Racegoers can look forward to jump racing, carols and festive fun at Catterick Racecourse over the Christmas period!
The Christmas period is one of the busiest times at Catterick Racecourse, with three chances for racegoers to enjoy National Hunt racing action at the course, on Tuesday 19 and Thursday 28 December, and New Year’s Day.
The festivities begin once the Christmas lights have gone up at the course, ready for ‘Christmas at Catterick’ on Tuesday 19 December. Le Cateau Primary School Choir will also be at the course on the day to treat race goers to some Christmas carols as they arrive at the course.
The first of seven races on 19 December is scheduled for 12:20pm, with the gates opening two hours prior. During the afternoon, jockey Henry Brooke will be presented with a cheque for Jack Berry House. Following Henry Brookes’ fall at Hexham last year, racing syndicate Deva Racing and trainer Donald McCain raised a total of £2500 for the Injured Jockeys Fund facility, Jack Berry House, which proved a vital part of Brookes’ recovery.
Fiona Needham, General Manager & Clerk of the Course said: “It was wonderful to be able to welcome Henry Brooke back to race riding at our meeting on 30 November last year, and to be able to be a part of this presentation to Jack Berry House is an honour. The Injured Jockeys Fund do such great work and I’m sure that the money raised by Deva Racing and Donald McCain will go a long way to support them.”
Those still searching for some last minute Christmas presents will also be pleased to know that Berber Leather, La Fille Rouge and the Injured Jockeys Fund Shop will each have stalls at the racecourse on Tuesday 19 December ready to help with those last few Christmas gifts and stocking fillers!
The following week, the Go Racing in Yorkshire Winter Festival comes to Catterick, on Thursday 28 December. The Winter Festival begins at Wetherby Racecourse on Boxing Day and Wednesday 27th, before heading to Catterick on the 28th and comes to an end at Doncaster on Friday 29 December.
The gates will open at 10:35pm on Thursday 28 December, with the first race at approximately 12:35pm. The last of the 6 race card is scheduled for 3:15pm.
Festive Freddy, the winter festival mascot, will be at the course on the day ready to give any young racing fans on Santa’s ‘nice’ list an extra little Christmas gift! While the more seasoned race goers will want to arrive early at the course to enjoy the complimentary mulled wine & mince pies on arrival (while stocks last).
Racegoers will also have the opportunity to win a sponsorship experience by entering the text competition on the day. The experience will include choosing the Best Turned Out horse in the Parade Ring before the race and presenting the winning owners with their prize, as well as celebrating with connections after the race.
Following on from the Winter Festival, Catterick will host the first meeting of the 2018 Yorkshire Racing Calendar, on New Year’s Day.
A free shuttle bus will be running at all meetings to take racegoers from Richmond Market Place to the racecourse approximately one hour prior to the first race, and it will return again after the last race.