In a week that saw York Racecourse host the Tour de France, the world class sport continues with the 55th running of The John Smith’s Cup on Saturday (12 July).

 The £150,000 handicap, named after Britain’s best-selling ale, is the centrepiece of a quality seven-race programme, as well as Britain’s longest continuous commercial sponsorship of a flat race. 

The opening day of the early July Meeting on the Knavesmire is Friday, with the Group Three Totepool Summer Stakes offering a black type opportunity to the fastest filly down the six furlong course.

 One of Europe’s most prestigious, competitive and valuable middle-distance heritage handicap contests, Saturday’s renewal of The John Smith’s Cup is contested over the extended one mile and a quarter. The winning owner can look forward to receiving the specially-commissioned Wedgewood challenge trophy.

 Fougalle was the first winner of this famous race back in 1960, and since then there have been many dramatic moments, with the race becoming a major betting heat of the summer. Yorkshire-trained horses have a very good record in the race, especially in recent times, although horses trained in Newmarket have won the last four runnings of the race, with Danchai prevailing last year for trainer William Haggas (a Yorkshireman in exile), who was successful in 2011 with Green Destiny.

 Always one of the big days of the year, this event has become a showcase for ‘Yorkshire’s Finest’, and sees John Smith’s treasuring its Yorkshire roots with a full Yorkshire menu of locally-sourced and home-made food. In addition, there will be a number of cask ales available at the racecourse, thanks to collaboration with fellow Yorkshire brewers, Theakston’s.

 To celebrate the occasion, prior to racing, there will once again be a fly-past over the Knavesmire by aircraft from RAF Linton-on-Ouse. The Racecourse and local brewery have forged strong links with its nearest RAF Station which trains the next generation of fighter pilots who will be at the controls of their Tucano aircraft.

 Racing on Saturday also features a pair of Listed races; the first for sprinters, The John Smith’s City Walls Stakes – a contest over five furlongs (won last year by Jwala, trained at Newmarket by Robert Cowell; the mare returned to York in August to win the Group One Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes). Earlier in the afternoon sees The John Smith’s Silver Cup, an established Listed contest for stayers over one mile and three-quarters. Sun Central made it a day to remember for the aforementioned William Haggas when winning last year’s race. Both Listed races offer prize money of £40,000. 

The highlight on Friday, The Totepool Summer Stakes, is a Group Three sprint contest over six furlongs for fillies and mares, continues to offer a purse of £60,000. Last year’s race was won for the second time by Ladies Are Forever, owned and bred by Yorkshire-based Reg Bond.

 Friday is the annual charity day in support of GroceryAid, the national charity which exists to provide financial aid for those people who have served in the grocery industry. The northern branch of the charity is once again responsible for Friday’s fund-raising activities, which also involves a number of sponsored races – The HayLin Stakes (a nursery handicap for two-year-olds over five furlongs), The Cakemark EBF Stallions Maiden Stakes for two-year-olds over seven furlongs and The GroceryAid Chairman’s Charity Cup (a handicap contest over one mile and a half).  

Continuing the culinary theme, the day sees food group, Cranswick PLC, support racing at York for the second time by backing a handicap race over the extended mile and a quarter. A household name in household electricals, AEG, are also return to York, putting their Electrolux brand name to a handicap contest over seven furlongs where apprentices will be the pilots.  

Going into this meeting, North Yorkshire trainer, David O’Meara leads the way to be York’s top trainer in the Charles Clinkard 90th Anniversary competition, having recorded six winners so far this term. Ryan Moore and Graham Lee head the race for The Living North award to be York’s top rider, both having ridden four winners already this season. 

Catering for broad musical tastes, Friday offers a live jazz backdrop, with the traditional Yorkshire sound of a brass band being provided on Saturday, complimented by the foot-stomping Irish tones of ‘Murphy’s Marbles’. An up tempo end to proceedings will come courtesy of the popular group, The Acoustix, who will take to the bandstand as the last race crosses the line. 

A number of giant screens will enable racegoers to enjoy even more of the action on both days, along with racing from Newmarket’s July Meeting. The First Test action from Trent Bridge – England v. India – will be shown on televisions around the track. The popular punter’s panel held prior to racing on the winners’ podium will preview the card on both days.