Wetherby’s 2013/14 season over Jumps starts on Wednesday (October 16) – the first of 18 days’ racing during the campaign – which concludes with an evening meeting on Thursday, May 29 2014.
Wednesday’s seven-race programme starts at 2-20 p.m. and is the backdrop to the 23rd annual charity meeting in aid of Spinal Research, with over £350,000 raised during the previous twenty-two charity racedays at Wetherby for the national charity which funds research into finding a cure for paralysis caused by injury to the spinal cord. Spinal Research is again hosting a fund-raising luncheon prior to racing in a marquee adjacent to the parade ring. One of the guests id Nicola Wilson, a member of the Great Britain Eventing Team which won a silver medal at last year’s Olympic Games.
Once again, the principal race on this day is The Bobby Renton Handicap Chase, a contest over the extended two and a half miles which remembers the late Bobby Renton, who trained Freebooter to win the 1950 Grand National from his base near Ripon.
The opening race, The Rachel Wright Memorial Hurdle, a contest for three-year-old juvenile maiden hurdlers, is held in memory of Rachel Wright who organised this charity raceday since its inception and who passed away in 2006.
Presentations will be made to the leading trainer of last season at Wetherby, Sue Smith (last season’s Grand National-winning trainer, who is based at High Eldwick near Bingley) – along with the top jockey (Jason Maguire) and Conditional rider (John Dawson) at the course last term.