It's Lambourn's big day out

Around 10,000 visitors expected to Betfair Open Day

LAMBOURN is set to welcome around 10,000 visitors to its annual Betfair Open Day today (Good Friday)

And 2016 is a special occasion, marking the event’s 25th anniversary.

Cheltenham Festival winner Sprinter Sacre is scheduled to take part in the Parade of Heroes in the afternoon with three of Lambourn’s Gold Cup winners – Long Run, Coneygree and Bobsworth.

There will also be the return of the Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry, a lurcher racing display, the Shetland Grand National and a showjumping competition between soldiers of the Household Cavalry and top jockeys.

The Household Cavalry performance is designed to demonstrate the type of horsemanship used when the regiment still fought on horseback, including drills to practice battlefield and ceremonial manoeuvres to music.

The open day is always a unique opportunity to see the horses in the training establishments throughout the Lambourn Valley and more than 25 trainers will open their yards for visitors to meet the horses, the trainers and to see, first hand, the Lambourn racing industry.

Many yards have special exhibits and demonstrations, including horses using hydrotherapy pools.

The event will raise money for the horse racing industry charity, the Lambourn Valley Housing Trust and for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance, the Lambourn Church of England Primary School and other worthwhile Lambourn Valley causes.

For admission prices and more details, visit www.lambournopenday.com