OR CALL
FOR ALL NUMBERS DIAL PONTEFRACT AREA CODE (01977):
ADMIN OFFICE: 781307 | BANQUETING SUITE: 781851.
OR CALL
FOR ALL NUMBERS DIAL PONTEFRACT AREA CODE (01977):
ADMIN OFFICE: 781307 | BANQUETING SUITE: 781851.
We offer a dedicated service for all Owners & Trainers at Pontefract.
Should you have any question relating to:
then please email us or give us a call on 01977 781307.
We are continually striving to improve so do please let us know if we can do anything to improve your day out with us.
If you have any feedback for the team, or should you not be able to find the information that you require on this section of the website, then please get in touch.
We’re looking forward to welcoming Owners and Trainers to Pontefract.
Whether it’s your first time at the course, or you’re a seasoned regular, please click on the ‘quick’ tabs below to discover how your day at Pontefract might look.
For more detailed information, please click on the more detailed information contained in the sections below.
The Owners & Trainers Car Park and Entrance is in the centre of the Park and we’d ask you to use this route to access the course. If you have any accessibility requirements, please do give us a call on 01977 781307 or email owners@pontefract-races.co.uk and we can arrange a parking space close to the entrance and access through the main Dalby Stand Entrance which is a flat, step free route.
Car Parking staff will be on hand to welcome you to Pontefract.
On arrival Owners will be given:
Owners will have a badge allocation of 6 badges per runner (or 8 with prior arrangement). If you would like more badges then please let us know. Additional badges will be charged at £10 each.
We’d appreciate it if you could please register your attendance via the PASS system at www.rcapass.com. For assistance with this, please contact the PASS helpdesk on 01933 270333.
Pleae bring your PASS card with you on the day.
Owners and Trainers will have a dedicated area in the Owners & Trainers Bar and Restaurant.
The Owners & Trainers Bar / Restaurant is on the ground floor of the Park Suite building and will serve complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits during each race meeting.
There will be a buffet lunch menu at every meeting.
There is also a full bar service available in the Owners & Trainers Bar and Restaurant.
One of the highlights of the day is the trip to the Parade Ring before the race to see your superstar before they take to the track.
The Parade Ring area has a strict safety capacity and there may be some restrictions if there are a large number of owners in any one race.
The Winners Enclosure will be used for the Winning Horse and Winning Connections only with presentations taking place after the race.
There is a tote betting point in the Owners bar.
We want to make sure you have an enjoyable day from start to finish.
The Racecourse is well located just 1/2 mile from Junction 32 of the M62.
Heading towards Pontefract Town Centre from the motorway, you’ll pass the Racecourse on the right hand side with the main entrance signposted at the roundabout.
If you’d prefer to arrange a taxi to bring you to the Racecourse, then we would recommend the following local taxi companies:
Data Cars – 01977 600680
Slatters Taxis – 01977 705674
Action Cars – 01977 703333
Ponty Cars – 01977 699121
If you are thinking of booking a taxi to bring you, or pick you up from the Racecourse, we would advise booking early.
Helicopter landings are available in Pontefract Park. If you’re planning on arriving via helicopter, please contact us for details.
The Owners & Trainers Entrance is adjacent to the Owners & Trainers Car Park in the centre of the Park.
Please let our Car Parking team know that you are an Owner or Trainer and they will direct you to the best place for you to park.
The PASS system for Owners will operate at every race meeting in Pontefract.
During 2023, Sue and Andrew Sheppard will be looking after the PASS system at Pontefract. They look forward to welcoming you to each race meeting.
Diane Rush will assist Andy and Sue and will operate as our Owners & Trainers liaison and make sure that you have everything you need.
She will be based between the Owners & Trainers Entrance and the Owners & Trainers Bar and will be happy to answer any queries that you may have.
If you need information on the layout of the Course, or need a booking in any of our Restaurants or would like a taxi ordering, then please speak to Diane and she’ll be happy to arrange this for you.
If you’re coming to Pontefract as an Owner and need more badges than the standard allocation, please do give us a call (01977 781307) or send us an email and we’ll do our best to accommodate your requirements.
Owners can make any necessary arrangements for their badges by using the new PASS card concierge service at https://www.rcapass.com or by emailing owners@pontefract-races.co.uk.
Single Owner
If you are the sole owner of the horse, then you are entitled to 6 Owners Badges.
