Yorkshire Jockeys Horse Racing

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Gary Mahon won the inaugural Go Racing in Yorkshire Future Stars Apprentice Series last year and the race is on to find this year’s champion, with the launch of the 2014 series of races for young riders taking place on the opening day of the British Flat season on Turf at Doncaster on Saturday, March 29.
Spread throughout the season and covering the rich variety of Flat courses in Yorkshire and over distances from five to fourteen furlongs, young riders will be tested to the full and the overall winner will have certainly have earned the title Go Racing In Yorkshire Future Star after the final race back at Doncaster on the last day of the Turf season.
Points are awarded for riders finishing in the first six in each race. Although scheduled to be a nine-race series, all divisions of any race will count.
The winning rider will be sponsored by Go Racing In Yorkshire in 2015 and will also win a cash prize of £1,500 plus a further £500 in equipment.
They will also be able to take part in promotions with Go Racing in Yorkshire in 2015, helping to maintain their profile at what is a critical time in the careers of most young jockeys, while the public will be able to follow their exploits via a blog on the Go Racing In Yorkshire website.
Go Racing in Yorkshire chairman John Sexton commented: “We are very excited about this series, now in its second year, as we believe it is essential that the sport continues to encourage and inspire young riders to develop into the star jockeys of tomorrow.
“The Go Racing in Yorkshire Future Stars series has been carefully selected. It opens at Doncaster in March with a race open to apprentices who have not ridden more than 50 winners, enabling everyone to have a chance to get points on the board.
“After that, races are graded with the next two restricted to apprentices who have not ridden 10 winners, giving a chance to the more inexperienced riders to get a foothold in the competition before stepping up to races restricted to 20 winners, 25 winners and back to 50 winners for the last three races in the series at York, Catterick and Doncaster.
“We believe it gives every young apprentice in Britain the chance to showcase his or her skills and to claim the title of ‘Go Racing In Yorkshire Future Star’”.
 
Last year’s winner was Gary Mahon, who was with Great Habton (Malton) trainer Tim Easterby when claiming the title, but is now based with Wiltshire trainer, Richard Hannon.
Looking forward to this season’s series of races, Gary said “Winning last year’s Go Racing In Yorkshire Future Stars series has provided a big boost to my career and confidence. I’ll be aiming to retain my title by riding in as many races as I can.”
The programme of races in the Go Racing in Yorkshire Future Stars series, with winner restrictions in brackets, is:-
March 29              Doncaster           10f          (50)
April 17                                Ripon                    5f            (10)
April 30                                Pontefract          10f          (20)
June 24                 Beverley              5f            (25)
July 20                  Redcar                  14f          (25)
August 1              Thirsk                    6f            (25)
September 7      York                       12f          (50)
October 18          Catterick              14f          (50)
November 8       Doncaster           7f            (50)
The points scoring system puts the emphasis on winning races with 18 for a win, nine for second place, six for third, three for fourth, two for fifth and one for sixth. In the event of a race being abandoned, all apprentices declared to ride at the time of the abandonment will receive two points.

John Sexton added: “We hope all trainers will get behind their apprentices and continue to support this series. We look forward to some thrilling contests in the months ahead