Wetherby Racecourse makes history with first Flat fixture

Wetherby Racecourse, founded in 1891, stages Flat racing for the first time ever on Sunday April 26, with a seven-race card.

It is the West Yorkshire track's annual family day with celebrities attending, and the 10th annual running of the thrilling Foresters Mascot Gold Cup, which raises money for the charity Sue Ryder, also takes place.

Limited edition commemorative souvenirs will be given to every 25th racegoer coming through the turnstiles.

Jonjo Sanderson, Chief Executive & Clerk of the Course of Wetherby Racecourse & Conference Centre, said: "Sunday, April 26 is a day we are looking forward to immensely and we are hoping it will be special occasion for everyone who attends. 

"We are immensely grateful to bet365 [who sponsor the card] for their support of Wetherby's inaugural Flat fixture. Bet365 have played a huge part in the success of our most prestigious Jump meeting, the bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting, for the last 12 years and I think it is very fitting that they form part of this historic moment in Wetherby's history.

"We are putting on a lot of activities besides the seven Flat races to give racegoers of all ages something to be involved with.

"There will be numerous entertainments provided, including an animal petting farm, the National Festival Circus, inflatables, face painting and much more for children. Accompanied children aged 17 and under come racing for free to all of our race meetings.

"Claire King and some of her colleagues from Coronation Street and Emmerdale will be here to mix and mingle with the crowd plus make race presentations.

"The Foresters Mascot Gold Cup is a fun event and is attempting to break the world record for the number of mascots involved.

"Jump racing has taken place at Wetherby since 1891 and this year we break new ground by adding four Flat fixtures to the entertainment we offer."

Wetherby has four Flat fixtures in 2015, with the others being on Monday, June 22 (evening); Monday, July 13 (afternoon) and Tuesday, July 21 (evening).

Jump racing at Wetherby happens next on Thursday, May 21 (afternoon) and Thursday, May 28 (evening).

Sanderson added: "Everyone at Wetherby Racecourse is extremely excited about the introduction of Flat racing and honoured to have been given the opportunity to deliver this historic event.

"The course configuration, devised by Milton Keynes Surveys, was tested at our trials day in June, 2014. The overall circumference of the Flat course is 2,450 metres, or just over a mile and a half. The two straights are approximately half a mile in length, with the bends each being a quarter mile.

"The maximum safety factor per race is 16 runners, with the exception of those over five and a half furlongs and one mile and five furlongs, which have a limit of 12 runners.

"The rationale behind the introduction of Flat racing at Wetherby is to try and grow our business and attract a new customer base to Wetherby, as well as achieving a greater utilisation of the excellent equine and customer facilities that the racecourse has to offer.

"Importantly, the Flat fixtures we have secured are supplementary to our core activity of Jump racing and provide vital support to Wetherby's Jump Race Programme."

The Mascot Gold Cup, sponsored by Foresters, is celebrating its 10th running and the fundraising team at Sue Ryder aims to break the world record for the most mascots in a race.

Last year over 80 larger-than-life furry characters joined the charity race and well over 100 will line up on April 26.

The Mascot Gold Cup, held at Wetherby Racecourse since 2006, has raised £130,000 for the charity and a similar figure for many other charities as Mascots can fundraise for their own chosen charities. 

Individuals, corporate groups and sports associations are all encouraged to join in the fun and the charity has a number of costumes that can be adopted for the day, for those who don't own their own. Teams will come from across the UK and this year there's even an international entry.

Funds raised help Sue Ryder care for people with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses in Yorkshire at their hospices in Keighley and Headingley and their neurological centre at Holme Hall near York.