Richard took the leading trainer award, sponsored by Goldsborough Hall, with a clear eight winners over the week, finishing four ahead of his nearest rivals.

It was a tighter competition for the Sky Bet sponsored leading jockey award, with Oisin Orr and Cam Hardie both scoring four winners across the Yorkshire fixtures, however Oisin won on count back, having scored three third places.

The Moment of the Week also went to the Malton yard on account of the team winning the opening race on the first three days of the festival, with unraced two-year-olds.  Ziggy’s Condor landed the spoils at Pontefract with Tropical Island quickly following up at Ripon and Airman justifying favouritism at Beverley.

Michael Shinners, Head of Sports PR at Sky Bet said,

“Richard Fahey’s record with two-year-olds speaks for itself but to win consecutively with unraced horses is an impressive feat.  I think we saw a particularly nice horse in Tropical Island and I look forward to watching her progress.  The Summer Festival is a great platform to showcase these future stars to the public.”

The Sky Bet Best Turned Out Yard Award was won by the Michael & David Easterby yard who won three best turned out awards in Sky Bet sponsored races across the week.  There will be £1,000 to share between the staff and a pizza party at a later date.

Ben Warn, Chairman of Go Racing In Yorkshire said,

“We’ve had a fantastic week of racing with some great sport and themes to tie the week together.  The HoofBeat Bitter seemed to go down well among the crowd and the variety of race meetings from family days to music nights provided something for everyone.  Crowd numbers looked good, despite the rain during the early part of the week and we were very sad to lose the meeting at Redcar due to waterlogging.”

Jockeys were not only competing on the racetrack but also took part in ‘Paddock and Chips’ a football skills competition that took place before racing each day.  James Sullivan amassed the most points during the week and after going to penalties, John Kington won the jump jockeys version before riding in the Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe at York on Saturday.

 

Outlining his plans for the week ahead, Middleham based Micky Hammond is due to have plenty of runners and is looking forward to the Go Racing In Yorkshire Future Stars Apprentice Handicap Stakes at Redcar.

“I think My Boy Max has a right chance on Sunday, the trip is right, Aiden Brookes rides him all the time and claims an extra 3lbs riding for his own stable. I think there’s a lot in his favour.”

Should the rain come, Micky is also keen on the chances of Mandega at Doncaster on Thursday, July 27.

Micky continued,

“I think the festival is great, there’s such variety of tracks in Yorkshire and Malton and Middleham are well served by those racecourses and there’s always a knowledgeable crowd in Yorkshire, it’s a terrific festival and a great idea.”

With two likely runners at Ripon on Saturday and a runner at Redcar on Sunday, Adrian Keatley is looking forward to the possibility of running Kihava at York as a prep run for the Ebor.

“He’s short of a couple of pounds to get in, he’s at 98 now so we might need another couple of pounds.”

Of the Summer Festival, Adrian said,

“It’s a fantastic way to showcase racing in Yorkshire.  I wasn’t aware of the North/South divide until I moved over here but we’ve got some great courses and some brilliant horses being trained up here.”

David Easterby outlined the yard’s runners for the week.

“Keep Warm won a nursery at Pontefract at the last meeting, he’s gone up 6lbs, but we’re running in a 0-60 with a 6lb penalty.  He’ll never be able to run in that class of race again so I think he’s got a good chance.”

“We opted to go to Pontefract with Bay Of Hope, he won with Dave Allan at Redcar and finished third at Ayr and I think he goes there with a cracking chance.”

“Our Beverley specialist Casilli will go to Ripon, she’s dropped down the weights a little bit as she hasn’t performed quite as well this year as she has done previously, so we’re looking for her to put up a good account.  She’s had a break and a massage to freshen up.”

Describing the festival, David said,

“Yorkshire people are proud people and like to say they are from Yorkshire and therefore support Yorkshire.  Branding for Yorkshire tracks during the Summer Festival week is a really good thing.”

William Easterby explained his father’s enthusiasm for the Summer Festival week.

“We’ve got some course specialists running at the Yorkshire meetings, horses that seem to like it in Yorkshire and a trainer that doesn’t like to leave Yorkshire so it’s great!”

“Copper Knight runs in the sprint at Pontefract, only a pound higher than when he won at York, along with Mattice who was third to him and will be suited by a stiff five furlongs.”

Three course specialists head to Ripon on Saturday in Dark Jedi, Glendown and Garden Oasis who have all previously won at the course.

“Gibside who won the apprentice race at York, goes to Redcar on Sunday, he looks a progressive stayer so I’m hoping he can do it again.”

“Ugo Gregory is a standing feature at Beverley, he won there last time out and if the ground is soft he’s good to be on side with.”

Moving ahead to York, William is looking forward to The Pearly Cow Handicap Stakes for Gentleman Amateur Jockeys.

“It’s a big deal in our house with my brother Thomas and I riding.  David (Easterby) has already claimed one of us to ride, that isn’t his godson!  Thomas will be riding for David and Uncle Michael, so I’ll be trying very hard to beat them!”

“We really enjoy having runners at the festival, it happens at a time of year when our horses tend to be running well and we’ve been lucky enough to be the leading trainer on a couple of occasions.”

Ruth Carr takes a previous course and distance winner in Rhythm to Pontefract on Friday night for the Dreams Of Fleetwood Mac After Racing Handicap.

“She’s still a pound higher than her last winning mark and she’s got a bad draw but hopefully she can overcome that and run well.

“Saturday at Ripon we’ve got Copper and Five running, it’s courses for horses, he’s still well handicapped at his best and wasn’t beaten far last time out.”

“Rockin Rosa runs at Redcar on Sunday, she’s a bit of a madam but she’s definitely got ability and she needs to show it on course.  There’s no reason why she can’t run well.”

“Hostelry also runs at Redcar, she’s ultra consistent, she’s only won twice but is rarely out of the placings and a mile and one furlong should suit her.  She’s dropping in grade but does need the race to divide to get in.”

“Spanish Angel goes to Beverley.  He’s won three this year and is better on the all weather, but with a bit of luck hopefully he can be in the mix.”

“At Doncaster on Thursday we’re dropping Touch Wood back to six furlongs and putting some cheek pieces on which we hope will get him the win.  He’s been running well without winning so we hope this is the answer.”

Commenting on the festival, Ruth said,

“We like to stay close to home to support our local tracks, it’s better for the horses with less travelling, it’s economical for us and with staffs’ time and we get well looked after in Yorkshire and everyone enjoys a day out.  We’re well served by lots of courses within an hour and a half and the festival week brings this all together.”

The Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, sponsored by Sky Bet begins at Pontefract tomorrow night, Friday, July 21 and runs through to York on Saturday, July 29.

Jack Berry House in Malton will be open between 2pm and 4pm on Tuesday, July 25, conducting tours of the rehabilitation centre.

As part of the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, sponsored by Sky Bet, there will be a competition for racegoers who attend five or more meetings across the week to win a Go Racing In Yorkshire season ticket for the 2024/25 season.

Charlotte Russell, General Manager said,

“The Summer Festival is a special week where racegoers have the opportunity to visit our racecourses and see for themselves how unique each one is.   Visitors can collect their passport and have it stamped at each race meeting they attend.  With 10 fixtures across eight days there’s plenty of chances to pick up a stamp!  Once five stamps have been collected, the passport can be returned to us where they will be entered into a draw to win a season ticket for next year which gives admission to over 180 fixtures across the county.”

Starting at Pontefract’s beer festival and music night on Friday, July 21, the beer theme will continue throughout the week with four varieties of Wold Top bottled beers available across the meetings.

Goldsborough Hall will continue to sponsor the leading trainer of the week, where the winner will enjoy an overnight stay and dinner at the Stately Home.

There will be a prize for the leading jockey of the week, sponsored by Sky Bet who are also offering the popular pizza party and cash prize for the yard that wins the most best turned out awards during the week.

Although it is a week of flat racing, jump jockeys will be in attendance at York racecourse on the closing day of the festival, Saturday, July 29, where they will be taking part in the Jump Jockey’s Nunthorpe over the shortest distance of five furlongs.

Football skills will be put to the test before racing starts each day with the ever popular ‘Paddock and Chips’ competition, a penalty shoot-out style event for the jockeys, which takes place throughout the week and the jockey with the most points will win an overnight stay at Goldsborough Hall.

The festival will also be supporting the Injured Jockeys Fund who will be in attendance at the race meetings talking to racegoers about the work they do and raising funds through a raffle and selling merchandise.

As part of their involvement, Jack Berry House, the Injured Jockeys Fund’s rehabilitation centre in Malton, will be open for tours on Tuesday, July 25, between 2pm and 4pm, an unmissable opportunity to see the facilities available to the human athletes of the sport, setting them on the road to recovery.

The Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival takes place from Friday, July 21 and runs until Saturday, July 29.  Tickets can be purchased via https://goracing.co.uk/summer-festival/ or from the racecourse websites directly.

The festival will culminate at York’s Music Showcase weekend on Saturday 29^th July where racing highlights include the Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes and Craig David will be in action on the stage.

During the festival week, racing takes place at eight of Yorkshire’s racecourses over the nine day period and explaining the change to the fixtures, Go Racing In Yorkshire Chairman, Ben Warn said,

“Pontefract’s evening fixture of racing combined with music ensures we can get the festival off to a good start, setting the scene for the family fun week it will be.  We are delighted that Sky Bet are continuing to sponsor the festival and it makes sense to finish the festival at York, where they sponsor the full card.”

