Author: Marketing

LADIES DAY AT PONTEFRACT

The glitz and glamour returned to Pontefract on Wednesday as the course hosted their annual Ladies Day. Stilettoes, hats and fascinators were the order of the as the Ladies of Yorkshire dressed to impress to be in with a chance of winning the coveted Best Dressed Lady competition for an amazing prize of an all-inclusive holiday to the fantastic RIU Dubai resort. It was the 10^th year that RIU Hotels and Resorts had sponsored the event and the 2025 Best Dressed Lady competition winner was Estelle Race.

The opening race on the card was the 1m2f HEB Cleaning and Hygiene Handicap for amateur riders and Star Start followed up his Beverley dead-heat last week with the narrowest of successes under Charli Parker for trainer Ruth Carr. With the handicapper unlikely to overreact to this success he should continue to be competitive.

The Karl Burke-trained Gold Queen Kindly made an impressive winning debut in the Jayne – On Course Lady Bookmaker EBF Maiden Stakes. Despite showing plenty of inexperience the son of Lope De Vega got the hang of things late on, eventually winning with a little in hand under Clifford Lee.

The feature race, the RIU Hotels & Resorts Ladies Day Veteran’s Handicap over 1m, is always a popular event as it’s open to horses aged 6 years old and over and features popular equine stars who the public may have been following for a little while. That is certainly the case for winner Garden Oasis who was notching his fourteenth career success! David Allan had the Tim Easterby-trained ten-year-old at the head of affairs from the off and he bravely fought off all-comers, proving a very popular winner.

The FBS Chartered Accounts Chaplins Club Handicap remembers a real hero of the northern sprinting circuit for his trainer David Chapman and it was David’s granddaughter Ruth Carr who trained the winner of the 2025 renewal. Betweenthesticks was sent off at odds of 33/1 but was sent to the front early by James Sullivan and held on gamely to record a double on the day for Carr.

The most impressive winner of the day came in the 2m1f Napoleons Casino Bradford Handicap with Captain Potter recording his second win at Pontefract this season. The Brian Ellison representative scored by 5-lengths with Ben Robinson in the saddle and he looks set to return to bid for a third success at Pontefract in the coming weeks as doing so would land the £3000 Chairman’s Challenge bonus for his connections.

The 6f Bet With Jayne – Your Local Bookmaker Handicap rounded off a competitive afternoon of racing and the Paul Midgley-trained Novello Lad justified strong support in the moments before the ‘off’. David Nolan delivered his challenge inside the final furlong and fought off the attentions of Sir Garfield in the closing stages.

The next race meeting at Pontefract is the final Family Day of the year. Sunday 17^th August will bring the usual array of family filled entertainment and tickets are selling fast for the event. Racegoers are encouraged to book online in advance to avoid disappointment.

Further information can be found on the website at www.pontefract-races.co.uk

Contact:   Jonathan Mullin (CEO / Clerk of the Course) 01977 781307

Pipalong Stakes and Pontefract Park Silver Sprint Trophy

A glorious summer Tuesday at Pontefract Races attracted a great crowd all enjoying a fantastic afternoon of racing in the sun. The Listed Weatherbys Hamilton Pipalong Stakes over a mile took centre stage on the track and the winner, Royal Dress, was very impressive indeed.

Held up in rear in the early stages, Clifford Lee delivered the James Tate-trained filly to challenge inside the final furlong and she stretched clear of her rivals to score with a bit in hand. Already a Group 3 winner last term, she will likely ply her trade in Group company once more as the season progresses.

Earlier on the card the opening contest, the Lambert Smith Hampton Nursery over six-furlongs, went the way of the Jonathan Portman-trained Sparkling Pink in the hands of Rob Hornby and odds-on favourite Muhaajim took the 1m2f Maiden contest for William Haggas and Tom Marquand. He seems to be improving and could well go on to make his mark in handicap company.

The Pontefract Park Silver Sprint Trophy was a highly competitive six-furlong handicap but Aleezdancer bounced right back to his best, making all the running to win under Kevin Stott. Kevin Ryan’s representative remains well handicapped on his best form and he looks set to tackle some big sprint handicaps through the summer.

