I’ll be honest, I didn’t share their excitement.  In fact, my heart sunk a little.  The Summer holidays means six weeks of organising activities to keep them entertained so I can work.  I made the mistake one year of booking them into clubs every single day and by the end of it, they were nearly too tired to go back to school!

What can I do with the children over Summer, in Yorkshire?  Practice what you preach Charlotte, take them racing!  Accompanied under 18’s are free at all race meetings, so that’s the first tick in the box.

The second plus about racing in general, is that it’s an outdoor sport.  Now we all know that the British weather sometimes gets confused between what we expect in Summer and what it actually delivers, but when it gets it right, there is no better place to be than on a racecourse.  There is space.  Space to move, play and do things together.  An opportunity to be in the elements (whatever they may be) away from screens and enjoying natural surroundings.

Thirdly, it’s pretty much an all-day event – or as much of the day as you want it to be.  On the whole gates open late morning and the last race can be around 5pm, so stay as long as you like.  Once the racing starts they’re run at 30 – 35 minute intervals, so exciting action to grab your attention, with some downtime in between.

Racing is a spectacle and provides constant learning opportunities and talking points in an informal environment.  There are so many conversation starters, like the colours and shapes on the jockeys’ silks.  There’s the basic circles, stars and diamonds, but would your youngsters know what epaulets and chevrons are?  They’re not unique to racing, epaulets can be found on uniforms and I’ve no doubt that all children will walk past chevrons on their way to school in the spaces reserved for the buses, but do they know that’s what they’re called?

Observe the difference in the horses, some have plaited manes and tails, some do not.  Some have patterns on their bottoms, some are big, while others are small, some are longer while the sprinters tend to be more compact.  Watch them walk and how they swing their legs.  How shiny are their coats?  And look at their markings.  The positive feelings that come from being near horses cannot be underestimated.

Add to all that the extra entertainment for family days and you won’t know where to start!  Most racecourses have a centre enclosure which is usually the cheapest and gives a good view of the racing with some food outlets, bars and betting facilities for the over 18’s.  This tends to be where the extra entertainment is located.  It is also the area where you can take your own food and drink, so pack a picnic with everyone’s favourites and your set for the day, however please keep alcohol to a minimum and avoid glass bottles.

The next enclosure tends to be referred to as the Grandstand & Paddock.  It is a bit more money but gives access to the Pre-Parade Ring, where the horses are saddled and the Parade Ring where the horses walk round before the jockeys get on.  You can get closer to the action with good views of the winning line and will be able to cross into the Course Enclosure to get to the activities there.  It’s nearly always cheaper to book in advance.

The first three family days of the Summer holidays are also part of the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, sponsored by Sky Bet, which means even more fun!  Festival Freddie will be walking the enclosures with his bucket of sweets and is always up for high five, fist bump or a picture.

Redcar Racecourse kick of the action on Sunday 21^st July.  The seaside course is hosting a Circus themed raceday.  Learn circus skills in the big top, go crazy on the bouncy castle and get your face painted and it’s free!  Course Enclosure admission is £7 if you book in advance or £8 on the day and the Grandstand Enclosure is £18 in advance or £20 on the day.

Family action at the Summer Festival moves on to Catterick, a mid-week event on Wednesday 26^th July.  Now this could mean a day off work, or it might be possible to convince the Grandparents to take them for the day.  Quality time together with lots of activities!  Catterick has a permanent playground in the Course Enclosure, available on all racedays and there will be some extra inflatables for their family day.  Grandstand & Paddock tickets are £17 and Course Enclosure is £8 when booked in advance, but there are concessions for students and those over 65 – another incentive to encourage the grandparents!

Then it’s on to Thirsk for their afternoon meeting on Friday 26^th July, where it’s Superhero Family Day!  There will be free children’s entertainment with special visits from your favourite superheroes and Barbie.  They also have bouncy castles, face painting and balloon modelling.  Thirsk doesn’t have a centre enclosure, but they do offer a family ticket for the Grandstand, Paddock & Picnic enclosure which is £25 for two adults plus children when booked in advance or £30 at the gate.

Another weekend Family Day takes place at Pontefract on the afternoon of Sunday 28^th July and as well as the racing there’s a Madness tribute band performing later in the day.  There will be a funfair, free sweets, activity packs and racecards for children and a ‘Hunt The Golde Horseshoe’ competition.  All of Pontefract’s racedays are Autism friendly, making it a safe place to enjoy a day out for those with additional needs.  Like Thirsk, Pontefract offer a Family ticket, which includes two Grandstand tickets and under 18’s for £28, but this can only be booked in advance.  Alternatively, Picnic Enclosure entry is £7 each or £5 at the Turnstiles and Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure tickets are £17 each or £14 for concessions.

The final family day of July takes place at Beverley on Tuesday 30^th July and they are welcoming very special guest Paddington!  (The bear, not the racehorse!)  He will be available for meet and greet and photo opportunities throughout the afternoon and there will be face painting, sumo mats and pony parties in the Course Enclosure which are all free.  Grandstand & Paddock tickets cost £16 or £13 for concessions and Course Enclosure is £7 per person and £7 to take the car in.

There’s 10 further family days in August!  Starting at Ripon on Monday 5^th August.  The free activities include a bouncy castle, face painting, glitter tattoos, balloon modelling, fire juggling and juggling classes.  Under 18’s are free and advance adult Course Admission is £7.  Cars to the course are £20 and includes up to four adults.  Advance adult Paddock admission is £17.50.

