Yorkshire Jockeys Horse Racing

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The richest ever running of the famous John Smith’s Cup will see £200,000 on offer for the 57th staging of this famous handicap on Saturday 9 July. The £50,000 boost in prize money makes the John Smith’s Cup the richest middle distance handicap in Britain.

Named after Britain’s best-selling ale, it is the centrepiece of a seven-race programme, that includes two Listed races, as well as being the longest continuous commercial sponsorship of a flat race in the country. An arrangement that will now reach at least the Diamond Jubilee of the contest, as the racecourse recently announced a new three year deal with Heineken.

The opening day of the early July Meeting on the Knavesmire is Friday, with the Group Three 188Bet Summer Stakes both offering a black type opportunity to the fastest filly down the six furlong course as well as signalling a new sponsor partner to the track. The online brand are Authorised Betting Partners of the racing industry and also back a competitive middle distance handicap, later in the afternoon.

One of the most prestigious and competitive middle-distance heritage handicap contests, as well as Britain’s richest, Saturday’s renewal of The John Smith’s Cup is contested over the extended one mile and a quarter. The winning owner can look forward to receiving the specially-commissioned Wedgewood challenge trophy.

Fougalle was the first winner of this famous race back in 1960, and since then there have been many dramatic moments, with the race becoming a major betting heat of the summer. In 2015, the Rod Millman trained, Master Carpenter, was part of a fabulous afternoon for Thirsk-based jockey, Phillip Makin who won four out of the seven contests, providing a 4,799/1 return to his followers at the bookies.

Always one of the big days of the year, this event has become a showcase for ‘Yorkshire’s Finest’, and sees John Smith’s treasuring its Yorkshire roots with a full Yorkshire menu of locally-sourced and home-made food. In addition, there will be a number of cask ales available at the racecourse, thanks to collaboration with fellow Yorkshire brewers, Theakston’s.

Racing on Saturday also features a pair of Listed races; the first for stayers. The John Smith’s Silver Cup, an established contest over one mile and three-quarters. An hour or so later and sprinters will be to the fore in the John Smith’s City Walls Stakes – a contest over five furlongs, the shortest trip in UK racing. Won last year by locally trained, Out Do, the David O’Meara speedball now holds an entry to return to York in August in the Group One Coolmore Nunthorpe. Both Listed races offer prize money of £40,000.

The highlight on Friday, The 188Bet Summer Stakes, is a Group Three sprint contest over six furlongs for fillies and mares, continues to offer a purse of £60,000. Last year’s race was won by New Providence for Newmarket trainer, Hugo Palmer.

Friday is the annual charity day in support of GroceryAid, the national charity which exists to provide financial aid for those people who have served in the grocery industry. The northern branch of the charity is once again responsible for Friday’s fund-raising activities, which also involves their support for The GroceryAid Chairman’s Charity Cup.
Local businesses are prominent on Friday as the third generation of the Raylor family celebrate their role in the business life of the city; the Raylor Centre itself is home to a wide range of enterprises.
The afternoon gets underway with an interesting maiden contest over the unusual distance of five and a half furlongs; Coopers Marquees support this contest as well as being responsible for the wide range of marquees on site at York including the palatial one used by the sponsor’s guests on Saturday. It is also one of nineteen races on the Knavesmire that also benefit from the backing of the European Breeders’ Fund, making reference to the Irish Trustees on this occasion.
Acturis return to York, putting their name to a handicap contest over seven furlongs where apprentices will be the pilots.

Catering for broad musical tastes, Friday offers a choice of the Chris Brown Quartet or Murphy’s Marbles brand of foot-stomping Irish tunes. More of the latter on day two as the party atmosphere of Saturday also hosts a Caribbean Band with The Monotones performing their melodic set of popular covers to the bandstand as the last race crosses the line.

A number of giant screens will enable racegoers to enjoy even more of the action on both days, along with racing from Newmarket’s July Meeting. The tennis action from Wimbledon will be shown on televisions around the track. The popular punter’s panel held prior to racing on the winners’ podium will preview the card on both days.