Joint Owner
If your horse is owned by more than one person in a Joint Ownership or Partnership, then you are entitled to 6 Owners Badges or 8+ with prior arrangement.
If there is a big syndicate and you would like to purchase additional badges, then these are available at less than half price (£10 each). Please email a list of your badge requirements to owners@pontefract-races.co.uk and we’ll make sure that they are waiting for you when you arrive.
NTF Trainers with a declared runner are entitled to 2 complimentary badges.
If you need any further information, please contact us on 01977 781307 or by email.
We are striving to improve all our facilities for Owners & Trainers, but if you feel that there is part of our service missing, please do let us know, and we will do our very best to rectify it.
The Owners and Trainers bar and restaurant (on the ground floor of the Park Suite) was fully renovated in 2019 and almost tripled in size.
The Owners and Trainers facility is well signposted and serves complimentary tea, coffee and light refreshments.
Although there is step-free access through the Owners & Trainers Entrance, this is on the far side of the course from the Stands and access necessitates crossing the course. There is a fairly steep grass pathway up to the Stands.
We would recommend that Owners and Trainers with specific accessibility requirements do NOT follow the signs to the Owners and Trainers Car Park. Instead, they should follow the signs to the “Annual Badge Holders” Car Park and then continue straight on towards the Stands where there is a dedicated staffed parking area for “BLUE BADGE” holders. This is adjacent to the Main Entrance to the Premier Enclosure on the ground floor of the Dalby Stand.
Please could Owners or Trainers wishing to enter via the Racecourse at this entrance please telephone the Racecourse on 01977 781307. We can then arrange for a parking space to be reserved for you and also arrange for your Owners Badges to be waiting for you at this entrance.
A full accessibility statement can be found here.
The Racecourse Stables are located on a separate site to the Racecourse, just over the hill behind the Main Stands. There are 114 stables and the stable yard also houses a Veterinary Treatment Area, horse showers and kit lockers for Stable Staff.
If you would like to contact the Stables directly, please contact our head groundsman Martin Follows on (01977) 702323.
Trainers with runners requiring overnight stabling should send an email by clicking here.
Overnight stabling request forms should be emailed to owners@pontefract-races.co.uk
The canteen and stables hostel has recently been refurbished.
We are hugely appreciative of the hard work of all the racing staff in the racing yards up and down the country.
Racing TV can be viewed in both the canteen and the Day Room in the hostel.
Once again, Pontefract will have a Stayers Championship in 2024 for all races run over a distance of more than 2 miles. Points will be awarded as follows:
Winner 9 points
Second 6 points
Third 4 points
Fourth 3 points
The owner, trainer and stable of the winner of the Championship will each win £1,500.
The winner of the 2023 Championship was Yorkindness, trained by Mark and Charlie Johnston and owned by Paul York. Many congratulations to them all!
The qualifying races in 2024 are as follows:
| Date | Race | ||
|
Tuesday 2nd April |
The Jamaican Flight Handicap | ||
| Monday 22nd April | The Into The Sky Pontefract Marathon Handicap | ||
| Monday Evening 10th June | The Tony Bethell Memorial Handicap | ||
| Sunday 23rd June | The Moor Top Farm Shop Hemsworth Pontefract Cup | ||
| Wednesday 7th August | The Napoleons Casino Bradford Handicap | ||
| Sunday 18th August | The Sky Bet Sunday Series Stayers Handicap | ||
| Thursday 21st September | The Go Racing in Yorkshire Handicap Stakes |
||
| Monday 7th October | The Racing TV HD Bluff Cove Handicap | ||
| Monday 21st October | The Phil Bull Trophy Conditions Stakes |
If you’re thinking of staying over while visiting Pontefract, we would recommend the following nearby hotels:
4 or 5*
Rogerthorpe Manor – approximately 5 miles from the Racecourse
Oulton Hall – about 20 minutes from the Racecourse
Waterton Park Hotel – about 15 minutes from the Racecourse
Wentbridge House Hotel – within 10 miles of the course
3* or budget
The Premier Inn at Leeds/Castleford – Xscape, approximately 1 1/2 miles from the Racecourse
The Cedar Court Hotel – about 10 miles from the Racecourse
Travelodge Pontefract Ferrybridge A1/M62
Or, rent a whole house to yourself! Why not stay at Farmer Copley’s Farmhouse, accommodates up to 8 people!
Find out more – The Farmhouse | Farmer Copleys