The first of four evening fixtures at Thirsk this summer takes place this Saturday evening (May 10) – the course’s annual ABF-The Soldiers’ Charity Evening Meeting – a seven-race programme beginning at 5-40 p.m.

 Sprinters take part in this year’s renewal of The Dick Peacock Sprint Handicap Stakes over six furlongs, a race held in memory of the former Middleham trainer, one of the leading trainers of his generation, who recorded winners at Royal Ascot and enjoyed considerable success at Thirsk. This race has been won for the last two years by Secret City, trained at Cowthorpe near Wetherby by Robin Bastiman.

 Regular sponsors, Calverts Carpets return to support a handicap race over one mile, while the evening’s opening race, The ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Stakes (a handicap contest for three-year-olds over one mile) draws attention to the Army’s national charity which provides assistance to serving and former soldiers along with their families in times of hardship and need.

 The GT Group, an international organisation at the forefront of engineering design and manufacturing, and whose head office in the UK is in Peterlee, support both the first race and the most valuable contest of the evening, The GT Group Handicap Stakes over one mile and a half.

 The giant screen, situated opposite the stands will enable racegoers to see even more of the action and musical entertainment is provided by The GT Group Band from the music stand in the Paddock Enclosure.