York’s two-day Music Showcase weekend on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon (July 24 & 25), supported by Sky Bet, combines Pattern race quality action on the track and live performances on the music stage, after racing has finished.

The legend that is Sir Tom Jones will be on stage on Friday evening, while the chart-topping Scouting For Girls become the first band to return to entertain racegoers at the conclusion of racing on Saturday.

The only evening fixture of the season at York gets underway at 6.00 pm on Friday with gates opening at 4pm.

The highlight of a valuable evening card is the seventh running of a Listed race for fillies and mares, the British Stallion Studs EBF Lyric Stakes offering a total prize fund of £40,000 and one of nineteen contests on the Knavesmire this year supported by The European Breeders’ Fund. Last year’s race was won by Tasaday in the blue of Godolphin.

Also featured on Friday evening is The Sky Bet Stakes (a handicap contest over five furlongs) – part of Sky Bet’s commitment to The Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, as this meeting is part of the initiative that links the nine courses in the county over nine days of fantastic sport.
Apprentice jockeys are in the spotlight in the opening race, The Think as One Stakes. Sprinters take part in The Clifton Park York’s Specialist Orthopaedic Hospital Stakes (a handicap contest over six furlongs), which acknowledges the skills of the team based on the edge of the city. Two-year-olds are catered for in The Batleys Cash & Carry Maiden Stakes whilst a competitive handicap takes the name of buildings support firm, Novus.

Saturday’s quality seven-race programme means the prize money for the two days will approach £320,000. The action starts at 1-45 p.m. with the entire card sponsored by Sky Bet – one of the leading horseracing, gaming and sports betting companies in the U.K.

The principal race on Saturday is the tenth running of The Sky Bet York Stakes, a £100,000 Group 2 contest, run over the extended one mile and a quarter, won last year by Sheikhzayedroad, who has since become an international star for trainer David Simcock, winning a Group One at Woodbine in Canada. According to recent history Saturday’s victor could reappear in the best race in the world and the richest race of York’s season, the £850,000 Juddmonte International on Wednesday 19 August.

Also featured on Saturday’s strong card is the fastest race of the two days, The Sky Bet Dash. This £50,000 sprint is over six furlongs. Last year’s winner was Muthmir who developed further to finish a fine third in Group One company at the Royal Meeting 2015 Cup for Newmarket handler, William Haggas.

Both days of this meeting are part of the 2015 Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, a partnership between all nine courses to showcase all that is best regarding racing in the county. There’s a special online competition each day with the overall winner receiving a VIP afternoon out back at York, on the concluding day of next month’s highlight, The Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival – Saturday, August – including a £200 bet courtesy of Sky Bet.

Former racehorses now in the care of ‘New Beginnings’, a Yorkshire-based charity, are in attendance on Saturday, enabling racegoers to see them at close hand. Also, on Saturday, an interactive ‘Racing Roadshow’ will entertain and inform racegoers in finding out more about the equine and human stars of the sport. There’s even a mechanical horse to have a go on!

Several giant screens will enable racegoers to enjoy even more of the action from both the track and the stage on both days, as well as following the action from the other big Saturday race meeting at Ascot.

Away from the main stage there will be music from both Dr Jazz and Murphies Marbles. The popular totepool ‘Punter’s Panel’ takes place prior to racing helping racegoers to identify possible winners.