The Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival, sponsored by Sky Bet, celebrates all that is great about racing in the White Rose County with 10 race meetings, over 9 days at 8 different Yorkshire racecourses, starting at Ripon on Saturday 20 July and finishing at Pontefract on Sunday 28 July.
The festival visits Catterick on the sixth day, Wednesday 24 July, following an open afternoon at Jack Berry House on the Tuesday, 23 July.
Racing Welfare is the official charity of the Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival this year and they will be presenting two Lifetime in Racing awards at Catterick on 24 July.
The Lifetime in Racing Awards are organised by Racing Welfare and are awarded to those that have dedicated their career to working in the horseracing industry to publicly acknowledge their achievement and hard work.
On 24 July, the award will be presented to both Jock Bennett and Kenny Williams who are great friends and have asked if they could be awarded together.
Jock has been in the industry all his life and started out with Bill Watts in 1972 before moving to Mark Johnston’s in 1997 where he is now Assistant Trainer and an integral part of the operation. He has been associated with many great horses over the years including Bill Watt’s Teleprompter who won many top races including the Arlington Million.
Kenny started his career in 1970 and worked for few different trainers including Ken Payne at Kingsley House in Middleham before joining Jock at Bill Watts for 17 years where the two became firm pals. He was then with Linda Ramsden for seven years before seven years with Alan Swinbank ahead of moving to Michael Dodd’s where he is now Travelling Head Lad.
Sarah Fanning, Regional Welfare Manager at Racing Welfare said: “We are delighted to award these two great characters and stalwarts of the Northern Racing community with these thoroughly well-deserved awards and would like to give our thanks to Catterick Racecourse for hosting them.”
The racing action on Wednesday 24 July will get underway at 2.10pm, with the gates opening approximately 2 hours prior to that. The feature race of the afternoon is the Unlimited Free Race Replays at sportinglife.com Handicap Stakes at 4.10pm.
As with all Catterick’s fixtures, under 18’s race free when accompanied by an adult and do not require a ticket. There will also be free children’s entertainment, including bouncy castles and a roundabout, in the Course Enclosure throughout the afternoon.
The free shuttle bus will leave from Richmond Market Place one hour before the first race to bring racegoers to the racecourse and will return after the last race.
Tickets will be available to purchase at the gates on the day, while advanced and group booking discounts are available here.