Yorkshire’s racecourses are getting ready to welcome a return of full capacity crowds at the 2021 renewal of the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, sponsored by Sky Bet.
Starting at Ripon on Saturday, July 17 the Summer Festival will move around the county’s racecourses, taking in 10 meetings over nine days, culminating at Pontefract on Sunday, July 25.
Charlotte Russell, general manager of Go Racing In Yorkshire said,
“We really missed not having the festival last year, and the racecourses, along with our loyal sponsor Sky Bet, were determined that it would take place in some form this year. It has been refreshing to be able to make plans again and exciting that the majority of the week will take place without crowd restrictions.”
The Festival this year will have strong Yorkshire themes, celebrating the unique aspects of each of the county’s racecourses which are all connected by the Yorkshire brand.
Michael Shinners, Head of Sports PR at Sky Bet said,
“Sky Bet are once again delighted to be sponsoring the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival. It’s great to have the opportunity to sponsor at not only some of the county’s, but the countries finest racecourses. We have a couple of new initiatives this year including rewarding the yard with the most Best Turned Out winners in our sponsored races. All in all, it should be a great nine days”
The new best turned out competition will be run across the week. The winner of the best turned out horse competition in each of the Sky Bet sponsored races will be tallied and the yard with the most winners will receive a prize of £1,000 to be shared among the staff, plus refreshments to celebrate.
Working with the Yorkshire Film Archive, racegoers will be able to see historical footage of racing in the White Rose County on the big screens, along with original audio. Plus, they will be welcomed into the tracks with an eclectic mix of Yorkshire themed music.
Competition will be fierce, both in the races themselves but also for the leading trainer of the week, sponsored by Goldsborough Hall and the leading jockey of the week sponsored by Sky Bet.
Clare Oglesby of Goldsborough Hall said,
“Mark and I are delighted, once again, to be sponsoring the prize for the leading trainer at the Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival and presenting the Byerley Turk Trophy. We have been involved with Go Racing In Yorkshire for many years and can't wait to be back after missing everything last year.”
After the success of 2019, the ‘Paddock and Chips’ jockeys’ football skills competition will be making a return. Scoring points for chipping a football into a target from different distances, the competition will take place throughout the week in the Parade Ring, about an hour before the first race.
The Yorkshire themes continue in the catering department with CGC Event Caterers, who will be offering a Masons Tea Edition Gin and Tonic for a festival special price of £6 and a ‘Yorkshire Rascal’, served with clotted cream, jam and butter with a cup of Yorkshire Tea for £4.95, at each of the courses they serve.
Jack Berry House, the jockey and stable staff rehabilitation centre in Malton, will also be open to members of the public between 12 noon and 2pm on Tuesday 20th July, the one day of the festival when racing does not take place in Yorkshire.
And while it’s all about the horses, look out for Festival Freddie who will be appearing at the racecourses and is always a big hit with the children!
Pictures show Richard Fahey, 2019’s leading trainer of the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, sponsored by Sky Bet, with Vintage Clarets and Daryl Byrne, Perfect Power ridden by Paul Hanagan on Richard Fahey’s gallops and Perfect Power and Paul Hanagan lead the string back from exercise.
Picture credit: Hannah Ali
