It’s back and it all starts at Pontefract! We’re really excited about the 17th 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 26th 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!