‘Medieval Day’ at Wetherby this Saturday (January 31) celebrates one of the feature races of the season at the track, The totepool Towton Novices’ Chase (a Grade 2 contest for stayers), a race named after the nearby Battle of Towton in 1461 – acknowledged as the bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil – a major conflict in the ‘Wars of the Roses’
Saturday’s seven-race programme begins at 1-00 p.m. and the Medieval theme to the afternoon includes a living history re-enactments, a medieval kitchen, birds of prey and live music.
A special ‘1461 Package’ – bookable in advance for £25 per person – includes Paddock Enclosure admission, racecard, a £2 tote bet, a pint and a bap from the Hog roast.
Supported once again by totepool, The Towton Chase has an impressive roll-call of winners, such as Wayward Prince, Weird Al, Kornati Kid, Heltornic, Ollie Magern, Royal Emperor, Keen Leader, Arctic Camper, Kadou Nonantais, Escartifigue and Mr. Mulligan (who went on to be the 1997 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner).
Totepool also put their name to three other races, including a valuable Handicap Chase over the extended two and a half miles. while the opening race is The Wilmot-Smith Memorial Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – a contest which commemorates brothers Nick and Pat Wilmot-Smith – long-standing directors of the Wetherby Steeplechase Committee. In fact, the late Nick Wilmot-Smith served on the racecourse committee for 59 years and was chairman between 1968 and 1996.
Amateur riders have their opportunity in The Racing UK Anywhere Open Hunters’ Chase over three miles and one furlong, while the afternoon’s concluding contest is a National Hunt Flat Race for young horses, is named in memory of June Berry, a long-standing badge holder at Wetherby who passed away last year.
A giant screen, situated opposite the main stands, will enable racegoers to enjoy even more of the action, including Betfred Day from Sandown Park.
There’s a free shuttle bus service between Wetherby Bus Station and the racecourse from 11-30 a.m., operating every 20 minutes. The bus will run shuttles on the return journey up to an hour after the last race (due off at 4-30 p.m.).