Ripon is preparing for its most valuable race day ever on Saturday, with more than £200,000 of prize money on offer across seven races.
This includes a total pot of £100,000 for the winner and placed horses in the principal race, the William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap.
It will feature some of country’s top sprinters, including current favourite Summerghand trained by David O’Meara.
Mr O’Meara, who trains at Upper Helmsley, said:
“He ran well in the race last year but was drawn on the wrong side. He is in really good form and he likes Ripon so fingers crossed for a nice draw and we’re very hopeful of a good run.”
The highly-competitive six furlong sprint, now in its 30th year of sponsorship from bookmaker William Hill, has been run in honour of Ripon’s patron saint since 1839.
One of the many floral displays at Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse
A further reminder of the link between the historic course and ancient cathedral city will come when blasts from the Ripon hornblower, whose nightly ceremony dates back to King Alfred the Great in 886 AD, signal the start of racing.
William Hill is sponsoring five of the races on Saturday’s card and Ripon Racecourse managing director and clerk of the course, James Hutchinson, said:
“We’re immensely proud to be William Hill’s longest standing sports sponsorship and we’re delighted with the quality of entries for the big race.”
He added:
“It’s been 13 years since we last saw the trophy head south of Yorkshire and with a very strong contingent from Yorkshire and the North it would be no surprise if that extended to fourteen on Saturday.”
Operations and marketing manager Jon Mullin said:
“Advanced sales have been good, with the club enclosure sold out, but space is still available in the paddock and course enclosures and we’re hoping plenty of people come along to enjoy a great afternoon of racing. Families are always welcome and under 18s will be admitted free.”
While the Great St Wilfrid takes centre stage, the card also includes the William Hill Silver Trophy. Both races will be shown live on ITV4.
The gates will be open from 11.15am and the first race is off at 1.35pm.
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Ripon Racecourse has been selected as a finalist in two categories of the Racecourse Association’s Showcase and Awards.
The awards, run in partnership with Great British Racing, Racing Post, the Racing Foundation and Racing Together, celebrates excellence and innovation in racecourse operations and raceday experience.
Ripon, which is known as Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse, is in the running for both the Racing Foundation Green and Racing Connection categories.
The winners will be revealed at the Showcase and Awards ceremony at Pontefract Racecourse on November 10.
The Racing Connection Award recognises activities at racecourses that extend the reach of the sport to customers.
In this category, Ripon’s Stables Championship, sponsored by the company Goodbye Flys, is in competition with entries from Go Racing in Yorkshire, The Jockey Club, Hamilton Park and Scottish Racing.
In the Racing Foundation Green Award, where the winner will receive a grant of up to £20,000, Ripon’s Greening Up initiative was selected as a finalist alongside Newmarket and The Jockey Club.
Entries were asked to demonstrate how environmental initiatives have been identified and executed with a focus on the results achieved and the legacy of the work.
Jonathan Mullin, operations and marketing manager at Ripon Racecourse, said:
“It’s wonderful for us to be finalists in two categories. The Goodbye Flys Ripon Stables Championship was really well received by the stable staff and it’s great that it has been recognised.
“It is especially pleasing to be a finalist in the inaugural Racing Foundation Green Award. As Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse we take great pride in our environment and realise the importance of working towards and promoting a sustainable future so we’re delighted with this acknowledgement of our work in this area.”
Rob Hezel, chief executive at the Racing Foundation, said:
“Environmental sustainability is vital to protect racing’s future and racecourses have a massive opportunity to contribute, not only in their operational practises but in positively influencing the behaviour of racegoers and their communities.
“We’d like to congratulate the three finalists on their environmental sustainability efforts and look forward to working with the winner to develop their project.”
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