The first Family Day of the season at Pontefract falls on Fathers Day – Sunday 19th June. A hugely popular event, it’s the annual totepool Flat Cap & Whippet Family Day.
There’s an action packed day ahead with activities getting underway when the gates open at 11.30am. Whippets from the Yorkshire Pedigree Whippet Racing Club will take to the Racecourse between 12.30pm and 1.30pm as they set the scene for their equine counterparts later in the afternoon. With around 30 whippets racing over a series of races, it’s going to be a fast and furious way to start proceedings!
Whippets and horses are not the only races taking place – a team of ferrets will also be stepping in to the spotlight with racing in the Picnic Enclosure throughout the afternoon!
It’s worth dusting off that old flat cap from the back of the wardrobe as well. The first 500 people wearing a flat cap will win a spot prize of either a tote voucher, a drinks voucher or a racecard!
As has become tradition on Sundays at Pontefract, there’s lots going on for young racegoers in the Picnic Enclosure. With kids rides, a circus, face painting and free activity books and racecards, there’s plenty to keep the little ones occupied while mums and dads enjoy some top class racing. Eagle eyed kids need to look out for the lucky Golden Horseshoe too – there’s a hamper of sweets to be won for the first person to find it!
If you’ve ever wondered what happens down at the start of the races – in the calm before the race explodes in to action – then you’ll be able to pick up our free minibus which will take you down to the starting stalls and bring you back after the race.
There are also free Pony rides as well – plenty to keep even the most active little ones occupied!
On the track, totepool sponsor all 7 races with the highlight being the £40,000 Listed totepool Pontefract Castle Stakes. Farmed in recent years by Tom Dascombe’s high class Brown Panther, John Gosden broke the stranglehold when his Freedom’s Light took the honours in 2014. Last year, Luca Cumani’s subsequent Group race winner, Connecticut turned the race in to a procession.
The 2016 Pontefract Stayers Championship is shaping up to be a really competitive affair and Round 4 is the totepoolliveinfo.com Pontefract Cup. American Life holds a slender lead so far – only just ahead of Madam Lilibet, Almost Gemini and Monday’s impressive winner Bulas Belle. It’s all up for grabs!
Being Father’s Day, Pontefract are also offering a number of special Packages to make Dad’s day extra special. The Father’s Day Paddock Package (£40) and The VIP Premier Father’s Day Package (£100) both offer fantastic value for families of 2 adults and 2 under 18s. Family Tickets (£22) are also available in advance for 2 adults and their children. If you’d like to take advantage of any of these special advance packages, please view the course website (www.pontefract-races.co.uk ) or give them a call on 01977 781307. Racing gets underway at 2.10pm and the gates open at 11.30am!