Wetherby’s first meeting of 2014 is set to take place this Saturday (January 11) – ‘Christmas Jumper’ Day – when race-goers can give their Christmas jumpers a last (or only!) official outing to obtain entry into the Paddock Enclosure for just a tenner. There’s also a prize for the ‘Best turned-out Jumper’!
Saturday’s seven-race programme begins at 12-30 p.m. with a qualifying race in this season’s European Breeders’ Fund Novices’ Hurdle Series. The first four horses in this contest over two and a half miles will be eligible to compete in the Final of this national series at Sandown Park in March.
The feature race is The Download The New racing UK iPad App Handicap Chase, contested over two miles and offering prize money of £18,500. Last year’s race was won by Dunowen Point, one of three winners ridden that day by Jason Maguire. Another highlight is The wetherbyracing.co.uk Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles.
Four-year-old fillies take part in the final contest, a race on the Flat for young horses about to begin their careers over Jumps, known as a Bumper Race. This race is held over an unusual shorter distance of one mile and five furlongs.
The giant screen will be situated opposite the main stands, complemented by a display screen serving the parade ring area, enabling race-goers to see the big-race action from Kempton Park and Warwick.
There’s a free shuttle bus service between Wetherby Bus Station and the racecourse from 11-00 a.m., operating every 20 minutes. The bus will run shuttles on the reverse journey up to an hour after the last race (due off at 3-55 p.m.).