

The first recorded races were held on nearby Bondgate Green in 1664 and over the next 236 years other venues hosted meetings.

In 1723, history was made when the first-ever race exclusively for lady riders was held in Ripon.