A Thirsk stalwart has donated a trophy for a race at tomorrow's Thirsk meeting in memory of his wife.

Mr Harry Whitton, aged 82, who was a businessman in the town for more than 30 years, as well as a councillor, chairman of the chamber of trade and trustee of the town hall, has donated the trophy for the Alice Whitton Maiden Stakes.

The couple were married for 57 years, jointly owning a number of racehorses, and Mr Whitton decided to approach Thirsk racecourse about sponsoring a race in memory of his wife, who died last July.

Not only has he given a trophy for the winner of the race, for three-year-old maidens, but he is also awarding £25 to the stable-hand with the best turned-out horse in the ring beforehand.

Mr Whitton said: "It's a big race, with 43 entered. It starts at 4.50 and Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo, will present the trophy to the winner.

"I approached the racecourse about sponsoring this race last November, and we've agreed that it will be run every year at the May meeting. The trophy will be given to the winner, to keep for a year, for as long as I live."

Tomorrow's meeting marks a belated start to the new season at the course and is the first of three successive Saturday fixtures. The principal race is the Studford Inns Thirsk Hunt Cup, a competitive handicap race over one mile. Racing starts at 2.05.