Taking place during the first week of the Summer Holidays younger racegoers can enjoy a Circus Family Fun day at Redcar on Sunday 23^rd July, as well as family fun activities at Thirsk on Friday 28^th July.  Accompanied under 18’s are admitted free to all of the fixtures and admission starts from as little as £5.

In addition to music on the opening and closing days of the festival, The Human League will be taking to the stage after evening racing at York on Friday 28^th July.

Sky Bet, who have sponsored the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival since it began have committed to a further three year sponsorship deal with Go Racing In Yorkshire.

Michael Shinners, Head of Sports PR said,

“We’re looking forward to another great week of racing at the Summer Festival.  It’s a fabulous showcase of the Yorkshire courses and a special week in the Yorkshire racing calendar.  It highlights everything that is great about racing in the county.”

For more information and to book tickets, please visit www.goracing.co.uk

The festival which took place across Yorkshire’s courses had both a leading jockey and trainer competition with both being won with four winners.

Tim Easterby took the leading trainer title, sponsored by Goldsborough Hall, with a double at Ripon on the opening day, followed up by a win at Redcar the next day and a winner at Doncaster on Thursday evening.  He was joined at the top of the leader board by Richard Fahey and Phil Kirby, but his tally of seven seconds during the week meant that he won on countback.

Sky Bet sponsored the leading jockey award which went to Kevin Stott for the first time.  He accumulated four wins at Doncaster and York and while Duran Fentiman also rode four winners during the week, Kevin also won on countback.

A sporting competition of a different variety took place daily before racing with a jockeys’ football skills competition called “Paddock and Chips”.  Jockeys scored points by chipping footballs into a net and by the end of the week there were joint winners with three jockeys on four points.  Rowan Scott, Jason Hart and Ben Curtis demonstrated the best footwork and claimed the victory.

The Roger Fell yard were the runaway winners of the best turned out horse award, where the yard who won the most best turned out horse prizes in the Sky Bet sponsored races throughout the week won £1,000 to share between the staff, plus a pizza party.  Taking this award no less than five times the hard work of the stable staff at the Nawton yard will be rewarded over the summer.

And it’s not just the race winners that were recognised.  The Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival sponsored by Sky Bet throws up so many great moments that a new award of ‘moment of the day’ was introduced this year, culminating in ‘moment of the week’.  This was awarded to Duran Fentiman for riding a treble in the last three races on the opening day at Ripon.

Charlotte Russell, General Manager of Go Racing In Yorkshire said,

“We’ve had a blast!  The Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival sponsored by Sky Bet showcases everything that racing in Yorkshire has to offer.  We’ve had evening meetings, weekend fixtures, family days, music nights, top quality racing and a few added extras.  There has been a real buzz around the racecourses and I hope everyone has enjoyed the week as much as we have.”

One of the themes running through the week was Yorkshire’s close association with the founding stallions and this was highlighted at Doncaster, where Sound of Iona, one of the few remaining descendants from the Byerley Turk bloodline was a winner.

The Gin Tin was on hand to provide Yorkshire refreshments for racegoers and of course it wouldn’t be the Summer Festival without Festival Freddie who enjoyed meeting racegoers.

The provisional dates for next year’s meeting is Saturday, July 22 – Sunday, July 30 2023.

David was the Goldsborough Hall sponsored leading trainer of the festival last year, with seven winners and the Upper Helmsley handler anticipates a very busy week ahead across the eight host courses.

“It’s always a very busy week for us, with lots of Yorkshire owners who are all keen on running their horses in the county and as many of them that are fit and suitable to run will be busy.”

“In terms of the leading trainer of the week title, it’s kind of something you don’t really think about until you’re half-way through and then if you’re close to winning you start to take notice.”

“We’re all involved in this sport because we like racing and you wouldn’t be involved if you weren’t keen on wining!”

“There’s definitely more of a buzz around the racecourses during the festival week and we’re looking forward to being there again.”

Among the horses on the gallops were recent Royal Ascot winner Get Shirty and Maria Branwell who was third in the Queen Mary Stakes at the same meeting.

Danny Tudhope, who was victorious aboard Get Shirty and partnered him on the gallops was another looking forward to the Summer Festival week.  Danny has previously been the Sky Bet sponsored leading jockey of the week and he said,

“There’s a great atmosphere and it’s good to be in action at all the local courses, close to home.  It’s hard to aim for the leading jockey of the week title, as jockeys are not always in control of where they are riding but it’s a nice thing to win if we can.”

The jockeys will be able to warm up for their rides on the track with a game of ‘Paddock and Chips’ in the parade ring before racing starts.  The football skills competition sees the jockeys scoring points by chipping footballs into a target.  Danny Tudhope was runner up in 2019,

“My football skills haven’t improved since last year, but I’ll try and get some practice in before the week starts.”

Another jockey who is new to the Summer Festival is Jason Watson.  He said,

“I’m looking forward to the week.  There’s a different vibe up here to down south and people enjoy their racing so much.  Being attached to David’s is a massive help, he’s a highly established trainer up north and down south and has a very good team to really go to war.”

The Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, sponsored by Sky bet gets underway at Ripon on Saturday, July 16.

Now in its 14^th year, the festival is firmly established in the diaries of racegoers and with 10 fixtures across the nine days there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy some competitive racing in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

Michael Shinners, Head of Sports PR at Sky Bet said,

“We’re looking forward to another great week of racing at the Summer Festival.  It’s a fabulous showcase of the Yorkshire courses and a special week in the Yorkshire racing calendar.  It highlights everything that is great about racing in the county.”

Sky Bet also sponsor the leading jockey of the meeting and will continue with a prize for the Best Turned Out Yard, consisting of £1,000, to be shared among the staff plus a pizza party.  This will be won by the yard that wins the most ‘best turned out’ prizes in the Sky Bet sponsored races throughout the week.

There is also a competition for the leading trainer of the week, which is sponsored by Goldsborough Hall, home of founding stallion the Byerley Turk.

New for this year is a ‘moment of the day’ award, culminating in a special ‘moment of the week’.

Go Racing In Yorkshire’s General Manager, Charlotte Russell said,

“Alongside the race winners, so many great things happen during the week of the Summer Festival that we want to have the opportunity to celebrate them, and moment of the day gives us this chance to recognise those involved in making the week really special.”

Before racing starts the jockeys will be getting competitive with the “Paddock and Chips” competition, a football skills challenge which will take place in the Parade Ring before racing each day.

This year, the festival is supporting Yorkshire based racehorse retraining and rehoming charity New Beginnings who will be on course with their stand and raising funds with a bucket collection after racing.  Racehorse ambassador Goldream will be accompanying them at Beverley, York and Pontefract.

Pam Atkinson from New Beginnings said,

“We are delighted to be part of the Summer Festival this year.  Attending the race meetings gives us the opportunity to talk to racegoers about the work that we do and demonstrate the new life that racehorses have once they have been retired from the track.”

The Gin Tin will be visiting all the courses with a range of Yorkshire produced drinks, celebrating the great taste of Yorkshire, along with its most treasured sport.

Information explaining Yorkshire’s links to the origins of the Founding Stallions, the forefathers of the modern-day racehorse will be on display at each course.

Competitive racing and the return of crowds ensured something that resembled normality as crowds came from near and far to celebrate racing in Yorkshire.

There was hot competition to be leading trainer of the week, sponsored by Goldsborough Hall and leading jockey of the week, sponsored by Sky Bet, with the former going down to the final day, but a double for David O’Meara secured his victory.  His prize includes dinner and overnight stay at Goldsborough Hall.

Connor Beasley took the honours as Sky Bet leading jockey for the first time and wins £1,000 and in a new initiative also sponsored by Sky Bet, the Jedd O’Keeffe yard won the award for the best turned out horses throughout the week.  They will receive £1,000 to share between the staff as well as a visit from the pizza trailer, regularly seen at Yorkshire’s courses, to celebrate.

Michael Shinners, Head of Sports PR at Sky Bet said,

“It has been a fantastic nine days of racing and the weather has been incredibly kind.  The action on the track was fantastic, the highlight being Bangkok’s win in the Sky Bet York Stakes.

We have a new winner of the Sky Bet top jockey prize and David O’Meara has regained the leading trainer title.  The new initiative for the best turned out yard has been won by Jedd O’Keeffe and there has been an excellent standard of turnout this week.

It is great to have crowds back and we look forward to a returning in 2022.”

The Sky Bet ‘Paddock and Chips’ competition made a welcome return and for the second time in a row the football chipping skills of Cam Hardie made him the clear winner, earning an overnight stay at Goldsborough Hall.

The dates for 2022 are Saturday 16^th to Sunday 24^th July.

THE odds may have been stacked against them but, as tales of friendship go, it has more than enough drama to set the heart racing…

Robbie Burns and Jack Proctor first met when they were in opposite beds at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, waiting to have heart transplants that were their only chance of survival.

And it was their mutual interest in horse racing that helped turn them from complete strangers to close friends.

“I’d give Jack tips in hospital, he’d have a go at me when they lost, and we got along famously from there,” laughed Robbie.

Now, 18 months on, they’ve met up again for the first time since their life-saving operations – with Yorkshire racecourses forming the backdrop to their emotional reunion.

Robbie, who lives in Winchester, organised his first holiday since lockdown to coincide with the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, featuring ten meetings over nine days.

And he and Jack, from Hutton Henry, near Hartlepool, arranged to meet at Ripon Races on Saturday, Redcar Races on Sunday and again at Catterick on Wednesday.

“Not only was it a chance to see beautiful Yorkshire but to take in some racing too,” explained Robbie. “We’ve both had a really rough ride, but it’s been great to be in the sunshine, watching the racing for real rather than on TV in hospital.”

