Guide to 2021 Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival including the full schedule, stats and betting tips

The long-standing Summer Festival is a true celebration of what the White Rose County has to offer from a racing perspective. Supported by Sky Bet, the Festival covers eight days of action (10 meetings in total) in the peak of summer and includes some top-quality racing, primarily at the region’s premier racecourse – York – but also on the final Sunday at Pontefract with the valuable Listed Pomfret Stakes.

The Tuesday – this year July 20 – is a rest day but the double-header of Thirsk on Friday afternoon followed by York the same evening more than makes up for it, while York once again features twice in the packed programme thanks to a quality Saturday programme on July 24, which acts as the second day of the course's Music Showcase Weekend.

Ripon's seven-race card opens proceedings this Saturday, featuring the Titanium Racing Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap, and Operations and Marketing Manager Jonathan Mullin said: "We're delighted to once again be kicking off the Sky Bet Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival at Yorkshire's Garden Racecourse.

"We might not have as many people joining us as would usually be the case, due to restrictions on numbers, but the course is looking fantastic, we've got a decent afternoon of racing in store and we hope to start a great week for Yorkshire racing with a bang."

It's always a fantastic week for the diary and here we guide you through the entire GRIY Summer Festival, showcase exactly what's going on and provide some killer stats and essential betting tips.

Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival schedule

• Saturday July 17 - Ripon (Gates open: 12.30; First race: 14.45) & Doncaster (Gates open: 15.30; First race: 17.30)
• Sunday July 18 – Redcar (Gates open: 11.45; First race: 13.45)
• Monday July 19 – Beverley (Gates open: 4.30; First race: 5.45)
• Tuesday July 20 – Blank
• Wednesday July 21 – Catterick (Gates open: 11.30; First race: 13.15)
• Thursday July 22 – Doncaster (Gates open: 15.20; First race: 17.20)
• Friday July 23 – Thirsk (Gates open: 11.00; First race: 13.10) & York (Gates open: 4.00; First race: 6.00)
• Saturday July 24 – York (Gates open: 11.15; First race: 2.05)
• Sunday July 25 – Pontefract (Gates open: 11.30; First race: 1.55)

Tipping competition fierce as ever

The Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival tipping challenge is back with a bigger and better turnout than ever.

We'll be highlighting the selections of each 'team' throughout the week so you can make your own decisions based on the tips put forward by some of the county's top practitioners.

This year the tipping competition will feature:

• Team Richard Fahey
• Team Mark Johnston
• Team David O'Meara
• Team Sporting Life
• Team Tim Easterby
• Team Kevin Ryan
• Team Karl Burke
• Team John Quinn
• Team Racing TV
• Alex Hammond
• Ed Chamberlin
• Michael Shinners
• Oli Bell

Sky Sports Racing's Alex Hammond said: "This competition will be fierce and I’m thanking my lucky stars I seem to have got off the 'cold list' in the nick of time!

"With the likes of Richard Fahey, Tim Easterby, Kevin Ryan, Karl Burke and Charlie Johnston from the training ranks in the line-up, I fear I may be outclassed, but you can guarantee we will be taking this incredibly seriously, so keep your eyes peeled on the sportinglife.com website for an update on our daily selections."

Summer Festival Tips and Stats

Saturday July 17 - Ripon

Punting pointer

Ripon is not for the faint-hearted thoroughbred, which is what makes it so appealing for some punters. The undulations in the home straight pose a unique test, especially for two-year-olds, so previous racecourse experience can count for plenty when the chips are down, while previous Ripon winners should be followed very closely, no matter how uninspiring their recent form elsewhere.

David O’Meara and Shane Gray have won five races from 17 together at Ripon, a strike-rate of 29.41% and a level stakes profit of +28.83.

Saturday July 17 - Doncaster (Evening)

Punting pointer

Andrea Atzeni is the undisputed king of Doncaster, the multiple St Leger and Vertem Futurity Trophy winning jockey winning 64 races on Town Moor from 289 rides – a strike-rate of 22.15% and a level-stakes profit of +47.57.

Sunday July 18 – Redcar

Punting pointer

If he's got a runner, follow William Haggas. Like several other Yorkshire racecourses, Newmarket trainer Haggas - a Yorkshireman himself, of course - boasts a fine record at Redcar. Over the past five seasons his numbers read 14 winners from 44 runners at a win strike-rate of 32%. That's £110,118 of prize-money in total.

Tim Easterby’s Give It Some Teddy is the most successful horse at Redcar this century, winning five times from 10 goes at a level-stakes profit of +33.33.

Monday July 19 – Beverley (Evening)

Punting pointer

How low can you go? A low draw remains hugely significant on the Westwood, especially in races over sprint distances. These events start on a slope, they then go around a tight right-bend and unless the ground is very soft (which seems unlikely at this time of year, please God) the inside rail is the place to be. High numbers can be overcome, but they are at a clear disadvantage.

As for a killer stat, it's that man Haggas again as he has a terrific record in non-handicaps at Beverley, winning 28 races from 74 runners at 37.84%, even if a profit to SP of +9.28 does suggest they are normally pretty well-fancied.

Tuesday July 20 – Blank

Take a break. Take stock and gear up for the rest of the week.

Or head over to Jack Berry House for an hour or two...

Wednesday July 21 – Catterick

Punting pointer

Look out for early pace. Sharp in nature, Catterick is no place for slow starters, who can find themselves out of the race before it's even begun in earnest. Avoid anything with a tendency to break poorly from the stalls.

Silvestre de Sousa is your man for a short-odds favourite at Catterick – he’s seven from eight on horses that had an SP of evens or shorter.

