HAVING been named best small racecourse in the North by members of the influential Racegoers Club, Ripon embarks upon a 15-day Flat campaign with a later starting time and total prize money maintained at about £900,000.

Highlights of the season include The William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap Stakes on Saturday, August 14 and The Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy on bank holiday Monday, August 30.

There will be a trio of evening meetings during the summer, on Wednesday, May 26, Wednesday, June 16 and Monday, July 5.

The annual Ladies Day takes place on Thursday, June 17, while Ripon's popular Sunday fixture on May 16 complements the five Saturday afternoon programmes during 2004.

Ripon's top trainer and jockey awards, won last season by Tim Easterby and Darryll Holland respectively, continue to be supported by Glenfiddich Whisky.

* Redcar's principal race of the season, The Two-Year-Old Trophy - which will be run for the first time this year as a Listed race - has acquired a new sponsor in betfair, the world's leading betting exchange.

With guaranteed prize money of £150,000, the race over six furlongs is one of the richest in Europe for juveniles.

It heads a quality seven-race programme on Saturday, October 2, which also features an existing Listed race, The Guisborough Stakes, a contest which also benefits from the first-time support of betfair.

First held in 1989, the race has produced several impressive winners, with success last year going to Peak To Creek, who went on to land a Listed race at York (The Rockingham Stakes) and the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury.