Ripon Racecourse replicates race day 100 years on and remembers all those who served.

Ripon Racecourse had some very special visitors on Monday to mark the centenary of the day Britain entered the First World War.

Second World War Veteran Jock Hutton who parachuted back into Normandy for the D-Day anniversary in June joined fellow veterans, Royal British Legion members, schoolchildren and members of the Armed Forces at the race meeting on August 4.Ripon racecourse was actually running on the day Britain entered the war – and decided to hold its Children’s Day on Monday and replicate two of the race titles from that race day 100 years ago with The Studley Selling Handicap’ and ‘The City Welter Handicap’.

And at 1pm there was a Remembrance Service for the centenary anniversary of WW1 on the track with Jock Hutton and local veterans, Maj General Michael Schute, Brigadier Vic Walker and Lieut Col Donald (Hobo) Hoson. Cassidy Weidemann pictured here with D-Day Veteran Jock Hutton said she wished for peace and that people would learn the lessons from the First World War and stop fighting all the time.

Cassidy's grandfather, Albert helped organise the Remembrance Service and spearheaded the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales' poppy planting campaign in Ripon by trying to sow as many poppies throughout the town as possible - including some planters at Ripon Racecourse and the famous Ripon Spa Hotel.