The first meeting of the 2019 Yorkshire racing calendar will take place at Catterick Racecourse on New Year’s Day.
The popular fixture has a six race card, with the first race taking place at 12.25pm. The gates will be open to the public from 10.25am, and as with all of Catterick’s fixtures, a free shuttle bus will run from Richmond Market Place approximately an hour before the first race to bring racegoers to the course.
The feature race of the afternoon, The catterickbridge.co.uk Handicap Steeple Chase, is scheduled for 2.45pm, while the last race will come under starters orders at 3.20pm.
Fiona Needham, General Manager and Clerk of the Course said: “Racing on New Year’s Day has become a traditional activity for many of our racegoers and we’re thrilled to continue the tradition this year. It’s a great way to start the New Year and clear your head after the night before!”
Alongside the racing action on the day, there will also be the opportunity for racegoers to win a sponsorship experience – see the racehorses up close in the Parade Ring, judge the Best Turned Out horse and celebrate with winning connections after the race! Plus, keen racegoers will be excited to learn that they could be in with a chance of winning tickets to a future race day at the course by visiting the section of steeple chase fence which has been positioned next to the Parade Ring and taking a ‘Steeplechase Selfie’!
This meeting is the first of 25 fixtures to be held at the course next year – including 10 National Hunt and 15 Flat fixtures. The fixture calendar will see a pause in proceedings following the end of the National Hunt season in March to allow for Parade Ring and Weighing Room development works to take place at the course. The racecourse will then re-open for the first Flat fixture on Monday 17 June before the new Cocktails and Casino Race Night on Monday 1 July.
Highlights of this year’s fixture list include the prestigious North Yorkshire Grand National on Thursday 10 January, Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival on Wednesday 24 July, the ever popular August Family Day’s and the return of Catterick’s richest race day, The Catterick Dash on Saturday 19 October.
Emma Binnian, Sales & Marketing Manager said: “There’s something for everyone on offer next year, from Family Days to Ladies’ Day and the new Cocktails & Casino Race Night. We’re looking forward to welcoming racegoers back to the course for another great year of racing at Catterick!”
The Yorkshire Beer Festival Race Day comes back to the course next year on Saturday 21 September, when The Pennine Brewing Co. will be at the course with a number local ales and ciders for racegoers to try alongside the racing action. In addition, Ladies Day makes a move to the afternoon of Wednesday 28 August.
The calendar will come to an end with the ever popular Christmas fixtures on Tuesday 17 and Saturday 28 December.