Saddle up for Lambourn's Betfair Open Day
Top jockey AP McCoy and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Long Run among the stars of tomorrow's show
LAMBOURN-BASED Champion Jockey and 2010 BBC Sports Personality of the Year AP McCoy will join the line-up of top former and current jockeys taking part in the Betfair Lambourn Open Day tomorrow (Friday).
With fine weather forecast, the show jumping competition is set to be the highlight of the afternoon's entertainment as trainers across the Lambourn Valley open their yards to the public.
Up to 10,000 visitors are expected to flock to the annual event, which remains racing's best attended non-racecourse day out.
More than 30 racing yards will be open to the public from 8.30am until 1pm.
The afternoon programme, until 5pm, features puissance show jumping, farrier display, horseball and sheepdog display.
Newburytoday.co.uk will be there to provide online coverage and the Newbury Weekly News will have even more stories and pictures.
The public will be provided with a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes at some of the country's top training establishments, including Nicky Henderson's Seven Barrows, and to meet the stars of the show.
A host of Easter entertainment will be on offer for all the family featuring other top jockeys including John Francome and Mick Fitzgerald competing in the puissance competition and schooling horses.
The jockeys have a key role in the Lambourn Open Day's popularity, sparing one of their very few days off from racing to attend and entertain the public for the charity event.
Chairman of the Betfair Lambourn Open Day committee, Mark Smyly, said: ‘“I'm delighted with such a fantastic line-up at this year's Betfair Lambourn Open Day. Each year the event grows in popularity and scale and without the support of our sponsors, trainers, jockeys and the Lambourn community this event would not be the success that it is.”
Tickets cost £12 for the whole day and £6 after 1pm.
Children can attend free. All money raised supports local charities including the Lambourn Valley Housing Trust and Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance.
