York's June meeting is the third since last August's Ebor wash-out

York racecourse will host its annual Macmillan Charity Day for the 39th consecutive year this weekend.

The highlight of the weekend will be the joint-richest handicap for three-year-olds, run on Saturday in memory of Charity Day founder Reg Griffin.

Marketing manager James Brennan told BBC Radio York: "The Reg Griffin Memorial Trophy is a fantastic contest for sprinters.

"It's raised nearly £4.5m for good causes since the start of the 1970s."

Nearly half of the runners in the big race are trained in Yorkshire and several previous winners were trained in the county.

Serious North Yorkshire challengers this time round include Middleham trainer Mark Johnston's Proclaim and Favourite Girl, trained at Great Habton near Malton by Tim Easterby.

Anybody who comes racing on Saturday to York will be doing their bit to help keep the charities going forward James Brennan

The Charity Day boasts record prize money of more than £200,000.

Most of the charities are cancer-related, with Macmillan [Cancer Support] the main beneficiary, but Brennan added: "York Against Cancer has received some proceeds as has St. Leonards."

The opening race on Saturday, the Queen Mother's Cup, is unique because the winning lady amateur rider will win her own weight in champagne.

Brennan added: "It's the only time you'll see a jockey trying to put on weight.

"Anybody who comes racing on Saturday to York will be doing their bit to help keep the charities going forward, as well as the guests at the fabulous eve-of-racing auction dinner."

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