Thirsk hosts a seven-race programme this Friday (July 25), with racing set to start at 2-00 p.m.  The meeting is part of the 2014 ‘Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival’, aimed to showcase all that is best in racing in the county. 

The Sky Bet Supporting The Yorkshire Racing Summer Festival Nursery Handicap Stakes is contested by two-year-olds over the sprint distance of six furlongs. It’s the most valuable race of the afternoon, offering prize money of £12,000. The same distance applies to The Infinity Tyres Handicap Stakes for fillies and mares. 

Friday’s concluding race is a handicap race for sprinters over five furlongs for apprentice jockeys which is part of the ‘Hands & Heels’ Series – a national series of races for young riders under the Racing Excellence Initiative.

 Former racehorses now under the care of ‘New Beginnings’, a community interest company – based in Yorkshire – are in attendance throughout the Festival enabling racegoers to see them at close hand, while ‘Go racing in Yorkshire’ will be hosting a new interactive ‘Racing Roadshow’ designed to entertain and engage racegoers in finding out about the equine and human stars of the sport. 

There’s also the chance to win a VIP day out at the final day of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York next month – including a £200 bet with Sky Bet – in a special racecard competition running throughout the Festival.  

The giant screen situated opposite the main stands, will enable racegoers to see all of the action. There’s also a special preview of racing in the winners’ enclosure some 45 minutes before the action begins on the track, as well as paddock commentaries prior to each race. For young racegoers, there are bouncy castles and a playground in the Family Enclosure, while ‘The Gershwin Gang’ provide the musical entertainment from the bandstand in the Paddock Enclosure.