Robbie, 50, was born with heart problems and underwent surgery at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children when he was three-months-old and again at four and a half. Ironically, he grew up to become the hospital’s Director of Strategy.

Father-of-three Jack, 60, had a malignant tumour in his shoulder and was given only a five per cent chance of survival. He overcame the cancer, but his illness also led to heart problems, and he was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy 30 years ago.

With their conditions steadily worsening and time running out, both were placed on the urgent transplant list, ending up on Ward 24 at The Freeman Hospital in January 2020. Jack went on to have his heart transplant just before the first national lockdown in March last year, while Robbie’s operation took place on June 26.

“I’d had some bets before the transplant and, when I woke up, the first question I asked was whether they’d won,” he recalled. “It was Northumberland Plate day, at Newcastle, and I’d backed a winner called Judicial, so it was a really good day!”

Sadly, complications meant that Robbie had a particularly rough ride, spending 14 weeks in hospital and, at one point, he had to be resuscitated by his wife, Tamsin. Throughout those dark days, it was being able to watch his favourite sport on TV that kept him going.

“I suppose it’s miraculous that either of us are still alive,” said Robbie. “We’ve stayed in touch on Zoom throughout the lockdown, and the Yorkshire festival was a fantastic opportunity to team up again.”

Tamsin and Jack’s wife, Mary, also became firm friends through the transplant ordeal and have been part of this week’s reunion.

“They spent a lot of time together when we were in hospital and not only supported us but each other too. They’re a really important part of the story,” explained Jack, who worked as commercial director of a food ingredient company.

Charlotte Russell, general manager of Go Racing In Yorkshire, said: “It’s such a wonderful story and we’re thrilled that racing and the summer festival have played a part in it in bringing Robbie and Jack back together.”

Robbie has an ambition to visit each of the 60 courses in the UK and, thanks to the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer festival, he’s so far been able to tick off Ripon, Redcar, Beverley and Catterick. He and Jack were also given the honour of presenting one of the trophies at Redcar.

“Racing’s my passion and it really has played such an important part in getting me through all of this, so to come up here and catch up with Jack has been perfect – all we need now is to back a few winners,” he said.

Robbie and Jack are men who know what it takes to beat the odds…

Starting at Ripon on Saturday, July 17 the Summer Festival will move around the county’s racecourses, taking in 10 meetings over nine days, culminating at Pontefract on Sunday, July 25.

Charlotte Russell, general manager of Go Racing In Yorkshire said,

“We really missed not having the festival last year, and the racecourses, along with our loyal sponsor Sky Bet, were determined that it would take place in some form this year.  It has been refreshing to be able to make plans again and exciting that the majority of the week will take place without crowd restrictions.”

The Festival this year will have strong Yorkshire themes, celebrating the unique aspects of each of the county’s racecourses which are all connected by the Yorkshire brand.

Michael Shinners, Head of Sports PR at Sky Bet said,

“Sky Bet are once again delighted to be sponsoring the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival. It’s great to have the opportunity to sponsor at not only some of the county’s, but the countries finest racecourses. We have a couple of new initiatives this year including rewarding the yard with the most Best Turned Out winners in our sponsored races. All in all, it should be a great nine days”

The new best turned out competition will be run across the week.  The winner of the best turned out horse competition in each of the Sky Bet sponsored races will be tallied and the yard with the most winners will receive a prize of £1,000 to be shared among the staff, plus refreshments to celebrate.

Working with the Yorkshire Film Archive, racegoers will be able to see historical footage of racing in the White Rose County on the big screens, along with original audio.  Plus, they will be welcomed into the tracks with an eclectic mix of Yorkshire themed music.

Competition will be fierce, both in the races themselves but also for the leading trainer of the week, sponsored by Goldsborough Hall and the leading jockey of the week sponsored by Sky Bet.

Clare Oglesby of Goldsborough Hall said,

“Mark and I are delighted, once again, to be sponsoring the prize for the leading trainer at the Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival and presenting the Byerley Turk Trophy. We have been involved with Go Racing In Yorkshire for many years and can’t wait to be back after missing everything last year.”

After the success of 2019, the ‘Paddock and Chips’ jockeys’ football skills competition will be making a return.  Scoring points for chipping a football into a target from different distances, the competition will take place throughout the week in the Parade Ring, about an hour before the first race.

The Yorkshire themes continue in the catering department with CGC Event Caterers, who will be offering a Masons Tea Edition Gin and Tonic for a festival special price of £6 and a ‘Yorkshire Rascal’, served with clotted cream, jam and butter with a cup of Yorkshire Tea for £4.95, at each of the courses they serve.

Jack Berry House, the jockey and stable staff rehabilitation centre in Malton, will also be open to members of the public between 12 noon and 2pm on Tuesday 20^th July, the one day of the festival when racing does not take place in Yorkshire.

