Jockey Jason Hart rides double on Pontefract’s OAP Free Day
A bumper crowd graced Pontefract Racecourse under blue skies, albeit with a significant breeze, for the fifth OAP Free Day which offers those over the age of 60 free access to the Grandstand and Paddock Enclosure to enjoy an afternoon of racing.
The afternoon began with the Racing TV Sky Channel 424 EBF Restricted Novice Stakes for two-year-olds over the five furlong trip and the Lemos de Souza-trained Margaret’s Pearl emerged victorious, writes Alexia Chesters.
Always at the head of affairs, she showed a good attitude to repel all challengers under Jason Hart.
Hart was to go on to ride a double on the card at the seven-race meeting while trainers Richard and Peter Fahey landed the biggest prize pot of the day at the track.
The North Yorkshire-based Fahey’s continued their good start to the season with Have Secret scoring in the £28,000 mile-and-a-quarter handicap after a double at Redcar a day earlier.
Feature race of the day was the RIU Hotels and Resorts Handicap and Have Secret ran out an impressive winner. Jockey Billy Garritty always appeared confident and victory was put beyond doubt when the pair surged clear turning into the straight.
Lady Youmzain looked a very nice prospect when making a winning debut at Beverley last season and she made it two wins from two starts in the six-furlong Constant Security Services Fillies’ Novice Stakes.
Kevin Ryan’s representative made all of the running under Kevin Stott and won with a little bit in hand, suggesting she could be a high-level performer in the making.
The Napoleons Casino Bradford Handicap saw Hart complete his double as he guided Cape Ashizuri to success for the John & Sean Quinn team.
He appeared to relish the stiff six-furlongs and this was only his fourth career outing so there is likely more to come from him and also from the slightly unlucky runner-up Alaminos.
It could prove to be a hot race as pre-race favourite Reciprocated could only manage third.
Diamont Katie bounced back to form with a bang to run out a very comfortable winner of the six-furlong Bowel Cancer Screening Programme Saves Lives Handicap under Jack Nicholls for Karl Burke.
She appears to be well handicapped on this evidence and could be a filly to keep on the right side of if turning out again quickly.
The Into The Sky Pontefract Marathon is the longest distance flat handicap in the world and Lady Phoebe enjoyed every yard of the two-mile and five furlong distance, winning by five-and-a-half lengths.
Content to track the early pace, she quickly put the race to bed when sent to the front entering the straight under Cam Hardie for Adam Nicol.
Remarkably considering the ease with which the horse won, this was Lady Phoebe's first victory since August 2025
Ruth Carr won the finale at the final meeting of the 2025 season and at the season opener in 2026 and she rounded off the card with a winner once more as Betweenthesticks recorded his tenth career success, taking the five-furlong Constant Security Serving Yorkshire’s Racecourses Handicap.
James Sullivan made all the running and narrowly held off the late challenge of Fuji Mountain.
Pontefract’s next meeting is next Wednesday and is the annual National Horseracing College Charity Day. The first race is at 1.38pm.
Visit pontefract-races.co.uk for details and tickets.