THE Mayor of Redcar’s German twin city has sent a good luck message to punters being encouraged to wear Bavarian costumes for the latest meeting at the seaside town’s racecourse.

Redcar stages its first ever Oktoberfest Beer Festival on Saturday, with a bierkeller, oompah band, and racegoers being invited to dress up in lederhosen, leather and traditional maid’s outfits.

For those who enter into the spirit of the occasion, there are prizes up for grabs in a fancy dress competition that’s bound to be “wunderbar”.

However, as well as the Bavarian fun and games, there is also a feast of serious racing taking place, with Redcar’s highlight of the season, the £175,000 Totepool Two-Year-Old Trophy, plus the listed Guisborough Stakes and the final of the Straight Mile Series.

Redcar has been twinned with Troisdorf since 1990 and the German city’s Mayor, Klaus-Werner Jablonski has sent a special message ahead of the inaugural Oktoberfest meeting.

Herr Joblonski says: “Dear friends in Redcar & Cleveland! From Troisdorf, Redcar's twin city in Germany, I am sending you my best wishes for a wonderful Oktoberfest Day at Redcar Racecourse.

"People in Troisdorf will be celebrating the Oktoberfest as well in different halls like many people in other countries – a tradition that has spread from Munich all over the world. Like our twin cities project, it is a chance to connect on a truly international level.

"I wish you all a nice and entertaining day. Best wishes, Klaus-Werner Jablonski, Mayor of Troisdorf.”

Redcar’s Mayor, Councillor Karen King, has also sent a message ahead of the big day, saying: “We have had strong connections with our friends in our German twin town of Troisdorf for 27 years, so it’s no surprise that people here want to celebrate the best of Germany. A big wilkommen to all our visitors for the race meeting.”

Those visitors will be able to enjoy seven Theakston cask beers: Best Bitter, Black Bull Bitter, Lightfoot, XB, Old Peculier, Paradise Ale, and Infallible.

  • A Grandstand ticket is £16 (£13 for concessions) and entry to the Course enclosure is £6 (£5 for concessions). The first race is scheduled to start at 2.10pm.