🏇 PONTEFRACT HORSE RACING SYSTEM - 2021 SEASON - MEETING #11 15th AUGUST

PONTEFRACT SEASON 2021.

Welcome to this our eleventh meeting of the 2021 season taking place on Sunday 15th August. 

1st race 2.00pm.
Going: Good to firm [Good in places]

Tickets are now being sold for future events and selling quickly, it will be nice to see a big attendance at courses around the country for the summer. Under the current ‘roadmap’, the racing here will see (limited) numbers of spectators returning to Pontefract for this Sunday afternoon meeting on 15th August. For as long as social distancing remains in place, however, the ‘normal’ raceday remains some way in the future. With all ‘essential workers’ (BHA and Racecourse officials, stable staff, trainers, jockeys etc) having to undergo health screening before each raceday, and then having to be kept at least 2m away from owners and (when admitted) other racegoers, these restrictions effectively rule out any use of the Main Stand, and parts of the Second Stand, by the general public. Indeed two of the dining rooms in the Main Stand have been transformed into changing areas for jockeys to ensure that they are able to maintain social distance.

The following is a quote from the official Pontefract Racing site 'A limited number of tickets for the following race meetings are now on sale:

* Sunday 15th August – 3 enclosures (Premier, Grandstand & Paddock and Picnic)

Tickets for September and October meetings will also go on sale after the government announcement of an ease to restrictions.

Our final Family Day of 2021 on Sunday 15th August will be run once again as The In The Zone Raceday.

We are setting up zones around the Enclosures to offer racegoers the chance to engage with and learn a little more about different parts of the industry:

• The Jockey Zone – pre register for an ex- jockeys take on how to ride Ponte. Walk the last 6 furlongs at 11.30am (numbers limited). To register, either give us a call on 01977 781307 or send an email.
• The Industry Zone – Behind the Scenes Tour in the Weighing Room from 12.30pm – 12.45pm (numbers strictly limited)
• The Horse Zone – Join the ex racehorses during a parade of ex racers from 12.45pm – 1pm
• The Quiet Zone – Enjoy a free tea or coffee with us while you read the Racing Post and sort out your selections. Peace and quiet between 12.30pm and 1pm in the Betting Hall
• The Newcomers Zone – Meet our ‘Here to Help’ team who’ll show you around and explain how an afternoon at the races works. Join us on the Marquee Site – 1.00pm
• The Tipster Zone – Listen to the expert Punters Panel in the Winners Enclosure at 1.30pm
• The Kids Zone – Enjoy the Kids zone throughout the afternoon in the Picnic Enclosure.

Onto the racing itself and the highlight of our final Family Day of 2021 is the EBF Highfield Farm Flying Fillies Listed contest which is due to go off at 15:10 and worth over £32,000 to the winner. This contest was won last year by Stormy Girl, (pictured above) a first listed event win for trainer Rebecca Menzies and ridden by Cam Hardie. You can guarantee there’ll be some very speedy equine ladies on display. 

ALL results for these fixtures are recorded to a level stake at Starting Price (SP), and will also show any forecast results too in the daily results but these do not count for the profit / loss figures. After a good opening we have seen a few winners but despite this overall after the latest meeting we still have to carry over a deficit of -33.88 points onto this eleventh meeting this afternoon.

Going / Weather: The forecast going is now currently reported as 'Good - Good to firm in places' while the weather for Sunday afternoon is for a generally cloudy day with a high probability of showers but hopefully not too many. We are seeing a forecast maximum temperature around the 21C mark.

Here are our selections for the seven races taking place on Sunday afternoon, remember it's a very simple selection process using stalls one and two in every race;

14:00  Trevor Woods Memorial British Ebf Novice Stakes

5f 3y  [Class 4  4 runners]

(1) -- Where's Diana.  [2nd @15/8]
(2) -- Lady Ardad.  [4th @10/1]

14:35  Mary Clark 'favourite Day Of The Year' Handicap

1m 4f 5y  [Class 3  4 runners]

(1) -- Dash Of Spice.   [WON @11/1]

(2) -- Possible Man.  [2nd @7/4]

15:10  Ebf Stallions Highfield Farm Flying Fillies' Stakes

6f  [Class 1  12 runners]

(1) -- Shuthoor.  [9th @40/1]
(2) -- Double Or Bubble.  [WON @5/4f]

15:45  William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap

1m 6y  [Class 3  4 runners]

(1) -- Duty Of Care.  [WON @2/1jf]

(2) -- Tadreeb.  [4th @2/1jf]

16:20  Moor Top Farm Shop Hemsworth Handicap

2m 1f 27y  [Class 5  7 runners]

(1) -- Stonific.  [5th @9/1]

(2) -- Retrospect.  [4th @11/2]

16:55  Happy Retirement Mick Henshaw Novice Stakes

1m 6y  [Class 4  8 runners]

(1) -- Broughtons Mission.  [2nd @7/1]
(2) -- Maxios Show.  [7th @10/3]

17:25  Queen Night Friday 3rd September Handicap

6f  [Class 5  8 runners]

(1) -- Vardon Flyer.  [8th @14/1]

(2) -- General Sago.  [3rd @4/1]

Staked -- 14 points.

Returns -- 17.25 points.
Having started the 2021 season afresh, we did start reasonably well but sadly begun to fall behind now as we passed half way of this full season on the track. After the opening ten meetings we are sadly -33.88 points behind coming into this eleventh fixture, the results for today will be updated during Sunday afternoon. Three winners securing a profit so far today, didn't pick up any more with the final few races sadly however have at least reduced the losses by a few points to -30.63 points to carry over to the next meeting.

The twelfth fixture here will be held on Friday 3rd September so we do hope you will follow the action throughout the season.