RACING WELFARE AND YORK RACECOURSE TEAMING UP FOR ARC MALTON OPEN DAY WITH COMBINED TICKET OFFERING
Racing Welfare and York Racecourse are once again teaming up to offer an exceptional value day out, with a discounted combined ticket offering for ARC Malton Open Day and the Sky Bet Sunday Series in association with YorkMix Family Raceday on Sunday 7th September.
The hugely popular annual Malton Open Day, sponsored by Arena Racing Company and organised by Racing Welfare, will see a current total of ten trainers welcoming the public behind the scenes at their yards, providing them with the opportunity to see the horses up close in their stables, and chat to the trainers and stable staff who care for them on a day-to-basis. After a morning exploring the yards, combined ticketholders can head to York Racecourse, watching some of the horses they’ve seen earlier in the day taking to the track.
The Open Day falls just after National Racehorse Week, a nationwide celebration of the racehorse, which showcases the care and dedication which goes into looking after them.
Craig Lidster is set to open his doors at Beverley House Stables, where he has been based since earlier this year. Asked what he’d like for people to take away from visiting his yard, he said: “I’d like them to take away that horses are lovely creatures, that racing is a fun sport and most importantly that racing’s actually a family sport. When you walk round the yards, everyone sits together – we will look around and look after each other, even if they’re from different yards. That’s one thing about racing, it’s a good family sport.”
The event also serves to raise vital funds for Racing Welfare, the charity which has been supporting racing’s people for 25 years and has an office based within the town. Of Racing Welfare’s work, Craig added: “When you need a person to turn to or are crying out for help, they’re just there for you. It’s fundamental to stable staff – and not just stable staff, in general any racing staff whether you ride out, whether you work on the ground, whether you drive a tractor, whether you’re a stalls lad – Racing Welfare is there for everybody in racing when you need them the most.”
Sara Ender is another trainer who is keen to welcome visitors to her stables. She said: “I would just say it’s good for them to come and look behind the scenes – I think a lot of people don’t realise what goes in and it’ll just be good for them to see how well loved they [the racehorses] are, how well looked after – and on our yard they’re like part of the family.”
York Racecourse has an afternoon of racing complete with a record of over £250,000 in prize money for a seven-race thoroughbred card. The raceday is the final fixture of the Sky Bet Sunday Series and is sure to attract some quality entries with the enhanced prize money on offer. For those with children, there is an array of activities to keep them entertained, including appearances from TV characters Chase and Marshall from Paw Patrol.
Racing Welfare’s chief executive Dawn Goodfellow commented: “ARC Malton Open Day is a fantastic celebration of our racing heritage, the horses and the incredible people who make this industry so special. It’s a unique opportunity for the public to step behind the scenes, meet the hardworking teams, and experience the passion that drives racing in this part of the country. We’re proud to be part of a day that brings the community together and showcases the very best of racing in Malton, and grateful to all the trainers for their ongoing support of this special day.
“Thanks must also go to ARC for their sponsorship once again, and event partners York Racecourse.”
The full list of trainers you can visit at Malton Open Day is:
- Adrian Keatley at Wold House Stables
- Craig Lidster at Beverley House Stables
- John Wainright at Granary House Stables
- Mick and David Easterby at New House Farm
- Mike Sowersby at Oak Lee Farm
- Ollie Pears at The Old Farmhouse
- Richard Fahey at Mews House
- Sara Ender at Swallows Barn
- Suzzanne France at Cheesecake Hill House
- Tim Easterby at Habton Farms
Tickets are available to buy from www.maltonopenday.co.uk and are priced at just £10 for admission to Malton Open Day, or £20 as a combined ticket for Malton Open Day and York Racecourse. Children under 18 go free, making it an exceptional value, full day out for families or keen racegoers alike. Parking is available at the yards, meaning attendees can drive directly to their desired locations at their convenience.