Sir Mark Prescott has a great record with his Ponte raiders and Analogical became his fourth winner from his last seven runners, winning the 1m2f Pontefract Squash and Leisure Club handicap. Luke Morris set out to make every post a winning one and narrowly held off the late challenge of Neoma.

A first career success had thus far eluded Walsingham but he finally gained it in the Go Racing Bet With Jayne Handicap. Always prominent under Daniel Tudhope, the David O’Meara-trained five-year-old appeared to win with a little up his sleeve and he could find further success before too long now he has broken his duck.

The ride of the day came in the concluding five-furlong Download the Raceday Ready App Handicap as Joanna Mason overcame a slow start to bring Missmimi from last to first. Tina Jackson’s mare is admirably consistent and a return to Ponte for the 5f handicap on Ladies Day in August looks a logical step.

The next meeting at Pontefract takes place on Friday 18^th July with Flash, a tribute band to Queen, performing live after racing. Get your tickets at pontefract-races.co.uk

Contact:           Jonathan Mullin (CEO/Clerk of the Course) 01977 781307

It’s back and it all starts at Pontefract!  We’re really excited about the 17^th running of the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, sponsored by Sky Bet.

Well established among its loyal following, the festival is also a great opportunity for new racegoers to see everything that racing in Yorkshire can offer as over a period of nine days, there are 11 race meetings, across eight Yorkshire courses.

Yorkshire is well known for it’s love of the horse, it is in fact the birthplace of the modern-day thoroughbred (that’s another story!) and for many, it is the horse that brings them to the races.  But, that’s not all we have to offer and it is the additional elements that add to the festival feel.

Pontefract really set the tone on the opening night on Friday, 18 July, with a beer festival and Flash, a Queen tribute band will be performing after racing.  What a way to kick off not only your weekend, but also the Summer Festival.  It absolutely sets the tone for what is to come.

And that’s not all!  Before racing starts the jockeys will be out showing off their football skills in the Paddock and Chips competition, which will be raising funds for charity of the week, Racing Welfare.

There is more at stake then just winning races.  There is an ongoing competition for leading trainer and leading jockey of the week.  Sponsored by Goldsborough Hall, the leading trainer will win a night at the Hall, with dinner in the beautiful restaurant.

Sky Bet sponsor the leading jockey award as well as a prize for the yard that wins the most Best Turned Out horse awards in the Sky Bet sponsored races, which includes a cash prize for the yard and a pizza party!

Not forgetting the horses of course – Pontefract set the standard by giving every equine winner a bag of Poskitt’s carrots to take home and that will be repeated throughout the festival.

Throughout the week, there are afternoon and evening meetings, family days, charity races and music nights.  It finishes at York on Saturday 26^th July.

We look forward to welcoming all the racegoers, new and old to the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival and hope to see you at Pontefract on the opening night.  You can book your tickets here!

Attention Trainers, Owners, Stable Staff and Track Specialists!

New to Pontefract for the 2025 season is the Chaiman’s Challenge. ANY horse achieving three wins at ‘Ponte’ will unlock a bounty of £3000, with an additional £1000 on offer for any further victories!

The trainer of any horse to achieve the feat will be rewarded with a race sponsorship and use of a private box facility with badges included for them and their owners at the season finale on Monday 20th October (or at the 2026 season opener should the third victory be achieved on the final day of the season).

The stable staff at the yard of any horse recording three victories will receive a £500 prize.

As an additional prize there is £1000 up for grabs for the owners of the horse who makes the most individual appearances at Pontefract in the 2025 season, with a £250 prize for the stable staff of the yard.

William Bethell, Chairman of Pontefract Racecourse, said:

“It’s a very nice initiative to reward those who return regularly to support the racecourse and to give Owners and Trainers an additional incentive to come to Pontefract. It’s always nice to see previous winners return and hopefully, as the season progresses, we will see more do so”.

Pontefract Races CEO and Clerk of the Course, Jonathan Mullin said:

“We’re very grateful for the fantastic support we receive from Owners, Trainers and Stable Staff who are regular visitors to Pontefract and we wanted to do something to reward that support.

“The Chairman’s Challenge provides a good incentive for previous winners to return and together with the prize for the horse who makes the most appearances, it will hopefully make for an interesting narrative across the season”.

