Ripon Races is preparing for its biggest and most valuable fixture of the season on Saturday (August 15). The six-furlong Great St Wilfrid Handicap has been held annually since 1960 and since then has attracted leading trainers and jockeys, such as Mick Easterby and Lester Piggott. Gambling firm William Hill, which has sponsored the Great St Wilfrid Handicap since 1994, continues the fundraising partnership it started last year with the MND Association. The Mick Appleby-trained 16-1 shot Intervention won last year's Great St Wilfrid Handicap. William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps said: