A Record Evening Racing In Sight For York

A new record for attendance at an evening race meeting in Britain is possible for York Races tonight (Friday 26 July) when Kaiser Chiefs will perform after an attractive six race card.

York’s two-day Music Showcase weekend strating tonight (Friday evening and Saturday afternoon July 26 & 27), supported by Sky Bet, combines Pattern race quality action on the track and live performances on the music stage after racing has finished. Originally from Leeds and now one of the biggest bands in the world, Kaiser Chiefs will be on stage on Friday evening, while the only group ever to win ITV’s ‘X Factor’, ‘Little Mix’ entertain racegoers at the conclusion of racing on Saturday.

The only evening fixture of the season at York gets underway at 6.00 pm on Friday with gates open at 4pm. The highlight of a valuable evening card is the sixth running of a Listed race for fillies and mares, the British Stallion Studs supporting British Racing EBF Lyric Stakes offering an increased total prize fund of £40,000 and one of sixteen contests on the Knavesmire supported by The European Breeders’ Fund. Last year’s race was won by Barefoot Lady – trained at Malton by Richard Fahey, York’s top trainer for the past seven seasons who leads the way again this season – the filly went on to land the Canadian Stakes at Woodbine racecourse in Toronto in September.

Also featured on Friday evening is The Sky Bet Stakes (one mile) – part of Sky Bet’s commitment to The Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, with this meeting part of the initiative that links the eight flat courses in the county over nine days of fantastic racing.

Apprentice jockeys are in the spotlight in the opening race, The Future Cleaning Services Handicap Stakes. Welcome to Yorkshire, the organisation that works tirelessly to promote tourism for the region, support a handicap contest for three-year-old sprinters, as part of their publicity in hosting next year’s Grand Depart of the Tour de France. Handicap sprinters take part in the second race, While two-year-olds are catered for in The Batleys Cash & Carry Maiden Stakes

Away from the track, the Minster FM team will also be broadcasting from the course prior to racing.

Saturday’s quality seven-race programme takes the prize money for the two days to a record level as £235,000 is on offer for day two. The action starts at 1-50 p.m. with the entire card sponsored by Sky Bet – one of the leading horseracing, gaming and sports betting companies in the U.K.  based in Leeds.

The principal race on Saturday is the eighth running of The Sky Bet York Stakes, a £100,000 Group 2 contest, run over the extended one mile and a quarter, won previously by the powerful Newmarket stables of Sir Michael Stoute, John Gosden and Godolphin (twice), Luca Cumani and the late Sir Henry Cecil. It was Newmarket trainer, Roger Varian who took last year’s race with Sri Putra. According to recent history the victor is likely to reappear in the richest race of York’s season, the £750,000 Juddmonte International on Wednesday 21 August.

Also featured on Saturday’s strong card is the tenth renewal of The Sky Bet Dash. This £50,000 competitive sprint is over six furlongs.  Last year’s winner was Van Ellis – trained at Middleham in North Yorkshire by Mark Johnston.

Both days of this meeting are part of the 2013 Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, a partnership between the eight flat courses to showcase all that is best regarding racing in the county. There’s a special racecard competition each day of the Festival up to and including the final day at Pontefract on Sunday, with the overall winner receiving a VIP day out at York on the concluding day of next month’s Welcome to Yorkshire’ Ebor Festival – Saturday, August 24 – including a £200 bet courtesy of Sky Bet.

Former racehorses now in the care of ‘New Beginnings’, a Yorkshire-based community interest company, are in attendance throughout the Festival including on Saturday at York, enabling racegoers to see them at close hand. Also, on Saturday, racegoers will be able to obtain information regarding some of the local racing syndicates and racehorse ownership from the ‘Go Racing in Yorkshire’ mobile information unit.

A quartet of giant screens will enable racegoers to enjoy even more of the action from both the track and the stage on both days. The popular totepool ‘Punter’s Panel’ takes place prior to racing helping racegoers to identify possible winners.

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