Following on from the success of last week’s landmark FREE FRIDAY meeting, Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse hold their first Family Day of their season this Sunday, with their annual ‘Traditional Family Fun Day’.
Complementing Ripon’s family friendly Racecourse status, the day focuses on entertainment for the family with their Traditional Family day. There will be a wide variety of FREE attractions suitable for all ages (adults included), with Punch & Judy from Professional Dan Slater, Magic shows, Face painting & Balloon Modelling, Coconut Shy and lots of other fairground rides alongside a classic brass band live on the bandstand. All of the Childrens entertainment will be located in the Course Enclosure; ensuring youngsters have a fun-packed day alongside enjoying the horse racing.
As usual at Ripon, accompanied children under 18 years of age are admitted free of charge into all enclosures. Adult admission is available from £6 per person in the Course Enclosure, or £18 (inc admission for four adults) to drive the car into the Course Enclosure – perfect for those picnics with the family.
James Hutchinson, Managing Director and Clerk of the Course said:
“Family fun days are a big part of our racing calendar and our Traditional Family Fun Day is great way to introduce the next generation of racegoers to racing at Ripon. With a coconut shy and Punch n Judy shows to name just a few of the FREE attractions for the kids, it really is the ultimate family day out”
Turning to the racing, the day features’ The M.C.H. Hutchinson Memorial E.B.F ‘Breeders Series’ Fillies’ Handicap Stakes’ a £20,000 Handicap contest for fillies and mares over the sprint distance of six furlongs, held in memory of the late Mr Michael Hutchinson who was the Managing Director and Company Secretary of the Ripon Race Company Ltd between Jan 1997 and August 2007. The afternoons feature race ‘The Ripon, Yorkshire’s ‘Garden Racecourse’ Handicap Stakes over one mile offers prize money of £22,000.
The race was won last year by Ruth Carr’s ‘Dubai Dynamo’, a regular runner at Ripon. Ruth who trains at Sillington near York is also granddaughter of legendary Yorkshire trainer David Chapman; Ruth is also hosting a fundraising hospitality event on the day as part of her fundraising to riding in the Macmillan Charity Race at York.
There are still places available for the VIP package that includes a exclusive stable visit in the morning, before taking your place in a private room with a three course meal and an opportunity to present the trophy to the winning connections of her sponsored race and select the ‘Best Turned Out’.
Tickets are limited so contact Ruth on 07721 926772 or ruth@ruthcarrracing.co.uk ASAP.
The gates on Sunday open at 12.00pm with the first of seven rates starting at 2.00pm, with live music on the bandstand from the Reeth Brass Band.
There are not many sports that allow families the option to bring their own picnic and provide free kids entrainment, so come and see what all the fuss is about and see what Yorkshire racing has to offer.
You can keep up to date with all the latest news and offers from the course on their social media pages, or by visiting their website.
Closing details
Ripon Races are a flat turf racecourse, one of nine racecourses in Yorkshire. They hold 17 race meetings in 2016, from April to September with a variety of evening, weekend and family fun race days.
The race meeting on Sunday 15th May starts at 2.00pm with the gates open from 12.00pm and the last of 7 races at 5.15pm.
Website: www.ripon-races.co.uk