2 minute read
Welcome to York Races
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to York for what looks set to be a super evening of racing plus music, in something nearer “normal” weather! Our only evening meeting means Music Showcase, an event that combines great racing with headline music acts. As we look forward to the performance of Madness after the last race, hold on to your fezs, it should be fun.
This is also the seventh scheduled day of The Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival, now in its fourteenth year and firmly established thanks to the generous and loyal backing of our weeklong sponsors, Sky Bet and Goldsborough Hall. In Yorkshire we have nine superb racecourses, over 120 training yards, the National Racing College, Jack Berry House and Goffs Bloodstock Sales, all making for a successful racing industry in the county. This year we have also focussed on the origin of the thoroughbred breed itself with two of the original three foundation stallions having been based in Yorkshire in the 1700’s – every one of tonight’s runners are related to one of these three! For further information, go to the Go Racing in Yorkshire digital channels for a fascinating video on the origins of the thoroughbred. The most generous support of tonight’s sponsors has also helped stage a record prize money race programme approaching £150,000 with a Listed contest, the British Stallion Studs EBF Lyric as the valuable feature. The “talking filly” of the contest is the unbeaten, Judith, sent up from Newmarket by John and Thady Gosden. Yorkshire opposition will come from the Group 3 winner Poptronic. The latter’s handler Karl Burke is having a tremendous season and sits comfortably atop the leading trainer table with eight wins here this season already. If you are a first-time visitor tonight, please do explore the racecourse - use the maps on p6-7 & p8-9 to guide you, or just ask any of the team in the teal blazers who will be happy to help. My tip is to stand close to the rail as the horses race past, you can feel as well as hear the thunder of hooves.
After racing the band who helped open the London Olympics return to the Knavesmire on the stage to the south of the stands. A special request from our plumbers, please use all the facilities around the course during the evening, rather than all choosing to spend a penny just before concert time! Also, please respect our neighbours and city as you make your way home this evening. Thank you for your support today and during the wider Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival. We hope to welcome you back again tomorrow for racing followed by Sugababes on the stage. After that, our preparations will go up a gear as we are very much looking forward to staging our flagship meeting, the Sky Bet Ebor Festival (17-20 August) where some of the best horses from around the world look set to compete over four days of top-class racing, fashion and fun. Finally, a very happy 17th birthday Rosie Black. Our youngest ever racegoer – she was racing on this day 17 years ago today directly from the hopsital! For now, I hope you thoroughly enjoy your night.
