Yorkshire Jockeys Horse Racing

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The 54th running of The John Smith’s Cup – Britain’s longest continuous commercially-sponsored flat race named after Britain’s best-selling ale – is the £150,000 centrepiece of the richest ever renewal of this summer highlight. The quality seven-race programme at York on Saturday 13 July is worth approaching £300,000. The opening day of the early July Meeting on the Knavesmire is Friday, with the Group Three Summer Stakes offering a black type opportunity to the fastest filly down the six furlong course.
 
With the forecast promising some of the hottest days of the year, York have confirmed that the dress code will be relaxed in the County Stand, including all hospitality areas, so no jackets will be required. Therefore the revised dress code for gentleman in County Stand for both days of the John Smith’s Cup meeting will be a collared shirt and a tie.
 
One of Europe’s most prestigious, competitive and valuable 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 Wedgewood 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. Yorkshire-trained horses have a very good record in the race, especially in recent times, although horses trained in Newmarket have won the last three runnings of the race, with 33/1 King’s Warrior prevailing last year for trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam and jockey Robert Havlin. Always one of the big days of the year, this event has been developed as 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.
 
To celebrate the occasion, prior to racing, there will once again be a fly-past over the Knavesmire by aircraft from RAF Linton-on-Ouse. The Racecourse and local brewery have forged strong links with its nearest RAF Station which trains the next generation of fighter pilots who will be at the controls of their Tucano aircraft.
 
 Racing on Saturday also features a pair of Listed races; the first for sprinters, The John Smith’s City Walls Stakes – a contest over five furlongs (won last year by Hamish McGonagall, trained at Great Habton near Malton by Tim Easterby – the horse went on to finish third in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp). Earlier in the afternoon sees The John Smith’s Silver Cup, an established Listed contest for stayers over one mile and three-quarters. Mount Athos, trained at Newmarket by Luca Cumani, won last year’s race, before going on to compete in two of the world’s most famous races, The Melbourne Cup in Australia and The Japan Cup in Tokyo. Both Listed races offer increased prize money of £40,000.
 
The highlight on Friday,The Summer Stakes, is a Group 3 sprint contest over six furlongs for fillies and mares, which has also received a boost in prize money to £60,000. Last year’s race was won by the German-trained filly, Gracia Directa, ridden by York-based jockey, Robert Winston.
 
Friday is the annual charity day in support of GroceryAid, the national charity which exists to provide financial aid for those people who have served in the grocery industry. The northern branch of the charity is once again responsible for Friday’s fund-raising activities, which also involves a number of sponsored races – The Haylin Stakes, a nursery handicap for two-year-olds over five furlongs, The Cakemark EBF Maiden Stakes for two-year-olds over seven furlongs and The GroceryAid Chairman’s Charity Cup (a handicap contest over one mile and a half. Continuing the culinary theme, the day sees Food Group, Cranswick PLC support racing at York for the first time by their backing of a five furlong handicap. A household name in household electricals, AEG, are also welcomed to York, putting their Electrolux Appliances name to a handicap contest over seven furlongs where apprentices will be the pilots. Also on Friday, Acturis – an award-winning IT service provider to the insurance industry – return to York to support a handicap contest over one mile and a quarter while apprentice jockeys take part in the concluding race.
 
Going into this meeting, Newmarket trainer, Sir Michael Stoute leads the way to be York’s top trainer and so secure The Hatfields Trophy, having recorded four winners so far this term. Ryan Moore heads the race for The Living North award to be York’s top rider, having ridden six winners already this season on the Knavesmire.
 
Catering for broad musical tastes, the traditional Yorkshire sound of a brass band is provided on Saturday, complimented by the foot-stomping Irish tones of ‘Murphy’s Marbles’.
 
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. In an Ashes summer, the action from Trent Bridge will be available in the Sportsman’s bar. The popular punter’s panel held prior to racing on the winners’ podium will preview the card on both days.
 
Contacts:      James Brennan – York Race Committee               (01904) 683940        
                        Mobile 07812 961140 E-mail james.brennan@yorkracecourse.co.uk
 
                        Graham Orange – ‘Go Racing in Yorkshire’    (01937) 580051