The Pontefract Park Fillies’ Handicap Stakes, a £15.000 sprint contest for fillies and mares over six furlongs, is the feature race on Pontefract’s seven-race programme next Thursday (September 19), which is scheduled to begin at 2-30 p.m. with a contest for maiden two-year-olds supported by Racing Profits Guides Ltd.
Misplaced Fortune, trained at Malton by Nigel Tinkler has won the main race on this day for the past two years and the eight-year-old mare could be in the line up again.
The longest race of the afternoon is Round Six of the Pontefract Stayers Championship – a Series which incorporates all eight races of at least two miles in distance at the course this year. Going into Thursday’s race – a Handicap contest over two miles and one furlong – Riptide leads the competition with 13 points, followed by Stickleback on ten points and with four horses each having acquired nine points, it promises to be a close battle for the overall honours. At the end of the Series next month, the owner, trainer and stable staff of the horse accumulating the most number of points – according to places obtained – will each receive a memento and £1,000. It’s the tenth year the course has hosted this special competition for stayers.
The Rifles Challenge Handicap Stakes is held over one mile, and is named after the local Infantry Regiment, while the final race on Thursday is a handicap contest for apprentice jockeys over the sprint distance of six furlongs.
The racecourse’s ‘Postcode Lottery’ £2 promotion for Thursday’s meeting concerns those living in the WF11 area. See Pontefract’s website for details.
The giant screen situated opposite the main stands will assist racegoers in following all of the action on the track.