Who will be the first to make it to three?

The Fillers Fill Ponte!

The first evening fixture of the 2025 Pontefract season took place last Friday night with music after racing from ‘The Fillers’. A stellar crowd were out in force to see some exciting racing and then dance the night away with the superb Killers tribute band.

There was some fantastic racing to kick off proceedings too. The feature race on the card was £30,000 Juddmonte EBF Restricted Maiden and 10 two-year-olds took to the turf to strut their stuff. Newmarket raider Farough, trained by Roger Varian and ridden by Ray Dawson justified favouritism running out an impressive winner and he looks set for an exciting campaign. The runner-up, Big Fun, made an eye-catching debut and will surely go one better before too long. 

The opening race on the card, The FBS Chartered Accountants Handicap, went the way of the Liam Bailey-trained Protest Rally. The five-year-old gelding came into the race in good form and delivered a strong challenge inside the final furlong to score under 5lb claimer Cian Horgan. The partnership also tasted victory at Musselburgh earlier this month.

The Napoleons Casino Bradford Maiden Handicap was won in good style by odds-on favourite Arundel and Silvestre De Sousa. Ed Dunlop’s representative showed improved form when runner-up at Beverley earlier in the month and got off the mark at the fifth attempt. Further improvement can be expected of him now. 

The finish of the night came in the PMW Quarries Handicap over 1m4f when Dubai Venture and Sam James made all the running before narrowly holding off the challenge of Agathon by a nose with Fiftyshadesaresdev just a head further back in third. He was another going one better than a Beverley runner-up effort earlier in the month.

Maddelina displayed plenty of promise when third on her debut at Carlisle and showed the benefit of that experience to take the Jamie and Kathie Clements Memorial Fillies’ Novice Stakes. John & Sean Quinn’s filly is open to further improvement and could be one to follow as she moves into handicap company.

The Julian Foster Memorial rounded off the card and Mount King provided the in-form Tim Easterby yard with another winner. David Allan was forced to bide his time following a slow start but delivered his challenge approaching the final furlong, coming away to win in impressive fashion. 

The next race meeting at the Yorkshire track is another evening fixture. The award-winning Racing For Everyone Race Night, held on Monday 9^th June, sees the track throwing it’s doors open to guests who may be looking to go racing for the first time and regular racegoers alike. 

www.pontefract-races.co.uk

Contact:           Jonathan Mullin (Chief Executive/Clerk of the Course) 01977 781307

REVIEW – PONTEFRACT RACECOURSE TUESDAY 8^th APRIL 2025

THE 2025 SEASON GETS UNDERWAY AT PONTEFRACT

The 2025 racing season at Pontefract got underway on Tuesday 8^th April under blue skies and resplendent sunshine, a stark contrast to the 2024 opener! The day began with a tribute to outgoing COO Richard Hammill, a wonderful servant to Pontefract Racecourse and the racing industry in his 24 years at the track. The Thank You Richard Hammill Novice Stakes was won in game fashion by the Richard Fahey trained Strong Warrior. An impressive winner at Ayr on his only run to date, he made all the running under Oisin Orr and gamely held off the late challenge of Veblen Good to maintain his 100% record. With further improvement likely, he certainly has the look of a sprinter to follow.

The feature race of the day, the £30,000 Every Race Live on Racing TV Handicap over the five-furlong trip went the way of Fahrenheit Seven and Connor Beasley. Mark Usher’s representative was held up in rear through the early part of the race but finished strongly to deny the front running Dream Composer.

The two mile and two-furlong stayers handicap remembered popular course stalwart, Jamaican Flight and produced the most impressive winner of the day in the shape of Diamand De Vindecy. Easing to the front in the home straight, he readily scooted clear of his rivals to win by almost ten-lengths under Jason Hart. His trainer Robert Bevis subsequently hinted that he would likely return to Pontefract for a crack at more stayers glory in the coming months.

Regular sponsors Napoleon’s Casino, Bradford are once again sponsoring a series of races during the season and the winner of the first of them was Dark Cloud Rising. Danny Tudhope had the David O’Meara-trained gelding in pole position from the outset and he was in full command in the closing stages.

