SUNSHINE, smiles and a slew of Yorkshire winners made for a successful day at York Races yesterday.

The John Smiths meeting raced out of the starting gate at 2.05pm yesterday, and is building up to the big race - the John Smith’s Cup - taking place for the 58th time this afternoon.

James Brennan, York Races’ marketing manager, said they had seen crowds of just over 12,000 on Friday - a slight increase on last year - and two winners for Malton trainer Tim Easterby, another for Thirsk’s Kevin Ryan, and two more for the Skipton-born trainer William Haggas meant Yorkshire could claim five victories out of Friday seven races.

The crowds appeared to be enjoying their afternoon in sun, Mr Brennan added, and although the forecast shows rain this morning, anyone who “keeps the faith” and stays with the racing until the afternoon could be rewarded with sunshine.

Racing starts at 1.55pm, with the 58th John Smith’s cup running at 3.05pm and the action ending with the final race at 5.15pm.

The John’s Smith’s Cup was run for the first time in 1960, and boasts the longest running sponsorship for a race on the flat anywhere in the world.

The long-running race has become a fixture in many diaries, Mr Brennan added, and makes for a traditional day that often sees generations of racegoers heading back to York in July year after year.