Ripon’s most iconic race, The William Hill Great St. Wilfrid Handicap Stakes takes pride of place on an excellent card next Saturday, August 17th. The ITV4 cameras will be present for the most valuable raceday of the season at Yorkshire’s ‘Garden Racecourse’, with total prize money of £150,000 up for grabs.
The famous six-furlong Handicap has now been sponsored by William Hill for 26 years, their longest standing sports sponsorship and with £75,000 prize money on offer the 2019 renewal is sure to be fiercely competitive. The meeting also includes the seventh running of The William Hill Silver Trophy Handicap, a £20,000 ‘consolation’ race for the horses balloted out of the William Hill Great St. Wilfrid.
William Hill Spokesperson, Rupert Adams said: “We are very proud sponsors of the Great St Wilfrid Handicap, which delivers for us on a yearly basis. Amazingly this is our 26th year, by far the longest standing sponsorship in our portfolio and one we look forward to continuing with.”
The last nine winners of the historic contest have been trained in Yorkshire and with the likes of Tim Easterby, Richard Fahey and David O’Meara all likely to have multiple entries, who would bet against the trophy remaining in Yorkshire for a ninth consecutive year?
Last year’s contest was won by Gunmetal, trained locally in Maunby by David Barron and a bid to become only the second horse to win the race back-to-back is very much on the cards but Barron does have one eye on the skies.
His trainer David Barron said: “He’s in very good form, he’ll definitely be entered and the plan is to go and do exactly what he did last year. The potential problem would be soft ground. He prefers decent ground so we’re hoping there’s not too much rain in the next week”.
James Hutchinson, Managing Director and Clerk of the Course said:
“William Hill Great St Wilfrid day is always an occasion we really look forward to and we’re very proud to be William Hill’s longest standing sports sponsorship. For the past nine years the race has been won by Yorkshire-based trainers and Yorkshire looks likely to be very strongly represented once again”.
Racing on Saturday August 17th starts with the first of seven races at 1:30pm with entry from 11.00am. Racegoers can gain entry from just £7 per person in the ever popular Course Enclosure with FREE entry for accompanied Under 18’s into all enclosures.
Saturday’s musical entertainment on the bandstand is provided by The Summerbridge and Dacre Band and there will be bouncy castles for children in the Course Enclosure
You can keep up to date with all the latest news and offers from the course on their social media pages, or by visiting their website.
Tickets can be pre-booked for discounts or adult admission is available on the gates from £7 per person in the Course Enclosure (or Car to Course £20 – up to 4 adults), £17 in the Paddock and £26 for the Club Enclosure.