And while it’s all about the horses, look out for Festival Freddie who will be appearing at the racecourses and is always a big hit with the children!

Heatwave to hail stones set the backdrop to some really competitive racing at the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, sponsored by Sky Bet.

Glorious sunshine started the week at Ripon on Saturday, July 20 and continued for much of the week, including the hottest day of the year at Doncaster on Thursday, July 25.

But like all good things it came to an end and after thunderstorms hit Thirsk in the middle of Friday afternoon it was rain to the end with the worst of the weather apparently reserved for York’s high-class card on Saturday. which featured the Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes.

The final day of the Festival at Pontefract on Sunday, July 28 escaped most if not all of the rain, but it certainly didn’t dampen spirits among the family crowd.

Highlights of the week on the track saw Mark Johnston’s Elarqam take the Sky Bet York Stakes with the Middleham trainer also landing Pontefract’s listed race, the Sky Bet Go-Racing-In-Yorkshire Summer Festival Pomfret Stakes with Marie’s Diamond. The biggest priced winner of the week was Mick Easterby’s 40-1 shot Bankawi winning at Ripon in the hands of James Sullivan.

As well as the superb racing, there was plenty to keep the crowds happy with the jockeys showing off their football skills before racing every day with the Sky Bet sponsored ‘Paddock and Chips’, a week long competition that earned winner Cam Hardie an overnight stay at Rudding Park.

Fun for all the family is the keynote of the Festival, together with some great music provided by Tears For Fears at York on the Friday, James Arthur on the Saturday and three tribute bands performing throughout the day at Pontefract

Richard Fahey was leading trainer of the week for the second year in a row landing seven winners, the same number as Tim Easterby, but claiming the prize of a luxury stay at the superb Goldsborough Hall, who sponsor the award, by virtue of more second places.

There was also a repeat winner of the jockeys’ award, sponsored by Sky Bet, with Danny Tudhope’s nine winners making him the winner for the second year in a row. The sponsors also gave a £500 donation to Racing Welfare, the nominated charity of the week.

Go Racing In Yorkshire chairman John Sexton said: “The Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival has been another great success and we are delighted to work with such brilliant sponsors who come back year after year. Every year it proves a terrific way to showcase Yorkshire’s fantastic racecourses, the uniqueness of each one and the all-encompassing activity that goes with a raceday.

The 2020 Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival will begin at Ripon on Saturday, July 18 and continues until Sunday July 26.

Jockey Daniel Tudhope is hoping he can continue his recent fantastic form into the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, which begins on Saturday 20^th July, as the race to be crowned Champion Flat Jockey heats up.

The 33-year-old has enjoyed a superb start to the season, securing 62 wins and finding himself at the top of the 2019 Flat Jockeys’ Championship.

Tudhope, who is based in Thirsk, was named top jockey at the 2017 and 2018 Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festivals and securing the hat-trick is firm on his mind.

He said: “The Go Racing In Yorkshire Festival is great, I have been top jockey for the last two years and I’m certainly hoping to repeat that this year. I love riding in Yorkshire and for local trainers, so it’s brilliant when I get the chance to do that. The festival also adds a bit of healthy competition amongst us jockeys, which is good, as everyone wants to be top jockey at the end.”

The Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival takes place from Saturday 20^th July – Sunday 28^th July, featuring ten race meetings across eight racecourses in Yorkshire:

• Saturday 20^th July – Ripon
• Saturday 20^th July (Evening) – Doncaster
• Sunday 21^st July – Redcar
• Monday 22^nd July (Evening) – Beverley
• Wednesday 24^th July – Catterick
• Thursday 25^th July (Evening) – Doncaster
• Friday 26^th July – Thirsk
• Friday 26^th July (Evening) – York
• Saturday 27^th July – York
• Sunday 28^th July – Pontefract

39 of Tudhope’s victories this season have been at Yorkshire tracks, including his 1,000^th UK career victory with the David O’Meara-trained Ingleby Hollow at Thirsk Racecourse last month.

Tudhope and O’Meara, who is also based in Yorkshire, have enjoyed 29 wins together this year and a staggering 420 throughout Tudhope’s career.

Other notable wins for Tudhope this season include a terrific double on the opening day of Royal Ascot, firstly with Lord Glitters in the Queen Anne Stakes, which is part of the 2019 QIPCO British Champions Series, and then with Addeybb in the Wolferston Stakes.

He then secured two additional Royal Ascot wins, aboard Move Swiftly in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes and Space Traveller in the Jersey Stakes.

Tudhope’s win with Lord Glitters in the Queen Anne Stakes was his first success in the 2019 QIPCO British Champions Series.

Tudhope continued: “Obviously I would love to be Champion Jockey, that would be the dream, but there is a long way to go and I just want to ride as many winners as possible.”

