Britain’s final Group 1 race of 2013, The Racing Post Trophy for leading two-year-olds, is the principal race at Doncaster on Saturday (October 26) – the second leg of the two-day October Meeting on Town Moor. Racing on Friday is scheduled to begin at 1-40 p.m., while the action on Saturday is set to start at 2-05 p.m. The meeting is enhanced by the inclusion of a special international race on Friday for Apprentice jockeys representing Great Britain, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy. Also on Saturday, the Final of the 2013 ‘Go Racing in Yorkshire’ Best-Dressed Lady competition takes place during the afternoon
First held in 1961, when known as The Timeform Gold Cup, The Racing Post Trophy over the straight mile offers prize money of £200,000 and boasts a fine pedigree, with Authorized, Motivator, High Chaparral and Camelot all winning this race as juveniles this century before going on to Derby glory at Epsom the following year.
The powerful racing operations, such as Ballydoyle (responsible for last year’s winner, Kingsbarns) and Godolphin are sure to be represented in The Racing Post Trophy, as they seek to introduce a possible star in the making for next year’s big races, including the Classics.
Saturday’s seven-race programme also features a Listed race for two-year-old sprinters over six furlongs, The Scott Dobson Memorial Stakes and a valuable £50,000 sprint handicap contest over five furlongs, under the Racing Post banner. The Racing Post ipad App Conditions Stakes (seven furlongs), The crownhotel-bawtry.com Nursery Handicap Stakes (for two-year-olds) and The Download The Racing Post Mobile App Handicap Stakes (one mile and a half) are also part of Saturday’s card, while the concluding race – a handicap contest over seven furlongs contested by three-year-olds is for apprentice jockeys and supported by South Yorkshire-based Universal Recycling Company.
After the opening race, the Final of the ‘Go Racing in Yorkshire’ Best-Dressed Lady competition will take place, consisting of the nine ladies who have won the best-dressed competitions this summer on each of the Yorkshire racecourses. The overall winner will receive a luxury two-night break at the Best Western Mount Pleasant Hotel in Doncaster, a £500 fashion voucher from Yasmine of Bawtry & Epworth, along with a diamond pendant to the value of £2,500 courtesy of lovevintagediamonds.com
There are eight races on Friday, starting with a contest for two-year-olds, The Racing Post Weekender Nursery Handicap Stakes, while other races for juveniles on the opening day are The pioneerfurniture.co.uk Leisure & Hospitality Manufacturers EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes and The Initiatec CCTV EBF Maiden Stakes. Also featured on Friday are The Doncaster Mini Handicap Stakes (extended one mile and three-quarters), The Artsign Handicap Stakes (extended mile and a quarter for three-year-olds), a Handicap contest for amateur riders over the extended one mile and a quarter), while international apprentice jockeys take part in The European Association of Racing Schools Apprentice Handicap Stakes over the straight mile. The Northern Racing College, based at nearby Rossington Hall is a member of EARS.
In addition, the final 24 candidates in this year’s Racing Post/SIS Betting Shop Manager of the Year will be at the races on Friday; this is marked by The Racing Post/SIS Betting Shop Manager of the Year Handicap Stakes over the sprint distance of six furlongs. The overall winner will be announced in London next month and will receive a VIP trip to next year’s Dubai World Cup – the world’s richest race meeting.
On Saturday, there’s musical entertainment in the main betting hall after racing by ‘Coldplace’ a ‘Coldplay’ tribute band, while former British Heavyweight boxing champion, Frank Bruno will be in attendance, supporting the ‘Help For Heroes’ charity.
The giant screen, situated opposite the main stands will enable racegoers to see all of the action. A shuttle bus service will be in operation from the railway station.