Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival 2008

The excitement of a day at the races is set to boost visitors numbers to the region this summer when a new horse racing festival gets underway in Yorkshire.

The Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival aims to raise the profile of the sport and attract an influx of new visitors to the region. The eight courses in the region which stage Flat racing will host a total of nine fixtures between 19^th and 27^th July and on the one day when there is no racing , 22^nd July,  The Northern Racing College in Doncaster will stage an open day to see behind the scenes at one of only two, British Horseracing Colleges.

Racegoers buying a ticket in advance for any Festival fixture will receive discounted admission vouchers to many of Yorkshire’s leading family tourist attractions such as the Jorvik Viking Centre in York, Harewood House near Leeds and The Deep in Hull.

Neil Etherington, Go Racing In Yorkshire’s Marketing Committee Chairman, says: “With nine racecourses, Yorkshire offers some of the best racing in Britain and this Festival is designed to showcase our product to a much wider audience.

“Through racing, we also aim to attract a large number of new visitors to the region by also offering them the opportunity to stay in the county for a short break and visit some of the many wonderful attractions.”

David Andrews, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Tourist Board, says: “Yorkshire Tourist Board is pleased to lend its support to this Festival, which will create a fantastic buzz around the region during July.  The Festival will complement the array of events Yorkshire has to offer visitors over the summer season and will help to attract more visitors.”

Nic Coward, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Association, adds: “The Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival is a fantastic initiative. We have no doubt that Yorkshire will make this year’s inaugural Festival a huge success, and in years to come it will be a recognised highlight of the summer racing season.”

The Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival will be held in association with leading bookmakers Skybet. “This is an exciting initiative that has the potential to attract thousands of new people to racing, and to the region. As long-standing supporters of Go Racing in Yorkshire, we are delighted to be supporting it,” adds Skybet’s Dale Tempest.

Visitors to the Festival will also receive vouchers offering discounted admission to leading Yorkshire tourist attractions. Racegoers will save up £12 on a visit to Harewood House and as much as a third off a day at the Lightwater Valley theme park.

A daily prize draw for those purchasing County or equivalent tickets in advance will offer four free places in each racecourse restaurant, and racegoers attending the Festival will get the chance to enter a racecard competition to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Dublin for a day’s racing at Fairyhouse and two nights in a luxury hotel, courtesy of Ripon Travel and Mercedes.

Further incentives will be announced over the next month.

* To find out how to purchase tickets for the Festival, visit www.yorkshire.com/goracing or http://www.goracing.co.uk/. or  Tel: Go Racing in Yorkshire 019387 580622

FREE VIP PRIZE DRAW

All pre-purchased County or equivalent badges will automatically be entered into a PRIZE DRAW for a chance to win a VIP upgrade for up to 4 people allowing you to dine in one of the course’s best restaurants.

DISCOUNT ATTRACTIONS

With all County or equivalent badges purchased for the Festival a set of vouchers will be issued offering discounted admission to 10 visitor attractions throughout Yorkshire.

One set of vouchers will be issued per ticket purchased. Offers valid until 30/9/08.

Summer Festival dates:

Ripon, Saturday 19th July

Redcar, Sunday 20th July

Beverley (eve), Monday 21st July

Northern Racing College Open Day, Tuesday 22nd July

Catterick, Wednesday 23rd July

Doncaster (eve), Thursday 24th July

Thirsk, Friday 25th July

York (eve), Friday 25th July

York, Saturday 26th July

Pontefract, Sunday 27th July

For further information visit www.goracing.co.uk/