FAMILY SUNDAY AT PONTEFRACT
The European Breeders’ Fund Highfield Farm Flying Fillies’ Stakes – the fourth of Pontefract’s quintet of Listed races during the season – tops a quality seven-race programme this Sunday (August 18), beginning at 2-15 p.m. It’s Pontefract’s third and final Sunday fixture of 2013 and there’s a host of attractions for young racegoers from when the gates open at 11-30 a.m., and as usual, accompanied children under 16 years of age are admitted free into all enclosures.
First held in 1999, The Flying Fillies’ Stakes – a race for fillies and mares over the sprint distance of six furlongs – offers increased prize money of £50,000 and is once again supported by The European Breeders’ Fund, this time in conjunction with Highfield Farm Stud of Lancashire (who return to sponsor this race, having supported it in 2009) Mince – ridden by Frankie Dettori – won last year’s race. Mince went on to win a Listed race at York and a Group 3 contest at Ascot.
Maiden two-year-olds take part the opening race, The British Stallion Studs EBF Trevor Woods Memorial Maiden Stakes, while Nova Display Ltd. of Peckfield Business Park sponsor once again at this meeting. They supply bespoke services to shops and the retail trade and put their name to the final race, a handicap contest for sprinters over six furlongs.
Stayers are in action in the longest race of the afternoon, The St. John Ambulance Handicap Stakes over two miles and one furlong. This race is the fifth of the eight races which comprise this season’s Pontefract Stayers’ Championship, a competition which is led by Riptide, trained in Herefordshire by Michael Scudamore.
Also featured are a couple of races supported by totepool (a Handicap contest over one mile and a half, along with a contest for maidens over one mile), while The CGC Events For Conference & Banqueting Handicap Stakes is contested by three-year-olds over one mile.
Former racehorses under the care of New Beginnings, a Yorkshire-based community interest company will be in attendance, along with greyhounds for youngsters to meet.
For the first time at this meeting, there’s a new interactive Roadshow for children – The ‘Kids Love The Races’ Roadshow – held in association with Great British Racing, designed to inform and entertain youngsters regarding racing.
The other family attractions include performances by the National Festival Circus, children’s fun-fair, along with face-painting and free ice-creams for children (while stocks last!). The giant screen situated opposite the main stands will assist racegoers in following all of the action on the track.