Catterick’s longest and most prestigious National Hunt race takes centre stage at the racecourse next week, on Thursday 13 January.
This year, the North Yorkshire Grand National has been kindly sponsored by Middleton St George based bookmaker, Vickers Bet. The race is a true test of stamina and jumping ability, with the competitors running over three miles, six furlongs and facing twenty-four jumping obstacles along the way.
Fiona Needham, General Manager and Clerk of the Course said: “This is a race we look forward to each year. To see horses progress from success at Catterick and go on to perform at places like Cheltenham and Aintree is always fantastic – we’ll be following the career of this year’s North Yorkshire Grand National winner!”
The race tends to attract runners from some of the leading trainers in the UK, while a trainer well worth watching out for is Yorkshire-based Sue Smith, who has trained four winners of the North Yorkshire Grand National in the last six years. Smith’s wins came with Lackamon (2016), Straidnahanna (2017), I Just Know (2018) and Sharp Response (2019).
The Smith-streak was broken in 2020 as local trainer Phil Kirby, based at East Appleton, won the most recent renewal with Little Bruce and Tommy Dowson on board.
Racegoers will enjoy a seven-race card on the day, with the first race scheduled for 12.25pm. Gates open to the public two hours prior to the first race and there will be a complimentary shuttle bus to bring racegoers from Richmond Market Place at approximately 11.25am and it will return after the last race, scheduled for 3.50pm.
With a new Winter Season Discount scheme in place at the racecourse, racegoers can enjoy all the action for less on North Yorkshire Grand National day, with general admission prices reduced for race days between 2 January to 31 March, while a further advanced booking discounts are available to those who book either online or over the phone ahead of the gates opening.