Building on forty-three years of popularity with racing fans and having already raised over £5.5 million for good causes, Macmillan Charity Day at York Racecourse this Saturday (June 15) promises to be an afternoon of quality racing.
For only the second time, it will include The Macmillan Charity Race, a chance for twelve supporters to “ride the dream” as they participate in a nine furlong race around the famous Knavesmire. Each has pledged at least £2,500 to the charity and you can help them beat this target by visiting their donation pages on Just Giving. Aged from twenty one to sixty four the mixed group also represent many walks of life, as a teacher, marketing director and a retired jockey all feature.
Once again, the charity auction so generously supported over the years is now available on line and in advance of the raceday. This means everyone can place a bid for wonderful items such as an exclusive package for the gala opening night of Mamma Mia! in Hong Kong, a private tour of Bishopthorpe Palace home to the Archbishop of York, or a double magnum of Chateau de la Riviere, Fronsac 2000. Other items include a fully catered BBQ in your own home as well as luxury hotel stays, fine dining experiences and various prestigious racing opportunities. Visit the yorkracecourse.co.uk news section for more information on how to make your bid.
For the second year, a Listed race is featured on the Saturday racing programme supported once again by Mr Ian Hall and his wife Kate, the Ganton Stakes over one mile offers increased prize money of £37,000 and provides another reason to attend the day, just by attending, racegoers will increase the money raised for charity.
Racing on Saturday begins at 2-05 p.m. with the 25th running of The Queen Mother’s Cup, the richest race for lady amateur riders in Britain and a contest won by The Princess Royal in 1988. It offers an opportunity for the successful rider to toast her success in her own weight of G.H. Mumm champagne.
Saturday’s principal race is The Charity Sprint Trophy, one of Britain’s richest sprint handicaps for three-year-olds, which now offers prize money of £100,000. The roll of honour in this race over six furlongs includes top sprinters such as Cadeaux Genereux and Sheikh Albadou, as well as locally-trained stars Tax Free, Dazzling Bay, Artie and Lexi’s Hero.
For the fifth year, Ladbrokes support a valuable handicap over nine furlongs – The ladbrokes.com Stakes. The high standard continues on this Charity Day with The Macmillan Cancer Support Stakes followed by The Reg Griffin Appreciation EBF Maiden Stakes – a contest named in honour of the founder of this Charity Day in 1971. A new sponsor to the day is the Ice Company who back a competitive handicap that denotes their support of Macmillan, a link that is amplified by the presence of company director, Polly Marr, in the Macmillan Charity Race. The traditional seventh race of the card is once again, The Charles Henry Memorial Stakes.
Macmillan Charity Day is part of a two-day meeting with racing on the Friday beginning with the backing of The McArthurGlen Designer Outlet of York and the European Breeders’ Fund for a maiden two-year-olds affair over the minimum trip of five furlongs. Racegoers will also be treated to a series of fashion shows and stylist tipping sessions throughout the afternoon as well as having the chance to win a luxury holiday.
Neptune Investment Management return to support a handicap contest over the extended ten furlongs to complement their backing of the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York in August. The SKF Rous Selling Stakes is supported for the ninth year by engineering company, SKF (UK) Ltd. when DBS (Doncaster Bloodstock Sales) will bring the excitement of the Sales Ring to the Winner’s Enclosure with an auction straight after the race. Also featured are The Bell Trailers 25th Anniversary Stakes (a handicap contest for sprinters over five furlongs) and The Garbutt & Elliott Stakes – a handicap race over seven furlongs. On a card full of variety, the concluding race is a handicap contest for apprentice jockeys supported by the company who help to keep the racecourse spic and span, York-based Future Cleaning Services.
The totepool-supported ‘Punters’ Panel’ takes place prior to racing on both days from the winner’s podium as a preview to the action on each day, while giant screens will provide racegoers with an even closer view of proceedings on the track.