Ripon Races

Ripon (North Yorkshire) is one of the oldest cities in England, boasting a market that stretches back centuries, which makes it a great place to visit.

With total prize money well in excess of a million pounds, the fixture list at Ripon incorporates some outstanding races. In August alone, the course stages two major highlights. The William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap is a six furlong sprint which is named after the town’s patron saint and due to the large number of runners, and the vagaries of the draw, it quite often requires divine inspiration to select the winner. Later in the month, on August bank holiday Monday, Ripon stages its Listed EBF Champion Two Year Old Trophy which often attracts leading young horses from major stables.

Ripon also plays host to family fun days throughout the season, with a wide range of activities and fun for all ages from Punch’n’Judy and fancy dress to barrel train rides, bouncy castles and arts and crafts. All of these activities are free for children to take part in, and all under 18s are admitted free to the racecourse with a paying adult.

Staging only flat racing, horses run right-handed over an undulating oval course measuring one mile five furlongs in circumference. There is a sharp bend into the home straight and the straight is one of the longest in the country, at five furlongs in length.