Ripon’s popular annual ‘Children’s Day’ Meeting takes place on Monday (August 5), followed by an evening programme on Tuesday (August 6), with racing set to begin at 2-15 p.m. and 6-10 p.m. respectively.
Monday’s activities for children in the Course Enclosure include various bouncy castles and other fun inflatables, face painting, balloon modelling, along with free ice-creams for youngsters while stocks last! As usual at Ripon, accompanied children under 16 years of age are admitted free of charge into all enclosures and there are designated play areas for children. The ‘lovethe races’ Roadshow will also be an attraction.
‘New Beginnings’ a Yorkshire-based community interest company will be in attendance with a former racehorse for children to see.
Monday’s principal race is the 57th running of The Armstrong Memorial Handicap Stakes, a contest for sprinters over six furlongs, offering prize money of £12,000. This race has been supported since 1957 by the Armstrong family, one of the country’s most famous racing dynasties, which included legendary Yorkshire trainers, the late Gerald and Sam Armstrong. Mr Colin Armstrong, whose father was Gerald Armstrong, is a director of the Ripon Race Company.
Maiden two-year-old fillies take part in the afternoon’s opening race, a contest supported by The European Breeders’ Fund.
On Tuesday evening, the feature race is the second running of The David Chapman Memorial Handicap Stakes, a £12,000 contest for sprinters over five furlongs which remembers a very popular trainer, who was based at Stillington near York. He was renowned for training sprinters such as Soba, Chaplins Club, Quito, Glencroft and Soaked. His grand-daughter, Ruth Carr has successfully taken over at Mowbray House Farm and could have a runner in the race.
Also featured on Tuesday evening are The Constant Security Services Nursery handicap Stakes (two-year-olds over five furlongs) and The washroom Company Handicap Stakes (a contest for three-year-olds over one mile and a half)
The Chris White Jazz Quartet provide the musical entertainment on Tuesday evening and racegoers will be able to follow all of the action on the course’s permanent giant screen.