Trainer Richard Fahey hails Yorkshire racegoers as the Festival returns

The Malton-based handler, who was top trainer at the event when it was last held in 2019, said: “I bet you there are a lot of other racing jurisdictions who are jealous of Yorkshire and Yorkshire people are very knowledgeable, they know their horses and they are interested in them. It is not just a social thing for them, they are on it.”

The Group One-winning trainer, who earlier this year passed the 3,000-winner mark in a brilliant career, was speaking at his Musley Bank Stables, at the launch of the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, sponsored by Sky Bet, which starts tomorrow at Ripon.

The event will move around each of the county’s nine courses, taking in 10 meetings, including two at both York and Doncaster, and ending at Pontefract on Sunday week.

After seeing last year’s event cancelled due to the pandemic, 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.”

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

There will also be a number of competitions in the week, including awards for the top trainer and leading jockey.

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.

“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.”

The yard which wins the best turned out competition will also share £1,000 prize money.

The Festival will have also strong Yorkshire themes, celebrating the unique aspects of each of the county’s racecourses as well as White Rose-themed food, drink, achive footage of old races on the big screens and Festival Freddie, the event mascot.

Dates for the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, sponsored by Sky Bet are: July 17 - Ripon and Doncaster (evening); 18 - Redcar; 19 - Beverley (evening); 20 - Jack Berry House Open Afternoon (12 to 2pm); 21 - Catterick; 22 - Doncaster (evening); 23 - Thirsk and York (evening); 24 - York; 25 - Pontefract.