Letmeseethecolts was a popular winner of The Tommy Hepple Memorial Handicap. Relishing every yard of the one mile four-furlong test, she stretched clear under Joanna Mason and it would be no surprise to see the Brian Ellison-trained filly in the winners’ enclosure again soon.

The penultimate race was the Celebrating the Life of Cheryl Hibbert Handicap which saw a thrilling head-to-head battle in the closing stages between Tofrida and One More Dream, the latter narrowly getting the better of the argument under a power-packed ride from Jason Hart. This was an eleventh career success for the six-year-old, trained by John and Sean Quinn.

Partisan Hero sent favourite backers home happy, following up his February Kempton success in the concluding Racing TV Sky Channel 424 Handicap for Richard Kingscote and David Loughnane.

The next meeting is on Monday 14^th April and includes the Pontefract Marathon over 2m5f – making it the longest handicap race run on the flat in this country! It’s also OAP Free Day and over 60s can register for a free ticket via the website (pontefract-races.co.uk).

Contact:  Jonathan Mullin                            (Chief Executive Officer)  01977 781307

JONATHAN MULLIN APPOINTED CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT PONTEFRACT

Pontefract Racecourse are pleased to announce that Jonathan Mullin has been appointed as their Chief Executive Officer to take over from Richard Hammill, who is to leave on 7th March to take up a position as Chief Executive Officer at a Tourist Attraction and Events Venue.

Jonathan is currently Operations and Marketing Manager and Raceday Clerk of the Course at Ripon Racecourse. He will be taking up his new role at Pontefract on the 17th March but will continue to help out at Ripon in the short term as well as being available for raceday Clerking duties as often as possible in the coming season.

A racing fan from a young age, Jonathan completed the British Horseracing Authority Graduate Development Programme in 2008 and after spending 4 years on the horseracing desk at PA Sport he joined Sky Bet as a Racing and Greyhound Trader, followed by 4 ½ years working across several bookmakers as Horseracing and Greyhounds Trading and Risk Manager. He graduated from the inaugural Thoroughbred Horseracing Industry MBA course in 2017 and joined Ripon in 2018 where he has since become accredited as a Clerk of the Course as well as handling raceday operations, social media, community engagement and the sustainability programme and being involved in many aspects of racecourse administration.

Pontefract Director Norman Gundill said “I myself, my fellow Directors, and all the staff at Pontefract are delighted that Jonathan is to join us. He has had an excellent grounding in racecourse management at Ripon and we have no doubt he will continue the excellent leadership Richard has given us by providing strong commercial management and will develop and deliver strategies and innovation to continue to strengthen Pontefract’s position in the industry”.

Jonathan Mullin said “I’m delighted to be joining Pontefract and I’m looking forward to building on the fantastic work that Richard and the team have done over the years. I’ve been privileged to spend a wonderful seven years at Ripon and I owe a debt of gratitude to James Hutchinson and everybody at Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse for all I have learned during that time.

It’s a very exciting time to be joining Pontefract and I’m looking forward to the challenge of driving the racecourse forward, with the start of the season on Tuesday 8th April now just around the corner”.

Welcome to another blog from the team at Pontefract Racecourse.

Every fortnight, someone from the team will share their thoughts for your entertainment (or otherwise!):

• Managing Director, Norman Gundill with his trusty PA, Caroline who also looks after the hospitality,
• Accounts Manager, Nicola,
• Admin manager, Carol,
• Marketing exec, Alexia, who is writing this blog, and,
• Chief Operating Officer, Richard

Mark your calendars for Monday, 14th April, back again for its fourth year in a row, is the OAP Free Raceday.

On this day, anyone aged 60 and over can request complimentary admission to the Grandstand and Paddock Enclosure and enjoy a day at Pontefract Races for free!

For a completely free and fantastic family day out, why not bring the grandchildren along too! As don’t forget under 18’s go free in to all enclosures, at every meeting.

To receive a free ticket on this day, simply click on the ticket icon in the top right corner of the screen, select the OAP Free Raceday, scroll down to ‘Grandstand and Paddock’, click this heading and the option to add a free ticket to your basket will appear.

