The first meeting of 2016 at Ripon – Yorkshire’s ‘Garden Racecourse’- takes place on Thursday (14 April 2016), when racing is scheduled to begin at 2-00 p.m with a contest for two-year-olds supported by both The Nag’s Head at Pickhill and The European Breeders Fund.
Ripon’s season on the Flat this summer consists of 17 days’ racing and Thursday’s programme features The Ripon ‘Cock O’ The North’ Handicap Stakes (a contest over one mile for three-year-olds) that refers to the Northern Flat Jockeys’ Championship.
The title was won last season by Tim Easterby’s retained Jockey David Allan, who was also leading Jockey at the track. Malton-based Richard Fahey was the top trainer last season at the course after an outstanding season, both competitions are based on a points system based on winners along with second and third places.
The PPR Foundation Handicap Stakes, a race for sprinters over six furlongs refers to the fund-raising efforts on Thursday of The PPR Foundation Brain Tumour Research Project, a national charity based in Harrogate. The Peter Roberts Memorial Handicap (six furlongs) is also sponsored in support of PPR Foundation. The Go Racing in Yorkshire Future Stars Series, now in its fourth year is a series of races for young riders on the flat throughout Yorkshire. Previous winners Gary Mahon, Megan Carberry and Josh Doyle have both gone onto have blossoming careers.
Race-goers will be able to follow all of the action on the course’s permanent giant screen, along with coverage of Newmarket’s Craven Meeting.
Ripon next race on Saturday 23 April 2016 for their St George’s Day Celebrations, including free entry for racegoers named George.
