Catterick Racecourse’s 2018 Flat season gets underway with an Easter Family Day on Wednesday 4 April.

This meeting marks the first of 18 Flat fixtures at Catterick this season, and the seven race card will see the first of the 2018 Catterick Twelve Furlong Series Qualifiers, with an £11,600 prize fund.

Emma Binnian, Sales & Marketing Manager said: “We’re looking forward to an exciting season with some new race day themes, including our first ever Beer Festival! The Easter Family Day is the first of three family day fixtures at the course this summer and we’re looking forward to welcoming the next generation of racing fans to the course.”

Alongside the action on the track there will be loads of Easter themed fun and free entertainment for families to enjoy including bouncy castles and a petting farm with guinea pigs, rabbits, alpaca and more. There will also be an Easter themed treasure hunt at the course – younger race goers will need to keep their eyes peeled for some little Easter chicks hiding around the racecourse for a chance to win a chocolate prize!

Racegoers will also have the opportunity to win a sponsorship experience by entering the text competition on the day. The two lucky winners will be given the chance to judge the Best Turned Out horse in the Parade Ring prior to the race and present the winning owners with their prize, as well as celebrate with connections after the race.

The first race, The Easter Family Day Handicap Stakes is scheduled to take place at 2pm, with the gates opening to the public two hours prior to that, at 12 noon, while the last race is at 5:05pm.

Catterick’s 2017 Flat season champions will be receiving their prizes during the afternoon. The series, kindly sponsored by The Nags Head, Pickhill, was won by Ruth Carr (Champion Trainer), Jason Hart (Champion Jockey) and Mr Malcolm Walker (Champion Owner). Ruth Carr finished the season almost 20 points ahead of her closest rival, so her horses could be worth following over the coming season!

In addition, the racecourse is pleased to welcome a new sponsor for the upcoming season – Millbry Hill, the UK’s leading independent family-run country store providing Equestrian supplies, pet products, country clothing, footwear and gifts.

Millbry Hill will be offering each winning jockey throughout the season a £20 voucher to spend at any of their four stores across North Yorkshire & Cumbria, as well as a ‘grand prize’ for the Champion Jockey at the end of the Flat season.

Serena Jones, Retail Director at Millbry Hill said: “Millbry Hill are delighted to be sponsoring Catterick Racecourse for the 2018 Flat Season. We are looking forward to supporting the winning jockeys and working closely with a fantastic local business.”

As with all of Catterick’s fixtures, under 18’s will be admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult, and a big screen will be at the course on the day giving racegoers the best views of all the action.

A free shuttle bus will be running to take racegoers from Richmond Market Place to the racecourse, approximately one hour prior to the first race, and will return again after the last race.