The next day, Tuesday 6^th August, Catterick racecourse, recognising their local military community, host Salute Our Heroes Family day, in association with ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.  The free entertainment in the Course Enclosure, next to the permanent playground includes an assault course and laser battle zone.  Gates open at 12 noon and the first race is at 2.15pm.  Course Enclosure tickets are £8 in advance or £10 on the gates and Grandstand & Paddock is £17 in advance or £20 at the gates.  Military personnel are entitled to complimentary admission to this meeting but need to contact the office in advance.

On Friday 9^th August, the Circus family theme moves to Thirsk and the National Festival Circus will be performing in the big top and in addition there will be bouncy castles, inflatables, balloon modelling, face painting and traditional fairground stalls.  A family ticket for the Grandstand, Paddock & Picnic enclosure is £25 for two adults plus children when booked in advance or £30 at the gate and the first race is 2.10pm.

The Caribbean hits Redcar on Saturday 10^th August with their Caribbean Carnival Family Fun Day.  Grab your best outfits for the chance to win some swash buckle in the fancy dress competitions – for children AND adults!  There’ll be bouncy castles, face painters and some real pirates!  Gates open at 12 noon and the first race is 2.20pm.  Course Enclosure admission is £7 in advance or £8 on the day and Grandstand admission is £18 in advance or £20 on the day.

Olympic fever will really hit over Summer and Ripon are hosting their own closing ceremony on Sunday 11^th August with their family Olympics day.  Win a medal by completing some of the activities, which include slime making, sand art, inflatable slide, glitter tattoos, face painting, balloon modelling, bouncy castle, inflatable athletics and sports activities.  Gates open at 12 noon and the first race is scheduled for 2.10pm.  Advance Adult Course Admission is £7.  Cars to the course are £20 and includes up to four adults.  Advance adult Paddock admission is £17.50 and under 18’s are admitted free.

A week later, on Sunday 18^th August Pontefract host their In The Zone Family Day, which is also part of the Sky Bet Sunday Series.  Visit the zones that interest you the most, The industry zone will give you behind the scenes information in the winners’ enclosure.  There will be a pare of ex-racehorses in the horse zone, the quiet zone offers somewhere to make your selections in peac, the newcomers zone is filled with the ‘Here To Help’ team who will explain how an afternoon at the races works.  Head to the tipster zone to listen to the experts run through their selections for the day and the kids zone in the picnic area will offer lots of fun and additional entertainment.

As it’s part of the Sky Bet Sunday Series, there is some excellent prize money on offer which is sure to attract some good horses and lead to some competitive action on the track.  It is also an autism friendly raceday.  Picnic Enclosure tickets are £7 each and Cars to the Course are £22 which includes a maximum of four adults.  Grandstand and Paddock tickets are £17 each or a family ticket can be booked in advance which is £28 for two Grandstand tickets and under 18’s.

Catterick continue the sports theme on Monday 19^th August with their Family Sports Day.  Don’t miss the egg & spoon race on the track ahead of the first race at 2.15pm.  Gates open at 12 noon.  There’s also crazy golf, inflatable golf and a permanent playground.  Course Enclosure tickets are £8 when booked in advance and Grandstand and Paddock tickets are £17.  A military discount ticket is available in the Grandstand and Paddock at £15.  Under 18’s are free.

There’s a seven race card at Beverley on Bank holiday Sunday, 25^th August, which is Circus Family Raceday..  All the activities and children’s fun will be located in the Course Enclosure which is £7 per ticket and £10 for the car as well.  Grandstand & Paddock tickets are £16 and £13 for concessions.  Course Enclosure gates open at 11am and the first race is 2.05pm.

Then it’s back to Ripon on bank holiday Monday, 26^th August.  It’s their final family day of the season, plus their best race of the season, the EBF Ripon Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy.  Free activities for the children in the Course Enclosure include balloon modelling, face painting and glitter, barrel train ride, kub karts, bouncy castle and slide, Punch ‘n’ Judy, Professor Dan the Magic Man and fire juggling!  Advance adult Course admission is £7 or £20 for a car with up to four adults and advance Paddock admission is £17.50.  Gates open at 11.30am with the first race at 2pm.

Thirsk’s All Creatures Great and Smally Family Day brings the summer holiday racedays to an end.  Celebrating the veterinary herniate of the town and its links to James Herriot, there will be a visit from a mini petting farm, plus bouncy castles, inflatables, balloon modelling, face painting and traditional fairground stalls.  All the activities are FREE, as are accompanied under 18s.  Grandstand, Paddock and Picnic tickets are £15 each or a Family ticket is £25 when booked in advance.

York racecourse combine with Malton Stables Open Day, on Sunday 8^th September, with a combined ticket, giving visitors the opportunity to have a look around some of the yards in Malton before heading over to York to see the stars on course.  Popular Australian character Bluey will be on show and the entertainment marquee in the Clocktower Enclosure will have bouncy castles, giant inflatables and Joe’s Animal Encounters.  The day will start with pony racing so get there in good time to watch the jockeys of the future.  York offer a combined Clocktower and Grandstand and Paddock ticket for this meeting at a cost of £12 if booked in advance or £15 on the day.

The final Family Day of the Summer takes place at Doncaster on Betfred Sunday Funday, which includes the Leger Legends charity race.  The free entertainment and activities include stilt walkers, circus workshop, kids disco, glitter artist, bubble artist, sports zones, hobby horse race, Yorkshire Air Ambulance simulator, a fire engine, treasure hunt and colouring stations.  A Grandstand Family bundle which offers two adult Grandstand admission tickets, plus up to six under 18s is £20.

For fun, activities and value, nothing beats a Family Fun Day at the races, so make sure you put at least one in your calendar and I’ll probably see you there!