Around a thousand people will go to York Races for free this Saturday (14 June).
It’s the Macmillan Charity Raceday, and the free admission is what York Racecourse is calling the ‘Proper Thank You Bank’.
It’s a way of showing gratitude to hundreds of people who support Macmillan and other charities.
These dedicated professionals are from across the UK. Some are travelling from the South East to spend the day at the racecourse, for their first racing experience.
They work to offer physical, and financial support to people living with cancer, in hospitals, on the support line, in hospices and in the community.
Amy Swales from York Racecourse said: “Working closely with Macmillan and our local charity partners you discover the dedication of so many people and we simply wanted to say, ‘thank you’.
“We hope they all enjoy what promises to be a fantastic afternoon of both sport and fund raising.”
Saturday will see the partnership build on 53 years of fun and fundraising, with more than £12 million raised for good causes in that time.
The day will also celebrate the commitment of the nine intrepid amateur riders, who will undertake the Macmillan Ride of Their Lives, a mile race aboard a thoroughbred on the famous Knavesmire.
Each rider has pledged at least £4,000 to the charity and you can help them by visiting their donation pages on Just Giving or through the York Racecourse website.
More fundraising will be delivered by a charity abseil from the roof of the four-storey Knavesmire Stand.
On the track, there’s a seven-race card worth the record amount of £235,000. Headlined by the Seat Unique Handicap, the winners would be worth following as the season unfolds.
Falling in June, the raceday celebrates Pride Month, notably through the British EBF supporting Racing with Pride Fillies’ Handicap.
The meeting opens on Friday when you have the only chance in the York year to see a horse win then have a chance to buy it. That is what the Coopers marquees Rous Seller brings to the fun of the day.
Racing begins at 1.50pm on both days. The Saturday action also features the 35th running of The Queen Mother’s Cup, the richest race for lady amateur riders in Britain and a contest won by The Princess Royal in 1988 as well as by ITV Racing presenter, Francesca Cumani in 2006.
It offers an opportunity for the successful rider to toast her success in her own weight in Lanson champagne.
Racegoers aged under-18 are admitted free of charge to all enclosures, with adult admission to the Clocktower Enclosure £8 on Friday or £15 on Saturday.