Editorial and photograph courtesy of Great British Racing

Racehorse Trainer, Karl Burke feels there’s no better place to live and work than in Yorkshire as he prepares for the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival which begins this Saturday 20^th July.

Discussing his love for Yorkshire in an interview with Great British Racing, the 56-year-old said: “First and foremost it’s a beautiful place to live. I’ve always been somebody who wanted the workplace to be separate from the living place and here you get the best of both worlds – a great place to work in and a great place to live in.”

Burke is based at Spigot Lodge in Leyburn and has been there ever since he moved to Yorkshire from Newmarket back in 2001. One of the biggest wins of his career to date came at York Racecourse when Libertarian stormed to victory in the 2013 Dante Stakes at the huge price of 33/1.

As a day that still lives as Karl’s fondest memory of racing in Yorkshire, he said: “That was pretty special. At the time it was the first Yorkshire-trained winner in the race for 70 odd years, that was a great thrill.”

Discussing the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, Burke said: “It’s a great concept. A great advert for Yorkshire, advertising not only the tracks, but the trainers, the facilities that we’ve all got as well as Yorkshire in general.

“We’ve got a couple of horses that could be competitive in the two-year-old races during the festival – Seize The Time is a nice filly. Divinity will do very well, she’s already won at Ripon earlier this year and if there’s one of those Handicaps at Ripon and she turns up there, she’ll be very competitive.”

On the fixtures he’s most looking forward to during the festival, he said: “The obvious one is York. It’s a fantastic track, great facilities for Owners and Trainers and fantastic prize money. I equally enjoy those meetings at Thirsk and Ripon – They’re so close and that makes it a pleasure to go to.”

The Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival takes place from Saturday 20^th July – Sunday 28^th July, featuring 10 race meetings across eight racecourses in Yorkshire:

• Saturday 20^th July – Ripon
• Saturday 20^th July (Evening) – Doncaster
• Sunday 21^st July – Redcar
• Monday 22^nd July (Evening) – Beverley
• Wednesday 24^th July – Catterick
• Thursday 25^th July (Evening) – Doncaster
• Friday 26^th July – Thirsk
• Friday 26^th July (Evening) – York
• Saturday 27^th July – York
• Sunday 28^th July – Pontefract

Go Racing In Yorkshire will also host an open afternoon at Jack Berry House in Malton on Tuesday 23^rd July.

Racing Welfare, a registered charity which supports the workforce of British horseracing, is to be the beneficiary of this year’s Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival, sponsored by Sky Bet.

Richard Hammill, Chief Operating Officer and Clerk of the Course at Pontefract Racecourse and member of the Go Racing in Yorkshire Marketing Committee said,

“We wanted to work with Racing Welfare because they are the dominant charity that looks after people who work in the racing industry.  We are particularly keen for them to focus on mental health and wellbeing as this is a very current and relevant subject and Racing Welfare have services to help people who might be suffering and, just as importantly teach people to look after their mental health, as they would their physical health.”

A representative from Racing Welfare will be at each of the Summer Festival race meetings, talking about the work that the charity does, who they can help and how.  There will also be an exit collection from some courses.

Dawn Goodfellow, Chief Executive of Racing Welfare said,

“The Summer Festival is a superb initiative and we are delighted to be the beneficiary charity for this year.  Go Racing in Yorkshire does a fantastic job of promoting the rich offering of racing in the county and funds raised from our association will go towards extending the reach of our mental health support services.  We’re very proud to be involved with the Summer Festival this year and hope that many people will come racing over the nine days.”

As the charity of the week, Racing Welfare will also receive a £500 cheque, courtesy of the leading jockey of the festival which is sponsored by Sky Bet.

The Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival takes place from Saturday, July 20 to Sunday, July 28, when there will 10 race meetings, over nine days at eight courses.  In addition, there will be an open afternoon at Jack Berry House on Tuesday, July 23.

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STAR filly Laurens has been given an upbeat assessment by her trainer as she recovers from a minor injury and prepares to add another Group 1 victory to her glittering career.

Karl Burke, based near Leyburn, was speaking today at the launch of the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival.

The Spigot Lodge trainer reported that John Dance’s brilliant filly had suffered a minor injury when sixth in Royal Ascot’s Queen Anne Stakes but she is now on target for the Group 1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville in July 28.

“It’s very frustrating but it’s a small strain on the tendon below the hock on her hind leg so we’ve been very cautious with her,” said Burke.

“She’s been walking round free as a bird and cantering great and I’m sure we can get her back. We’ve got a couple of weeks ahead of the race in Deauville and there’s still four or five more chances to get another Group 1 before she retires. She owes us nothing.”

After Deauville, the plan is to defend her crown in the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on September 14, and connections hope she will end her career with a tilt at the Breeders Cup Mile.

