MANY of the finest racehorses in the country will be strutting their stuff for the public as one of the most popular events in the industry’s calendar returns.
The Middleham Open Day is back on Easter Monday – April 17 – and visitors will be able to see the current equine talent at the yards of the 12 trainers who are opening their doors to the public.
Middleham is one of the great centre’s of the racing world with more than 500 horses in training.
As well as racehorses in training, there will be some special equine guests who have retired after top racing careers making appearances.
Visitors to Ann Duffield’s Sun Hill Farm will be able to meet two previous Cheltenham Festival winners, Peddlers Cross and Cinders and Ashes.
At Barry Keniry’s Warwick Lodge pre-training stables visitors will be able to meet two top-class dual purposes horses in Junior and Mad Moose.
Visitors with an interest in equine fitness and rehabilitation will be fascinated by a horse-spa demonstration at Mark Johnston’s Park Farm which houses not only an indoor equine swimming pool, but also a water-walker and a treadmill.
Patrick Holmes’ Foulrice Park Racing at Little Spigot will be hosting a stand promoting the work of York-based racehorse rehoming charity New Beginnings.
They will also have a number of local businesses displaying wares including equine artist, Brian Halton, jeweller Rosemary Hetherington and The Saddle Room as well as refreshments such as Wensleydale Ice Cream.
After yards close their doors for the morning, the action will move across to Low Moor with a schooling demonstration with local National Hunt horses being followed by an inter-yard stable staff competition.
As the organisers of the event, Racing Welfare will be the main beneficiary charity of the open day, with a proportion of the funds raised also going to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Funds will be used to work alongside the Jessica Bethell Charitable Foundation to help develop a facility for young racing staff starting their careers in Middleham.
- Tickets are on sale for the event at middlehamopenday.co.uk at £10 for adults with the under-16s going free. Tickets will also be available on the day itself.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here