Thirsk Racecourse

Thirsk Summer Cup

1st August 2026

The Thirsk Summer Cup is one of the two (alongside the Thirsk Hunt Cup) biggest races run on the North Yorkshire course each year.  The winner of this afternoon's Summer Cup would take away a whopping £20,645, from a total prize pot of £50,000.

And the day is clearly also a big one for the locals, for the place was heaving when I arrived, with the car park chock full of buses from as far away as Huddersfield and Leeds.

I am quite sure all of them, like me, appreciated the complimentary race cards which were given out - rather than having to fork out a few additional few quid.  

Good for you, Thirsk.

   

Unlike many racecourses which are situated out of town,
Thirsk Racecourse sits minutes from the town centre.

Emerald Thieves Band

 

I, as a generally do, began my day by picking out a Toteplace Treble - a horse in each of the first three races, to be placed.  As I tend to go with the favourites here, I know I am not going to get rich.  But this bet tends to maintain my interest over the first few races, with minimal outlay.

So - I plumped for Battle Fever, Northern Express then Brighton Beach in Races 1-3 respectively.

And, lo and behold, all three did the biz for me, and I walked away from the nice Tote lady with £38.72.  Hardly life-changing, I acknowledge.  But I think we would all agree taking a betting slip back for a pay-out (however modest) is more fun than scrunching it up in frustration.

With Race 4, I decided to be a touch more adventurous, and placed a tenner on Rotokura Belle to win at 11/4, as the bookies were suggesting only this horse and American Bay had any realistic chances of winning.  In the event, neither did, and a grey by the name of Accrual hit the front early on and looked barely troubled as it won the race by a length.

My choice meandered in, in seventh position.

I was pondering the ponies for Race 5, when my eye beheld the name Enola Grey.  What a great pun, I thought - and my eyes lit up at the potentially lucrative long odds of 20/1 some bookies were offering.

But No, I decided.  A bit of mental arithmetic told me if I left now, I would walk out of the racecourse in profit (albeit just £8.72).  Which I did.

As the steward on the gate said, as I left early: "At least you will have enough for a bag of chips".

I truly am lightweight at this business (I am proud to admit).

A brand new stand is rising adjacent to the Hambleton Stand.

Race 1 - and here we have my lad, Battle Fever.

Race 1, from the Hambleton Stand

Battle Fever wins Race 1

Battle Fever's jockey Kevin Stott

Race 2, from The 1967 Stand

A bit of a bun-fight here, with my horse Northern Express just edging into third 

at the line to keep my Tote Treble going.  But, the winner of this afternoon's main race,

was Seamus Cronin on Witch Hunter (12/1), who looks to be sitting in fifth here in my pic. 

From the Viewing Stand

The local air ambulance was out and about.

I know horses when they gallop will, at times, have all four feet off the ground.  But I felt
 rather pleased to capture two horses doing so,  This was my Race 3 choice Brighton Beach,
ridden by Daniel Tudhope, holding off Le Samourai.

My £20 staked raked in for me the grand total of £38.72

Jockey Silvestre De Sousa riding my tenner on Rotokura Belle, up
to the starting point of the short, five furlongs Race 4.

William Pyle had a wee bit difficulty getting his mount Accrual to move in a straight line
as they made their way to the start.  He had no problems during the race, however.

Oisin McSweeney on True Promise

Billy Garritty on Rock Of England

 

Kevin Stott, who already won Race 1, here on Moolin Booj.

Race 4, from the small viewing area in front of the coach park

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