Speed is the theme of racing at Beverley this Saturday (August 31), with leading sprinters taking part in the afternoon’s feature race, The Betfred Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes.
Racing begins at 1-55 p.m., although prior to the opening race, young riders are featured in a couple of pony races starting at one o’clock, as part of a national series of pony races throughout the UK, The Charles Owen Series under the auspices of The Pony Racing Authority.
Saturday’s principal race is the tenth renewal of The Betfred Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes, a Listed race for sprinters over the minimum distance of five furlongs, carrying increased prize money of £40,000. Last year’s winner, Borderlescott (a dual Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes winner at York) could be in Saturday’s renewal, as could Tangerine Trees, successful in this race two years ago. Both horses are former winners of the ‘Yorkshire Horse of the Year’ award.
Three-year-olds take part in The Betfred ‘Double Delight’ Handicap Stakes, a £20,000 contest over one mile and a quarter. Saturday’s opening race, The European Breeders’ Fund racehorsetrader.com Maiden Stakes, is a contest for two-year-old fillies, while the final race is a Handicap contest for apprentice riders.
Youngsters can see former racehorse ‘Harry’, who is now in the care of New Beginnings, a Yorkshire-based community-interest company which looks after and finds homes for retired racehorses. Budding jockeys can also have a go on the mechanical horse provided by The Northern Racing College at Rossington Hall near Doncaster.
The giant screen will be in use helping racegoers to follow all of the action.