There’s the chance of finding out about racing in Yorkshire, along with fixture lists for next year, how to be involved in local racing syndicates, along with a special racecard competition in respect of a day out on Sky Bet Chase Day at Doncaster at the end of January and an overnight stay at The Crown Hotel at Bawtry. Each day will include previews of the afternoon’s racing to inform and entertain racegoers.
The Festival starts with the traditional two-day Christmas Meeting at Wetherby supported by William Hill on Boxing Day Friday (26th) and Saturday (27th). This is an important meeting especially for northern-trained horses as they prepare for the big Spring Festivals at both Cheltenham and Aintree. The feature race on the opening day, The Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase over three miles and one furlong, is one of the top races for stayers in the north at this time of the season, and could attract some Grand National contenders. Cloudy Too – trained at High Eldwick near Bingley by Sue Smith – won last year’s race which is named after Rowland Meyrick, a former clerk of the course at Wetherby, who officiated between 1919 and 1947.
The main race on the second day of Wetherby’s Christmas spectacular is The Castleford Chase, a contest over the extended two miles which will ensure a fast pace, requiring speed and accuracy over fences. The race could possibly attract one or two contenders for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The other fixtures comprising the Go Racing in Yorkshire Winter Festival are at Catterick (Sunday, 28th) and Doncaster (Monday, 29th). The latter meeting features a new Listed race over fences for mares.
Prior to hosting the Christmas fixture, Wetherby stages a competitive card on Saturday, 6th (‘Christmas Carol Saturday’). There’s a two-day fixture at Doncaster the following week Friday and Saturday (12th &13th) – as the Jumping season on Town Moor continues. Saturday’s upgraded card features a couple of Grade 2 contests – The Summit Juvenile Hurdle for up-and-coming three-year-olds and a new addition to the programme, a contest for leading novice chasers.
Catterick’s season over Jumps begins on Wednesday, 3rd, followed by a meeting on Tuesday, 16th and then the aforementioned card on Sunday, 28th. The North Yorkshire track launches the 2015 campaign in the county with the traditional New Year’s Day Meeting – Bank Holiday Thursday, January 1st.
A Merry Christmas to you all.