Thursday July 22 – Doncaster (Evening)

Punting pointer

Look out for the boys in blue. Any representative from Godolphin has to be accorded maximum respect at Doncaster. It's not been a brilliant couple of years for Saeed bin Suroor in general, but his Donny record over the past five seasons stands at a very healthy 17 winners from 52 runners (33%) and it's three from 12 in juvenile races only. Charlie Appleby's all-time Doncaster record is also a perfectly respectable 20% strike-rate (32-160).

Friday July 23 – Thirsk

Punting pointer

The draw bias over five furlongs is just about stronger than at any other course in the country, with those drawn high (stands' side) at a distinct advantage. The bias is slightly less pronounced over six furlongs and if the ground is on the soft side then those in the low numbers have a much better chance, but in general is pays to be with the horses drawn in double figures.

Watch out for any Mick Appleby runners in 3yo only handicaps here - he’s six from 21 at 28.67% in the sphere, a profit of +286.99 to Betfair SP!

Friday July 23 - York (Evening)

Punting pointer

Speed, speed, speed. There's a need for speed in just about all race types on the Knavesmire, with horses typically held up for a late run often struggling to reel in the pace-setters. The fastest of the fast win the sprints and the races on the round course are invariably contested by those to have raced up in the vanguard.

The Andrew Balding-Oisin Murphy dream team love the Knavesmire independently but they are a stronger force when teaming up together at York; six from 34 at 17.65% to +30.00 at SP.

Saturday July 24 – York

Punting pointer

Yorkshire contains some of the shrewdest trainers in the land and by nature they don't like to share the wealth when it comes to the considerable prize money on offer at the county's premier racecourse. Richard Fahey picked up £273,594 of York's prize pot through 2019 and Tim Easterby pocketed £196,984 (the 2020 figures were inevitably down due to prize cuts). David O'Meara, who now trains a little over 13 miles from the course in Upper Helmsley, took home £276,294 from York meetings in 2019. O'Meara has yet to saddle a winner at York so far this term (0-35), following a frustrating run of five seconds, four third and three fourths. He'll be sure to put that right before long.

Sunday July 25 – Pontefract

Punting pointer

The Listed Pomfret Stakes takes top billing, a race in which David O'Meara has enjoyed notable success in recent seasons, including with subsequent Arlington Million winner Mondialiste. Stablemate Custom Cut, winner in 2014, was narrowly denied a second victory by the Richard Fahey-trained Another Touch in 2017 and O'Meara went close once again when Salateen bumped into Big Country in 2018. Mick Appleby's globe-trotting Big Country scored before going on to compete in Group races in Norway and Sweden, while Marie's Diamond and Royal Ascot winner Dark Vision have won the past two editions. So when it comes to trying to find the 2021 winner you're certainly going to need to look for a quality operator.

On top of this, watch out for Fast Company progeny at Pontefract. They are 11/54 at 20.37% with a profit of +66.44 to Betfair SP.

Festival returns after one-year hiatus

Charlotte Russell, general manager of Go Racing In Yorkshire said: “We really missed not having the Festival last year, and the racecourses, along with our loyal sponsor Sky Bet, were determined that it would take place in some form this year. It has been refreshing to be able to make plans again and exciting that the majority of the week will take place without crowd restrictions."

The Festival this year will also have strong Yorkshire themes, celebrating the unique aspects of each of the county’s racecourses which are all connected by the Yorkshire brand.

Michael Shinners, Head of Sports PR at Sky Bet said: "Sky Bet are once again delighted to be sponsoring the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival. It’s great to have the opportunity to sponsor at not only some of the county’s, but the country's finest racecourses. We have a couple of new initiatives this year including rewarding the yard with the most Best Turned Out winners in our sponsored races. All in all, it should be a great nine days."

Best Turned Out bonus

The new best turned out competition will be run across the week.

The winner of the best turned out horse competition in each of the Sky Bet-sponsored races will be tallied and the yard with the most winners will receive a prize of £1,000 to be shared among the staff, plus refreshments to celebrate.

Working with the Yorkshire Film Archive, racegoers will be able to see historical footage of racing in the White Rose County on the big screens, along with original audio. Plus, they will be welcomed into the tracks with an eclectic mix of Yorkshire-themed music.

Trainer and jockey gongs up for grabs

Competition will be fierce, both in the races themselves but also for the leading trainer of the week, sponsored by Goldsborough Hall and the leading jockey of the week sponsored by Sky Bet.

Clare Oglesby of Goldsborough Hall said: "Mark and I are delighted, once again, to be sponsoring the prize for the leading trainer at the Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival and presenting the Byerley Turk Trophy. We have been involved with Go Racing In Yorkshire for many years and can’t wait to be back after missing everything last year."

Chipping away for charity

After the success of 2019, the 'Paddock and Chips' jockeys' football competition will be making a return.

Scoring points for chipping a football into a target from various distances, the competition will take place throughout the week in the Parade Ring, about an hour before the first race.

The Yorkshire themes continue in the catering department with CGC Event Caterers, who will be offering a Masons Tea Edition Gin and Tonic for a Festival special price of £6 and a ‘Yorkshire Rascal’, served with clotted cream, jam and butter with a cup of Yorkshire Tea for £4.95, at each of the courses they serve.

Jack Berry House, the jockey and stable staff rehabilitation centre in Malton, will also be open to members of the public between 12 noon and 2pm on Tuesday July 20, the one day of the Festival when racing does not take place in Yorkshire.

And while it’s all about the horses, look out for Festival Freddie who will be appearing at the racecourses and is always a big hit with the children!

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