Richest John Smith's Cup ever at York Races

The richest ever running of the famous John Smith’s Cup raceday will see over £365,000 on offer for the 58th staging of a day that contains the famous handicap itself, Saturday 15 July. The £200,000 prize money of the feature contest makes the John Smith’s Cup the richest middle distance handicap in Britain.

Named after Britain’s best-selling ale, it is the centrepiece of a seven-race programme that includes two Listed races, which have both increased in value by 25% to offer £50,000 purses.

The headline contest is the longest continuous commercial sponsorship of a flat race in the country, an arrangement that will now reach at least the Diamond Jubilee of the contest - as the racecourse last year announced a further extension of the deal with Heineken.

The opening day on the Friday features the Group Three Unibet Summer Stakes, both offering a black type opportunity to the fastest filly down the six furlong course as well as signalling a regular sponsor partner to the track. The online brand also backs a competitive middle distance handicap, earlier in the afternoon and racedays at York in both late May and mid-October.

One of Europe’s most prestigious and competitive middle-distance heritage handicap contests, Saturday’s renewal of The John Smith’s Cup is contested over the extended one mile and a quarter. The winning owner can look forward to receiving the specially-commissioned Wedgwood challenge trophy.

Fougalle was the first winner of this famous race back in 1960, and since then there have been many dramatic moments, with the race becoming a major betting heat of the summer. In 2016, Educate provided trainer, Ismail Mohammed, and jockey, Thomas Brown, with a memorable victory. Last season’s champion jockey, Jim Crowley, took the Listed John Smith’s Silver Cup for Pamona from Ralph Beckett’s yard, with Group One winner, Quest for More, being a beaten favourite on that day.

The sprinters have their say in the Listed John Smith’s City Walls over five furlongs and the 2016 winner, Marsha, has proven a top-class performer for Sir Mark Prescott, notably with her Group One triumph in France last October.

Always one of the big days of the year, this event has become a showcase for ‘Yorkshire’s Finest’, and sees John Smith’s treasuring its Yorkshire roots with a full Yorkshire menu of locally-sourced and home-made food. In addition, there will be a number of cask ales available at the racecourse, thanks to collaboration with fellow Yorkshire brewers, Theakston’s.

The highlight on Friday, The Unibet Summer Stakes, is a Group Three sprint contest over six furlongs for fillies and mares, continues to offer a purse of £60,000. Last year’s race was won by Ridge Ranger for Lancashire trainer, Eric Alston. Previous winners have come from Germany and Dominik Moser will be hoping that his current star filly, Artistica, can follow where Gracia Directa led the way in 2012, returning to Saxony as champion.

Friday sees a number of other long-standing supporters of the Knavesmire return with Cakemark and Acturis in attendance; alongside the accountancy firm responsible for audit matters at the track, Garbutt + Elliott. Once again, it is an “ITM Friday” as the Irish organisation responsible for promoting bloodstock sales from the emerald isle back a five furlong handicap. The final race of Friday gives apprentice riders their chance and the younger generation will be very much in mind as Sugro UK back the race on behalf of the Wingate Centre, a charity that provides life-enriching holidays for children with special needs.

The two days of racing get underway with an interesting novice contest over the unusual distance of five and a half furlongs. It is among the twenty-one contests backed by the European Breeders’ Fund who also recognise the Racehorse Owners Association Jackpot Scheme in the race title.

Catering for broad musical tastes, Friday offers a choice of the Chris Brown Quartet or Murphy’s Marbles brand of foot-stomping Irish tunes. More of both from this pairing on day two as the party atmosphere of Saturday also hosts The Players performing their melodic set of popular covers on the bandstand as the last race crosses the line.

A number of giant screens will enable racegoers to enjoy even more of the action on both days, along with racing from Newmarket’s July Meeting and Ascot. The tennis action from Wimbledon will be shown on televisions around the track. The popular punters’ panel held prior to racing on the winners’ podium will preview the card on both days.

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