Sunday 19th August marks the last of the three popular Family Day fixtures at Pontefract this season with the final weekend fixture of the year being run for the first time as The In The Zone Family Day! For the race meeting, the Racecourse are getting ‘in the zone’ and setting up themed zones around the stands and enclosures to encourage racegoers to learn a little bit about, and engage with, all aspects of the sport.
On the day, there’ll be areas set up such as The Tipster Zone, The Industry Zone, The Jockey Zone, The Horse Zone and The Kids Zone as well as a Newcomers Zone for those who’ve never been racing before.
As has become the custom on Sundays at Pontefract, there’s a lot going on for the kids in the Picnic Enclosure. With kid’s rides, a circus, face painting and free sweets, activity books and racecards, there’s plenty to keep the little ones occupied while mums and dads enjoy some top class racing. Eagle eyed kids need to keep a look out for the lucky Golden Horseshoe too – there’s a hamper of sweets to be won for the first person to find it!
There are also free Pony rides with the Ponte Clip Clop Ponies AND you can take a look behind the scenes with our minibus trips down to the start. Running from the Picnic Enclosure Entrance gates for the start of chosen races, it gives racegoers the chance to watch the calm before the equine superstars explode in to action.
The feature race on the day, and the richest race to be run at Pontefract in 2018, is the £60,000 EBF Highfield Farm Flying Fillies’ Stakes. The race has a rich history with some very classy fillies on the role of honour. The 2017 prize went the way of Richard Fahey’s Queen Kindly. The daughter of Frankel had won a Group 2 race as a two year old and proved a cut above her opposition. The race sponsors, Highfield Farm, have had a number of superb horses through their paddocks in recent years including Group 1 winners Mayson and Garswood and have an up and coming superstar, Mabs Cross, this year.
There is some high class supporting action on the track too. The £13,000 William Hill handicap over 1m was won by the highly talented Isabella. The Stayers are once again back in action for Round 5 of the Stayers Championship, in a race sponsored by Moor Top Farm Shop. The patrons of Moor Top Farm Shop actually had a winner on the card last year when their Sandra’s Secret took the Nova Display Handicap! New sponsors, Dickies Workwear, also sponsor the 1½ mile handicap on the day
There are some special Family Day Tickets also available when booked in advance. 2 adults and their children can take advantage of a special price of just £25. There is also limited availability for the new Sunday Specials packages. If you’d like to take advantage of any of the special advance packages, please view the course website (www.pontefract-races.co.uk ) or give them a call on 01977 781307. Racing gets underway at 2pm and the gates open at 11.30am!