A highlight in the northern racing calendar, the hugely popular Middleham Open Day returns this year on Good Friday, 19th April 2019. Tickets are on sale now for this fabulous event which showcases racing in Middleham’s stunning surroundings, offering a superb day out for racing fans and families alike.
Visitors to Middleham on Good Friday will be welcomed into training yards throughout the town, including Mark Johnston’s record-breaking stable where all will be invited to take in his fantastic facilities and watch swimming demonstrations at Kingsley House. Newly crowned Lycetts Team Champion Award winner Jedd O’Keefe opens up the home of the inimitable Sam Spinner again this year, whilst Group 1 winning trainer Karl Burke will also be throwing open the gates of his Spigot Lodge yard. James Bethell’s Thorngill Stables will too be open for visitors, as will the yards of Micky Hammond, Ben Haslam, Julia Brooke, Simon West, Andy Crook, Barry Keniry, Foulrice Park Racing and Chris Fairhurst.
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Yards will be open from 9.30am until 1pm. The morning will also see a parade of the Bedale Foxhounds through the centre of the town at 11am, and a parade and jumping demonstration from James Bethell at his yard at around noon.
Events move to the beautiful location of Middleham’s Low Moor from 1.30pm. The afternoon’s entertainment kicks off with the Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) parade, followed by the ever popular and hotly contested Inter-Yard Team Challenge, incorporating the Donkey Derby. The Pony Club showjumping relay competition returns for this year, and there will be food and drink stalls on the moor to keep all visitors well fed and watered throughout the afternoon.
Middleham Open Day is a highlight in Racing Welfare’s annual calendar of events, drawing over 3000 people to the town on the day. Proceeds from the event will go towards funding regional Racing Welfare projects, including the Hill House development in the town, which is being re-developed in association with the Jessica Bethell Charitable Foundation. The project will support the local racing community by providing young people’s accommodation as well as community rooms, a gym and treatment facilities. A proportion of funds raised on the day will also be donated to local good causes including the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Racing Welfare’s Northern Regional Welfare Manager, Sarah Fanning, said, “Middleham Open Day is a fantastic event and one that we are very proud to bring to the public. We are passionate about showcasing racing within the town and surrounding areas and visitors can expect a very warm welcome in Middleham. The open day really does bring the whole racing community together and we look forward to presenting a day out that has something for everyone.”
Tickets to the event are on sale now at www.middlehamopenday.co.uk with adult tickets priced at £12.50, concessions at £8.50. Under 16s go free of charge.
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Press contact: Felicity Marshall 07966 296 838; fmarshall@racingwelfare.co.uk