Laurens was the star turn at the launch of the 14^th Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, which is now in its 14^th year, with ten meetings over nine days at eight racecourses: Ripon, July 20; Doncaster July 20 (evening); Redcar, July 21; Beverley, July 22 (evening); Catterick, July 24; Doncaster, July 25 (evening);  Thirsk, July 26; York, July 26 (evening);  York, July 27; Pontefract, July 28.

“It’s a great initiative to showcase the Yorkshire racecourses,” said Burke, who is in his 18^th year at Spigot Lodge, having moved north from Newmarket. “I honestly wouldn’t want to train anywhere else now – the quality of life in Yorkshire is great, and the facilities at Middleham are as good as anywhere.”

This year’s festival is sponsored by Sky Bet with a £1,000 prize up for grabs for the champion jockey in the series.

Jockey Ben Curtis, who regularly rides for Burke, said: “Danny Tudhope won it last year so there’s a bit of banter between the lads because it creates a bit more interest. We’ve got some brilliant courses in Yorkshire and anything that encourages people to come racing is great to see.”

Asked for horses to watch out for at the festival, Burke nominated Gin Gembre, who is scheduled to run in a Ripon seller on the first day of the festival, and three-year-old filly Divinity, described as “a very good handicapper”.

Meanwhile, Burke expects a big run from two-year-old colt Classy Moon in the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket tomorrow (Thursday). “He’s a lovely horse who could run very well. The bare form of his last run at Carlisle looks nothing special but he could make up four or five lengths on that performance at Newmarket. He’s shown us a high level at home.”

The trainer also thinks another two-year-old, Miss Lucy, is also capable of running well at a big price in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes tomorrow.

Further ahead, Burke is hoping for a tilt at the Ebor Handicap at York in August with Kelly’s Dino,  comfortable winner of the Old Newton Cup Handicap at Haydock on Saturday.

“He won with his ears pricked so we think there’s plenty in the tank,” he said.

Kelly’s Dino is entered in the Group 3 John Smith’s Silver Cup Stakes over 1m 6f at York on Saturday and the trainer explained: “He’s rated 102 at the moment but it might need a bit more than that to get into the Ebor this year so the idea is that if he runs well in a Group 3 on Saturday, he might get the extra couple of pounds from the handicapper that he needs.”

Dubai Station, third in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, could also be destined for the York Ebor Festival, with connections keen to go for the Gimcrack Stakes.

“He’s a progressive horse and he’s done really well since Ascot,” said Burke.

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Yorkshire racing enthusiasts are bracing themselves for an exciting week as the Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival is nearly upon us.

Starting at Ripon on Saturday, July 20, there will be 10 race meetings, over nine days at eight different racecourses, culminating in an exciting finale at Pontefract on Sunday, July 28.

Sponsored by Sky Bet, the festival, now in its 12^th year, continues to grow, along with the enthusiasm for the event.

“It’s been great working with the Yorkshire racecourses who have made this festival a fantastic success.  Together, we have grown it and it’s good fun.  Each racecourse has something different going on and it’s a fabulous showcase of the different Yorkshire courses.”  Said Michael Shinners, Head of Sports PR at Sky Bet.

“The dates conveniently fall in the school summer holidays so families can come,” continued Michael.  “They can take picnics into some areas of the courses and with the different activities on offer it creates a fun chilled out atmosphere.”

Throughout the week, the title for leading trainer and leading jockey will be fiercely contested with some great prizes on offer.  The leading trainer award is sponsored by Goldsborough Hall, the former residence of HRH Princess Mary and now a privately-owned historic house and gardens that you can visit, dine and stay in.

“We know how important racing is to Yorkshire and are delighted to sponsor the leading trainer award at the Summer Festival.” Said Clare Oglesby, who, along with her husband Mark, owns Goldsborough Hall.

“Legend says that the Byerly Turk, recognised as one of the founding stallions, is buried on the estate so our connections to the racing industry are very strong.” Enthused Clare.

Sky Bet also sponsor the leading jockey prize, the winner of which receives £1,000 plus a £500 donation to charity.

And it’s not just action on the track during the week as Jack Berry House, the injured jockeys’ rehabilitation centre in Malton opens its doors to the public for an open afternoon on Tuesday, July 23.

“We are very important to the racing community in Yorkshire, playing our part in the recovery of injured jockeys and racing staff in the area.  In addition, our gym is available to all those involved in racing, as well as access to our expert staff who can help with fitness, physio and nutrition.” Said Jo Russell, Resident Manager of Jack Berry House.

The open afternoon, which starts at 1.30pm will give visitors the opportunity to have a tour of the centre, take part in some jockey training activities and artefacts from Malton Museum’s exhibition of the horse will also be on show.

At 3.30pm there will be a screening of the film Seabiscuit, the legendary American horse that raised the hopes of the Americans through the difficult depression era and is based on a true story.  Tickets will be limited and cost £7.50 each.  They need to be booked through Go Racing in Yorkshire by contacting charlotte.russell@goracing.co.uk.