VIDEO: Go Racing in Yorkshire

Doncaster Racecourse is saddling up to celebrate an entertainment packed summer festival involving all nine of Yorkshire’s racecourses.
An animated Kilburn White Horse with jockey galloped around Leeds City Hall. Photo: Mark BickerdikeAn animated Kilburn White Horse with jockey galloped around Leeds City Hall. Photo: Mark Bickerdike
An animated Kilburn White Horse with jockey galloped around Leeds City Hall. Photo: Mark Bickerdike

The seventh Go Racing In Yorkshire Festival 2014 runs until July 27.

It aims to attract both racegoers and non-racegoers and details of events including family fun days and music concerts are listed on the website www.goracing.co.uk.

On Thursday evening - July 24 - Doncaster Racecourse will host a racenight with a packed programme of entertainment for all of the family.

An animated Kilburn White Horse with jockey galloped around Leeds City Hall. Photo: Mark BickerdikeAn animated Kilburn White Horse with jockey galloped around Leeds City Hall. Photo: Mark Bickerdike
An animated Kilburn White Horse with jockey galloped around Leeds City Hall. Photo: Mark Bickerdike

The Residents Racenight will feature a seven race card and is completely free of charge for people living in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire areas who book Family Enclosure tickets in advance.

The fixture aims to encourage people who have never been horse racing to try it for the first time, as well as offering great value for money to existing racing fans.

The Young Hooves team will be on hand to entertain children who will be able to join the Young Hooves Kids Club and get a free goodie bag including binoculars, certificate and members badge.

It’s one of many activities taking place this week at Yorkshire’s nine racecourses, which also include Ripon, Redcar, Beverley, Catterick, York, Pontefract, Thirsk and Wetherby.

An animated Kilburn White Horse with jockey galloped around Leeds City Hall. Photo: Mark BickerdikeAn animated Kilburn White Horse with jockey galloped around Leeds City Hall. Photo: Mark Bickerdike
An animated Kilburn White Horse with jockey galloped around Leeds City Hall. Photo: Mark Bickerdike

They generate around £230 million annually into the local economy a large proportion is generated from hotels, restaurants and bars, say festival bosses.

Horse racing is the second largest spectator sport in Great Britain and Yorkshire’s nine racecourses host 180 days of racing throughout the year.

Go Racing in Yorkshire was set up in 1976 as the first regional promotion of the sport

This year’s festival was launched when Yorkshire’s iconic landmark, the Kilburn White Horse, was the centre- piece of a spectacular animated projection onto Leeds Civic Hall.

VIDEO: Press the play buton to watch the animated Kilburn White Horse with jockey galloping around the Civic Hall.

John Sexton, Chairman of the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival 2014 said: “We selected the wonderful Kilburn White Horse as a representation of all that Yorkshire has to offer from horseracing.

“There’s so much more than racing during the festival and each course has a different offering for a family fun day out along with some of the UK’s best racing. Horseracing has grown rapidly in popularity over the years and is now believed to be Britain’s second largest spectator sport.

“Yorkshire boasts nine quality racecourses with some of the best horse racing facilities in the UK.”

He added: “We enjoyed a record year in visitor numbers last year and we hope that more people will come along and see what racing has to offer this summer.”

GO RACING IN YORKSHIRE SUMMER FESTIVAL 2014 EVENTS

Sun 27: Pontefract

Sat 19: Ripon

Sun 20: Redcar

Mon 21: Beverley (Eve)

Tues 22: ‘Ultimate Racing Experience’

Wed 23: Catterick

Thurs 24: Doncaster (Eve)

Fri 25: York (Eve) Music from the Beach Boys

Sat 26: York (Eve) Gr. 2 Sky Bet York Stakes & Wet Wet Wet

* The Racing Roadshow: Find out more about the equine and human stars of the sport and take a look at some specialist racing equipment on the course every day throughout the festival.

For more visit www.goracing.co.uk.