Mister McGoldrick, one of the icons of Yorkshire’s National Hunt racing scene, will be a star guest at this year’s Middleham Stables Open Day on Good Friday, April 3.
Popular ‘chaser Mister McGoldrick, who won eight races at Wetherby during a stellar career, retired three years ago.
He will be the guest of honour at trainer Patrick Holmes’s Spigot Lodge yard in his role as an ambassador for the New Beginnings racing charity.
The aim of New Beginnings is to provide a safe and supportive environment for ex-racehorses to be rehabilitated and re-homed after they have retired from racing.
The 17-year-old was a 15-time winner in a 91-race career, winning thousands of admirers for his bravery and determination.
He won two Castleford Chases in his eight Wetherby successes but will be best remembered for an emotional win at the age of 11 at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival. An unconsidered 66-1 chance, he won the Racing Post Plate under Dominic Elsworth to give Yorkshire trainer Sue Smith her first festival winner.
Robert Beaumont, one of the organisers of the Middleham Open Day, commented: “Mister McGoldrick has a special place in the hearts of all lovers of racing in Yorkshire and beyond. His combination of class and guts endeared him to so many and we are honoured to have him with us on Good Friday.
“We should also pay tribute to New Beginnings, a tremendous charity which ensures that the racehorses in its care have a fulfilled and happy life when they retire. Their ultimate aim is to produce horses that can easily move into new disciplines and be suitably and successfully re-homed. They look after every horse in their care for the rest of their natural life,” he explained.
Thousands of visitors will descend on Middleham for the 22nd Middleham Stables Open Day on April 3. The popular Open Day attracted than 6,000 visitors in 2014 and raised £18,000 for local and national charities.
The stables will be open to the public, with more than 500 horses for visitors to see, while racing from Lingfield will be screened live from a big screen at the Top Cross in Middleham from 1.45pm.
The day will be officially opened by Alastair Down, the legendary racing journalist and broadcaster.
This year the two main charities to benefit will be the Jessica Bethell Charitable Foundation, in memory of the daughter of James Bethell, the chairman of Middleham Trainers’ Association, and The Household Cavalry Foundation.
Tickets cost £10 per adult, including a souvenir brochure and a chance to win a prize in the programme draw. Admission for accompanied children is free.
The yards are open to the public on Good Friday from 9.30am till either 1.00pm or 2.30pm. Free parking is available in Middleham or nearby Leyburn, with free bus links between car parks and the outlying stables. This includes Ann and George Duffield, who are opening their successful Sun Hill Stables at Constable Burton from 12 noon until 4.00pm.