Please note that you can only add one free ticket to your basket. It will also ask you to enter your date of birth at checkout, by doing so you are confirming you are over 60. You may be asked for ID on the day.

The free ticket is only available online and will be sent to your email address as an e-ticket. It is not available on the day at the gate, but it will be available to order from our website up until 12pm on the 14th April.

We chose the date of our first OAP Free Day so that was early in the racing season to help drive attendance at the quieter, midweek meetings, we went with Monday 11th April, the 2nd meeting of our 2022 season. On this day 4017 racegoers attended the fixture which was a 39.4% increase on the attendance from the same fixture in 2019.

A relatively quiet Monday afternoon meeting, has gradually increased over the years to become one of our most popular and well attended fixtures, last year we saw 4362 attend the meeting and already this year we have emailed out nearly 1000 free tickets.

The success of the imitative was recognised across the industry, in the same year it was launched, the OAP Free Day received the Racecourse Association Raceday Award which was held here at Pontefract!

The day has since grown year on year, last year we introduced an upgrade option for the Dalby Stand. The idea was for racegoers to interact and get to know one other, while also having a base for the day.

The OAP Free Day Dalby Upgrade costs £27.50 per person, and is available to purchase online. The ticket includes an upgrade into the Premier Enclosure, a seat for the entire day, tea, coffee and biscuits, sandwich buffet and racecard and a pen.

If you fancy, you can also upgrade your free Grandstand and Paddock ticket for a Premier Enclosure Badge for £6.00, this can be done either on the day or online. If you purchase the £6.oo Premier Upgrade, there is no need to also add the free ticket to your basket.

There is also a discount in the Park Suite Restaurant on this day. The Park Suite Restaurant offers a reserved table for the day with views overlooking the Parade Ring and Winning Post. It includes admission into the Premier Enclosure, a four course carvery lunch with light afternoon tea.

If you would like anymore information, please email info@pontefract-races.co.uk

While OAPs can enjoy free entry into the Grandstand and Paddock, this is a day for everyone to come along and soak up the excitement.

We hope you can join us for a great day at the races and experience an afternoon of thrilling racing at one of Yorkshire’s most traditional Racecourses! You’ll receive a warm, friendly, Yorkshire welcome from the team at Pontefract, so come and join us for a great day out!

Don’t forget, this fixture is an Autism Friendly Raceday, with a dedicated sensory room and designated quiet and safe space. To find out more please visit: autisminracing.com

Pontefract Weighing Room Celebrated with Design Award

Pontefract Civic Trust has awarded one of its Annual Design Awards to Pontefract Racecourse for the improvements carried out to its Weighing Room Complex last winter.

The construction of the new Weighing Room was a significant project undertaken by the racecourse and completed on-time to a tight deadline, with work commencing following the final race meeting of 2023 and being operational by the first race meeting of 2024.

The previous Weighing Room in the Main Stand had to be completely stripped out and renovated in line with new requirements established by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). These requirements set minimum standards for all British racecourses to ensure facilities remain appropriate for elite athletes. 

The specification for the new Weighing Room was agreed by the BHA’s Weighing Room Facilities Working Party which included representatives of all personnel who work in the area, including jockeys.

R H Fullwood & Co Ltd of South Elmsall were the main contractors, with the work overseen by Guy Fullwood. The design was by Katie Craggs of Craggs Architects who are based just outside Richmond, North Yorkshire.

Paul Cartwright, chair of Pontefract Civic Society said ” The title “Improvement Award” doesn’t really describe the sheer scale of this project in reordering a myriad of at least nine separate rooms and spaces on the ground floor of the Main Stand. We felt that the improvements had been carried out to the highest quality with the best materials and workmanship possible. Some confined areas were opened up. Wherever dedicated areas had to remain, use was maximised, whether official workspaces, or relaxation and social spaces for the jockeys and valets. These facilities are a credit to the whole team and will surely continue to enhance Pontefract’s reputation.”

Dale Gibson (Director of Racing for the PJA) said “On behalf of the PJA and our members, we are delighted that Pontefract have received recognition for delivering their comprehensive weighing room upgrade. We worked closely with Norman Gundill and his team throughout the process who were highly professional throughout each phase. Our members now have a modern area providing equal services and facilities for male and female Jockeys, whilst creating a highly commended working environment. We urgently encourage all venues, some of whom have recently extended their timeline to deliver upgrades in a far speedier manner”.

