Christmas gifting always present a conundrum. While it’s commendable to keep the list as small as possible, there are still family members and close friends that we want to buy for. But what do you get that is going to be appreciated and used, not just thrown away in the January tidy up?
Racing has the answer! There is a growing trend for young people to be gifted an experience, rather than something material – well you don’t have to look to far to find the solution in Yorkshire. All of our nine racecourses offer gift vouchers of varying types. All of these can be purchased on the individual racecourse websites.
Start with tickets to a specific day, or simply a voucher so that they can choose their own convenient date. Hospitality is also an option, whether it’s organising the ‘Dish of the Day’ in the Horseshoe Café at Catterick, or an all you can eat experience in the Voltigeur Restaurant at York, the options are endless.
For the jump racing fan, surely you can’t look beyond the new Triple Jump Pass, a ticket that gets the recipient to three consecutive days meeting at Catterick, Wetherby and Doncaster between 21st and 23rd January. It’s unbelievable value too, at just £36 and can only be booked on the Go Racing In Yorkshire website.
If you know someone who is really into their racing, probably working part-time or retired, then the Go Racing In Yorkshire season ticket is just what they want to find in their stocking! It offers Grandstand admission to every scheduled fixture in Yorkshire (that’s 184 days), plus a stack of other benefits.
Racing related gifts are available from White Rose Saddlery, both novel, yet useful, a set of napkins or towels with your own racing colours embroidered in the corner or the lapel are a must! Jackets, gilets and waterproofs can also be found on the website and with Wendy’s amazing skills on the sewing machine, anything can be embroidered or personalised.
Books are always a popular gift and Felix Francis’ latest novel, Dark Horse, about an Irish jump jockey with a controlling boyfriend, who flees her homeland to make a name for herself in England. The boyfriend follows but tries to ruin her career and reputation, so her father hires a Private Investigator, but can he find out what is going on before it’s too late?
Alternatively, you can take a punt on a debut novel, Odds & Sods, by Andy Catling. Set in the gritty corners of London’s pubs and betting shops, the story follows McQueen, a charming grifter with a vendetta. Following the murder of his grandfather, a bookie, McQueen assembles a crew of scammers to seek revenge and profit!
What about a horse?! Ok, maybe not a whole horse, but shares in racing clubs and syndicates make a great gift and give the recipient something to follow throughout the year. There are lots of options available at different price ranges, start by checking out the Yorkshire based ones on our website.