The 52nd running of The John Smith’s Cup is the highlight of York Racecourse’s two-day meeting on Friday and Saturday.

The feature race on Saturday is one of Europe’s most prestigious, competitive and valuable middle- distance handicap contests.

This year’s race will be contested over the extended mile-and-a- quarter, retaining a total prize fund of £150,000.

Last year’s winning rider, Martin Lane, nominated his Knavesmire victory as the highlight of his run to becoming champion apprentice jockey.

The winning horse, Newmarket-trained Wigmore Hall, has gone on to win in Group 2 company and compete in Group 1 races, notably when runner-up in the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park in the United States.

This time around, the race is the marquee event for a day which begins with the John Smith’s City Walls Stakes, a new £30,000 Listed race over five furlongs.

The seven-race programme also features the John Smith’s Silver Cup, an established £30,000 Listed contest for stayers over a mile and three-quarters.

The highlight of Friday’s racing will be the tyregiant.com Summer Stakes, a Group 3 sprint contest over six furlongs for fillies and mares, offering prize money of £50,000.

Other races on the day include the Global Trading UK Responsible Packaging Stakes, the Cakemark EBF Maiden Stakes for two-year-olds over seven furlongs, and the Caravan Chairman’s Charity Cup.

The Warburtons, Bakers Born & Bred Stakes will be Friday’s concluding race, with apprentice jockeys participating in a handicap contest for sprinters over the minimum distance of five furlongs.

Going into this meeting, Sheriff Hutton trainer Mick Easterby leads the way to be York’s top trainer in 2011 and secure the HA Fox Jaguar Trophy.

He has recorded five winners so far this term, one ahead of Malton-based Richard Fahey, York’s leading trainer for the past five seasons.

After his remarkable quintet of winners on the June Saturday card, former champion jockey Ryan Moore heads the race to become York’s top rider, having secured a total of eight winners already this season on Knavesmire.

The meeting has been developed as a showcase for ‘Yorkshire’s Finest’. There will again be a fly-past over Knavesmire by aircraft from RAF Linton-on-Ouse, while live music will be provided by the Lindley Brass Band, from Huddersfield.

• Don’t miss Tom O’Ryan’s preview and tips for Friday’s York meeting in The Press tomorrow.