The last chance to enjoy racing action at York in 2014 comes on Friday and Saturday (10 & 11 October). With prize money of over £315,000 on offer, it is the most valuable October finale ever held on the Knavesmire
Friday will see the third staging of ‘Countryside Raceday’ while Saturday will be accompanied by the sound of the Corps of Drums of the Coldstream Guards.
Saturday’s quality programme begins at 1-50 p.m. The Coral Sprint Trophy takes pride of place with this famous contest offering prize money of £75,000, while precocious two-year-olds are catered for in The Coral Rockingham Stakes, a £45,000 Listed race. Both feature races are run over six furlongs.
Leading bookmaker, Coral support five of Saturday’s seven races, with the opening race being the sportingbet.com Stakes – a valuable handicap contest for three-year-olds over none furlongs. The Corps of Drums will perform during the afternoon and bring the curtain down on the season as they mark the Coldstream Guards Association Cup, a middle-distance handicap race.
Looking to combine the delights of the rural life with the excitement of a raceday, the ‘Countryside Raceday’ on Friday will mean seven races being complemented by rural activity and products; including a sheepdog display courtesy of Carol Melling from ITV’s ‘The Dales’, free laser clay-shooting and a chance to get up close to some birds of prey. For those wishing to start their Christmas shopping early there is a Countryside Market of local produce and crafts.
Friday’s card begins at 2-00 p.m. and blends competitive handicaps with contests to develop the two-year-olds as well as honing the talents of apprentice jockeys. Regular race sponsors on this day include TSG, the IT provider that supports the racecourse team and Future Cleaning Services who keep the stands spic and span. Regulars at York and visitors to the city will recognize the Parsonage Country House Hotel & Cloisters Spa at Escrick who return in support of a race on this day. The European Breeders’ Fund continue their backing of York with support of the contest for maiden two-year-olds in conjunction with Brittain’s Beverages, the latter will be offering their locally produced flavoured vodkas on both days. Completing a day of returning sponsors, are Bell Trailers, Jigsaw Sports Branding and bookmaker Stan James. The latter displaying both their wider support of racing and a sense of humour in naming the richest race of the day, “The This Isn’t the Stan James Champion Hurdle Stakes”, no doubt much to the relief of the connections of the flat thoroughbreds looking to be at their best over just a mile.
The meeting will also see the conclusion of the season long contests to be top jockey and trainer at York. Both competitions look like going right down to the wire. In the Living North-sponsored jockey’s race, the John Smith’s Cup and Classic-winning rider, Andrea Atzeni has a narrow advantage with eight winners so far this term at York, closely followed on seven winners by three-time champion jockey, Ryan Moore (who won this award last year having accrued ten winners) and North Yorkshire-based, Danny Tudhope.
The race to be the Charles Clinkard Top Trainer at York is led by the current champion on the Knavesmire, locally-based David O’Meara with nine successes to date, closely pursued by Malton trainer, Richard Fahey with six winners. Prior to last year, Fahey had won this award for seven consecutive seasons, so expect a close finish once again.
As well as the sound of fife and drum, racegeors will be able to enjoy the jazz of the Tom Roberts Band on Friday, whilst Saturday offers the foot stompin’ fun of Murphy’s Marbles.
New Beginnings, a charity that supports retired racehorses, will bring Harry, a thoroughbred that raced at York in the nineties, as well as his pal, Meg the pony, for racegoers to meet.
Four large screens will cover both racing on the Knavesmire and the major contests from Newmarket on the Saturday. The totepool – backed Punters Panel will offer tips before racing on each day,
The next phase of the Northern End Development is scheduled to open in May 2015. The construction work on the new Owners & Trainers Entrance, Northern End gates and future Moët Pavilion has begun already so that progress could be made before the onset of a Yorkshire winter. This long term investment does mean there are some short term changes which will affect the October Meeting. Racegoers are advised that the Moët Pavilion, the old pre-parade ring and all gates at the Northern End on stand side (including Owners & Trainers entrance) will be closed for both days of the October Meeting. The main champagne terrace will be open as usual and given the relative size of the attendance expected for the autumn meetings it is able to meet the customer demand.
The viewing area for the parade ring and new pre parade ring viewing will be available, as it has been all season.