Wetherby is gearing up for the traditional two-day William Hill Yorkshire Winter Festival on Boxing Day Thursday and Friday (December 26 & 27). With increased prize money of £122,500 on offer this prestigious fixture is set to attract several of the country’s top horses, as preparations continue for both the Cheltenham and Grand National Festivals in the spring.
The gates open on both days at 10 a.m., and there’s complimentary mulled wine and mince pies for the ‘early birds’ on Boxing Day. As usual, accompanied children aged 17 and under are admitted free of charge into all enclosures. There’s also a dedicated ‘Parenting Room’ in the Paddock Enclosure, with baby-changing facilities, microwave and comfy chairs.
This meeting forms the opening two days of the inaugural Go Racing in Yorkshire Winter Festival, which also includes racing at Catterick (28 December) and Doncaster (29 December).
Racing on Boxing Day Thursday begins at 12-35 p.m. and the principal race of the afternoon is The William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase, a Grade 3 contest for stayers over three miles and one furlong offering prize money of £40,000. Synonymous with Wetherby’s Christmas Meeting for many years, this race commemorates a former clerk of the course, who officiated between 1919 and 1947.
Malton trainer, Malcolm Jefferson has supplied the last two winners of this race – According To Pete and Cape Tribulation (last year) and a possible runner in this year’s renewal is the Grand National winner, Auroras Encore, trained near Bingley by Wetherby’s leading trainer, Sue Smith and ridden by Ryan Mania, who was on board the 11-year-old when he became the first Yorkshire-trained winner of the Grand National for 53 years when he prevailed at Aintree in April.
Friday’s programme is set to begin at 12-45 p.m. and the afternoon’s main race, The William Hill Castleford Handicap Chase, is a contest for chasers over the specialist distance of two miles, with the contenders attacking their fences at speed.
The giant screen will be in use during the meeting, while a display screen will provide details for racegoers in the vicinity of the parade ring. They will also be showing the action from Kempton Park over both days, including The King George VI Chase on Boxing Day. There are extra facilities to cater for the large crowds expected, including additional marquee areas.
Musical entertainment on both days is provided by the Bill Bailey Jazz Band and the Endeavour Ceilidh Band, while the team from Rigmoor Reindeer are bringing a couple of reindeer. New Beginnings, the Yorkshire-based enterprise that provides a safe, secure and supportive environment for former racehorse, will have former Wetherby specialist and great favourite with racegoers, Mister McGoldrick in attendance on Boxing Day. Formerly trained near Bingley by Sue Smith, Mister McGoldrick retired as a racehorse at this meeting in 2011.
There’s also the chance to win an overnight stay for two at The Crown Hotel Bawtry along with tickets to Sky Bet Chase Day at Doncaster in January in a special racecard competition during the Go Racing in Yorkshire Winter Festival and the leading Trainer and Jockey competitions during the Festival are supported by Raithwaite Hall Estate near Whitby. Racegoers have the opportunity to have their picture taken in a full-size Snow Globe during the Festival. There will also be previews of the racing some 45 minutes before the first race, while former jockey, Niall Hannity will provide Paddock commentaries prior to each race.
On both days, there’s a free shuttle bus service between Wetherby Bus Station and the racecourse from 11-00 a.m. on Boxing Day and 11-15 a.m. on Thursday, operating every 20 minutes. The bus will run shuttles on the reverse journey up to an hour after the last race