thirsk Racecourse will be the stage for a big ‘Floss Off’ Competition at its upcoming ‘Pirates’ Family Race Day on Friday 31st August, in conjunction with local radio station Minster FM and popular North Yorkshire theme park Flamingo Land Resort.

The Floss (or Flossing) is a dance move and the name comes from the moves themselves, which involve a lot of fast arm and hip swings, as though using a huge, invisible piece of dental floss. The dance went ‘viral’ after Russell Horning did it during a Saturday Night Live performance of Katy Perry‘s music ‘Swish Swish’ and has since become a trend among children and teens.

Minster FM will be bringing the tunes to get the Competition off to an energetic start and they will also be crowning the winner, who will win a Flamingo Land Family Pass for 2 adults and 2 children, courtesy of Flamingo Land Resort.

Thirsk General Manager James Sanderson said, “That dance is much harder to perform than it appears but I am sure lots of our younger racegoers will give it a go, especially with the chance to win a fantastic family trip to Flamingo Land. I know Thirsk’s mascot, Lilly the Filly, is a great Flosser and is practising hard. I shall not be entering! ”

The competition will take place at the Parade Ring at 3.20pm, with Minster FM’s mascot, Minster Monster going head-to-head with Lilly the Filly.

The fixture is also Thirsk’s popular ‘Pirates Family Day’ and there will be Pirate inflatables, a Treasure Hunt, Captain Jack Sparrow and prizes for the best pirate outfits.

Racing gets underway with a charity race at 1.30pm, followed by the first race at 2pm.  Gates open from 11.30am.

Entry to the Premier Enclosure costs £23 on the day, Paddock Enclosure costs £15 and Family Enclosure starts from £6.  Discounts are available if booked in advance along with great reductions for the special packages and for group bookings whilst, as always, adult accompanied children under 18 get in free. For more information go to www.thirskracecourse.net