Rejoicing in Ripon: Ripon is under starter’s orders for its biggest race day of the year

🏇🌿Just two weeks after the annual St Wilfrid’s Day procession brought thousands of people to Ripon’s streets, an estimated 10,000 racegoers will be heading to the racecourse on Boroughbridge Road on Saturday for the race that bears the name of the city’s patron saint.

The William Hill/MND Association Great St Wilfrid Handicap, with total prize money of £100,000, is the principal race of the day — £51,540 going to the winner and the remainder shared among placed horses. 💷🏆

Supporting MND charity 💙

The Leeds‑headquartered bookmaker, which raised £30,000 to support people with Motor Neuron Disease through the 2025 running of the highly competitive six‑furlong sprint and the William Hill Supporting MND Silver Cup Handicap, has now donated more than £500,000 in total to the charity.

Another big crowd anticipated 🌞

Rachel Simpson of the Ripon Races administrative and operational team told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon Blog: “We had 10,000 racegoers through our gates for last year’s St Wilfrid Handicap meeting and, with the weather forecast looking good, we’re anticipating a similar attendance on Saturday.”

Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse 🌸🌳

Despite the prolonged heatwave that has baked gardens, fields and parkland across the country, grounds staff have ensured that the Ripon track has a lush green layer of grass, while floral displays on the grandstand and around the tree‑lined parade ring are looking fantastic.

Newly appointed head groundsman Tom Pemberton, formerly of Pontefract Racecourse, said: “The team has done a great job and we are helped by the fact that we have a very good irrigation system that draws water from an on‑site borehole.”

Good to firm going 🏁

With no forecast rain, Saturday’s seven‑race card looks set to be run on good to firm going. The Great St Wilfrid Handicap — sponsored by William Hill for the 33rd consecutive year — has 15 declared runners, headed by topweight Aramram from the Richard Hannon stable carrying 9‑12.

Ripon’s rich racing heritage 📜🐎

The St Wilfrid Gold Cup, contested over two miles, was run in 1839 at a course north of the River Ure — the first race to carry the name of the city’s patron saint.

Historical records and maps dating back to 1664 show a racecourse on Borrage Green, and by 1675 races were taking place at Bishop Monkton. By 1717, the Sport of Kings (and Queens) moved to a site now occupied by Ripon Golf Club on Palace Road.

The first‑ever race for women jockeys 👒🐎

History was made on the Ripon Common course when it hosted the first‑ever race for women jockeys — sponsored and won by Mrs Aislabie of Studley Royal, whose family also built Ripon’s obelisk and created the Studley Royal Water Garden.

More than 125 years at Boroughbridge Road 🎉

The racecourse at Boroughbridge Road opened on 6th August 1900, and August has always been its most important month — attracting regular racegoers, many arriving by coach or car to take advantage of the free parking.

Our horseracing heritage 🐴❤️

Ripon BID manager Lilla Bathurst said: “Throughout the season thousands of visitors come to Ripon for a great day or evening of racing and many frequent the city’s independent hospitality businesses before and after the races.

“Once more this year Ripon will also benefit from national media exposure as ITV Racing will be broadcasting live from the track and will feature the Great St Wilfrid race in their programme.

“Horseracing has clearly been part of Ripon’s DNA for hundreds of years and the fact that Wilfrid, who founded our magnificent cathedral in AD 672, is celebrated in this way underlines the importance that heritage plays in giving our ancient city a point of difference that helps us attract more visitors.”

Race day timings ⏰

Gates open at 11am on Saturday. First race: 1.45pm Last race: 5.05pm

Further information: https://ripon-races.co.uk/

Caption 3: Head groundsman Tom Pemberton says the track is in good order thanks to the irrigation system at the course.

Credits: Photos 1 and 2 were supplied by Ripon Races, Photo 3 taken by Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon Blog for Ripon BID