THOUSANDS of racegoers are preparing to flock to York this weekend for the annual June meeting.

Run over two days starting on Friday, the meeting also raises significant funds for Macmillan cancer support on Saturday.

Since 1971, nearly £7million has been raised through the charity event with another £350,000 likely this weekend.

Saturday’s principal race is the 888sport Charity Sprint, one of Britain’s richest sprint handicaps for three-year-olds, offering prize money of £100,000.

For only the fifth time, the day will end with the Best Western Hotels & Macmillan 'Ride of Their Lives', where ten supporters, who have each pledged at least £2,500, are given the opportunity to take part in a nine-furlong race on the Knavesmire.

A charity auction is currently underway on the course's official website (www.yorkracecourse.co.uk) with a number of lots up for grabs.

These include trips to Coolmore Stud and Ballydoyle Racing Stables, a weekend break in a Best Western Hotel every month for a year, and a Roxburghe Hall golf break.

Among the more unusual opportunities are a Porsche experience at Silverstone and a morning on the set of Sky TV's Soccer AM.

Since 2012, a Listed race has featured on the Saturday racing programme supported alongside the Charity Race by York-based, Best Western Hotels.

The Ganton Stakes, over one mile, offers prize money of £40,000.

The two-day meeting starts on Friday with a contest in memory of popular Yorkshire trainer Mel Brittain, at 2pm.

Racing on Saturday begins at 1.50pm, with the 28th running of The Queen Mother’s Cup, the richest race for lady amateur riders in Britain and a contest won by The Princess Royal in 1988. The successful rider also wins the additional prize of their own weight in GH Mumm champagne.

Gaming brand Betstars make their debut at York, supporting a valuable handicap over nine furlongs.

The high standard continues on Saturday with The Reg Griffin Appreciation EBF Stallions Maiden Stakes - a contest for two-year-olds named in honour of the Charity Day founder.

The Ice Co back a competitive handicap for the fourth year that denotes their support of Macmillan and the traditional seventh race of the card is, again, The Charles Henry Memorial Stakes.

Among the 19 contests at York to benefit from the backing of the European Breeders’ Fund is the feature race on Friday afternoon, a fillies handicap over six furlongs which offers £30,000 in prize money and cements the policy of every card on Knavesmire being worth at least £100,000.

Also a sponsor on the opening day, 888sport see their own name against a valuable handicap contest over the extended ten furlongs. The SKF Rous Selling Stakes has now been supported for 12 years by engineering company SKF (UK) Ltd. Then Goffs UK will bring the excitement of the Sales Ring to the Winner’s Enclosure with an auction straight after the race.

The Jigsaw Sports Branding Stakes, a handicap contest over seven furlongs demonstrates the help given to the track by its sign and branding contractor.

The Rush hair opens June 18th Stakes is the longest race of the day.

On a Friday card full of variety, the concluding race is a handicap contest for apprentice jockeys taking the name of longstanding supporter ripleycollection.com.

As part of a series of initiatives to get closer to the sport, groups of racegoers will be able to enjoy accompanied, complimentary trips to the round course starts. On Saturday, they will also have the chance to meet Harry, the retired racehorse, courtesy of equine charity New Beginnings.

Meanwhile, Ortensia, who won the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York four years ago, has died at the age of ten.

She was euthanised after developing a tumour in one of her lungs, although two fillies, a yearling by Choisir and a weanling by Dream Ahead, will carry on her legacy.