Doncaster stages the traditional conclusion to the British Flat season on turf, when the 2013 campaign signs off in style with a seven-race programme this Saturday (November 9) – Betfred November Handicap Day starting at 12-40 p.m.
To celebrate the 2013 season, there will be ‘end of term’ presentations to honour the champions of the season, including the Champion Jockey, Richard Hughes – who retains his title for his second successive championship after recording over 200 winners – the first time the double century has been achieved since Keiren Fallon ten years ago.
Yorkshire-based Jason Hart leads the way in the race to be the Champion Apprentice Jockey of the season, as he follows last year’s champion Amy Ryan, who is also based in the county. It is also planned to make presentations to the champion trainer Richard Hannon (his fourth championship) and the representative of leading owner, Godolphin, who have retained their title, making it the ninth time they have won the award.
Presentations to the three category winners in the Prolinx Lady Jockeys’ Championship will also be made.
The principal race of the afternoon is The Betfred November Handicap Stakes. This famous ultra-competitive Handicap over one mile and a half offers prize money of £65,000 and was won last season by 20/1 Art Scholar, trained near Newark by Mick Appleby. A couple of long-standing Listed races are also featured – The Betfred Mobile EBF Gillies Fillies’ Stakes (a contest for fillies and mares named in memory of a former chairman of Doncaster racecourse, Cllr. Ron Gillies, J.P.) and The Betfred Goals Galore Wentworth Stakes, a race for sprinters over six furlongs. Both races offer increased prize money of £40,000 and £37,000 respectively. The Betfred ‘Cock O’The North’ EBF Maiden Stakes refers to the leading northern-based jockey of the Flat season, Joe Fanning, who has again recorded over a century of winners for the season to retain his crown. He too will be honoured on Saturday.
The afternoon’s concluding race is the Final Round of the inaugural Go Racing in Yorkshire Future Stars Apprentice Series for 2013. The Series has been held on each of the county’s racecourses which stage Flat racing, and there are financial rewards and equipment up for grabs, along with the opportunity to promote racing in Yorkshire in 2014. Gary Mahon with 42 points is the confirmed Series’ winner, as the two young riders who could have overtaken him, Jacob Butterfield and Jordan Nason, are both unavailable to ride in Saturday’s race.
There’s live musical entertainment after racing on stage in the main betting hall, courtesy of ‘The Blues Bros Duo’.
The giant screen, situated opposite the main stands will enable racegoers to see all of the action. A shuttle bus service will be in operation from the railway station.