When the new facility was first used on 2^nd April last year Jockey Connor Beasley said of the scheme “They’ve done a tremendous job. Everybody is happy with it”.

On receiving the Award, Pontefract Director Norman Gundill said “This is a testament to the excellent work done by our Architect Katie Craggs and R H Fullwood & Co who carried out the work on time, within budget, and to an excellent standard. Activity in the Weighing Room area can be frantic at times. The new facilities are almost unrecognisable from what we had before and now provide a much better environment for everyone to work in. We are committed to providing the best facilities we can for everyone who comes to Pontefract Racecourse”.

Welcome to another blog from the team at Pontefract Racecourse.

Every fortnight, someone from the team will share their thoughts for your entertainment (or otherwise!):

• Managing Director, Norman Gundill with his trusty PA, Caroline who also looks after the hospitality,
• Accounts Manager, Nicola,
• Admin manager, Carol,
• Marketing exec, Alexia, who is writing this blog, and,
• Chief Operating Officer, Richard

Dreaming of a week in the sun, walking along the beach with the sand between your toes or laying by the pool reading a book?

Well you could be spending a week relaxing by the very pool pictured above!

What if we told you that Riu Hotels and Resorts have very kindly offered an all-inclusive weeklong stay for two at the Riu Dubai to the lucky winner of this years Best Dressed Ladies Competition, with flights as well!

What a prize, does it get much better than a free holiday! Yes, you did read that correctly, the lucky winner will win an all-inclusive holiday, to Dubai with flights included courtesy of Riu Hotels!

The four star hotel is situated at Deira Islands, on the coast of the city of Dubai, directly on the beach, offering a 24-hour all-inclusive stay to make your holiday a unique experience.

The hotel has comfortably furnished rooms with free WiFi and offers many amenities, as well as plentiful options for dining including live cooking stations, themed buffets at the main restaurant as well as Asian, Italian and Lebanese speciality restaurants and not to mention six bars! The great leisure and relaxation facilities of the Riu Dubai are sure to amaze you: entertainment areas, three outdoor pools, a spa, a conference room, various themed restaurants, the Splash Water World water park… and much more.

The location is ideal because of its proximity to Dubai and invites you to explore the area, the Burj Khalifa situated only 15km away and Dubai International Airport just 11km away.

It just sounds incredible! To be in with a chance of winning, join us on Ladies Day and enter the Best Dressed Ladies Competition – details of the competition to be confirmed.

We are very grateful for the continued support from Riu Hotels, and it is wonderful for them to offer such an incredible prize to the winner. They have been kind enough to sponsor the Best Dressed Ladies competition for over 10 years, with previous winners jetting off to destinations including Mauritius and Mexico!

It isn’t just the winner who will be jetting off, the runner up will win a three night stay for two at the Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin with bed and breakfast (flights not included).

The four star hotel is in the heart of Dublin City Centre, in a historic building on the famous O’Connell Street. This Irish hotel offers you the best facilities for you to enjoy an unforgettable holiday. All the rooms are equipped with excellent amenities to cover all your needs during your stay.

Its in an ideal location for any visitor.  Surrounded by the main shopping area in Grafton Street and Henry Street, you will also find the most celebrated shows and theatres such as Gate Theatre and the National Concert Hall, and some of the most famous places in Dublin like Croke Park and Temple Bar. The hotel is also located a stone’s throw away from Abbey Street tram station which will easily take you to any other point of the city.

The glitz and glamour hits Ponte Carlo on Wednesday 6th of August for a showcase of style both on and off the track.

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to buy a new outfit, then look no further. With an array of hats, fascinators and stilettos, the ladies of Yorkshire truly do ‘dress to impress’ in an effort to win the coveted Best Dressed Ladies Competition.

There is limited hospitality remaining for Ladies Day however there are still plenty of entry tickets available as well as the Ladies Day Marquee, all available to purchase online. The earlier you book the cheaper the ticket. Click here to book.

See you on the 6th August!