Take a look behind the scenes at award-winning race-horse yards in North Yorkshire

This year looks set to be just as popular, with local trainers including Karl Burke, Charlie Johnston and James Horton committed to opening their doors to the public on April 7.

Visitors will enjoy behind-the-scenes access to some of North Yorkshire’s most distinguished racing yards throughout the morning, plus a host of fun activities throughout the afternoon on Middleham’s Low Moor.

Middleham Open Day is run by Racing Welfare and raises funds to support racing staff in the area. The busy racing centre of Middleham, near Leyburn, has been home to racehorses in training for more than 200 years.

The town’s racing industry continues to thrive with 400 plus winners having been trained there each year for the past 38 years. There are currently 15 training yards located in and around the town.

Importantly, the event will raise vital funds for organisers Racing Welfare, who provide a wide range of advice and support services for people working in or retired from racing, without whom the sport would not be possible.

Help covers topics such as housing, physical and mental health, money, business management, the effects of COVID, careers advice and training and Racing Homes – the housing association that owns and manages properties on behalf of Racing Welfare, managing 165 properties across racing centres including; Newmarket, Lambourn, Malton and Middleham.

In 2022, Racing Welfare supported 226 individuals in the Middleham area and 575 individuals throughout the North. The charity provided a total of 3,037 instances of support across the region over the course of the year.

Racing Welfare’s chief executive, Dawn Goodfellow said: “The ARC Middleham Open Day is one of our flagship fundraising events of the year. It’s a day that sees our charity and the people we support engage with the wider public on a large scale, and it is always a date in the diary that many of us at Racing Welfare look forward to.

“The public’s support has never been more needed, as demand for Racing Welfare’s services continues to grow year-on-year. Without our fundraising events we simply wouldn’t be able to continue to offer our services to racing’s people on the scale that we do now. I hope to welcome lots of new and returning visitors to Middleham this Easter weekend.”

Sam Cone is Head of Communications and Public Affairs for long-standing event sponsor ARC.

He said: “At ARC we recognise the importance of Racing Welfare’s services to those working in the horseracing and breeding industry, and our ongoing sponsorship of the Middleham Open Day reflects this.

"The event is an important date in the calendar and an excellent opportunity for racing fans to gain an insight into what goes on day-to-day at the region’s racing stables. We hope that anyone local with an interest in racing supports the event and wish all visitors and participants an enjoyable day.”

The list of trainers confirmed to be opening so far is as follows:

Ben Haslam who has been at Castle Hill Stables since 2010, when he took over the reins from his father Patrick Haslam, at the age of 25; Charlie Johnston, son of trainer Mark Johnston, took over the training licence at Kingsley Park at the start of 2023, having been assistant trainer for several years; Foulrice Park Racing, set up in 2010 by Colin and Ailsa Stirling and originally in Malton before moving to Middleham; flat racing trainer James Horton at Bottom Yard; one of the industry’s most respected trainers, Jedd O’Keeffe who has had more than 200 winners across the disciplines; Karl Burke whose family have been based at Spigot Lodge in Wensleydale since 2000 which is steeped in racing history having been named after the 1821 St Leger winner Jack Spigot; one of the best jump jockeys in the 1980s before retiring following two leg breaks to become a trainer, Micky Hammond has Oakwood Stables; Neil Mechie from the family run, dual purpose racing, Dante Yard.

The yards will be opening from 9.30am-1pm (Karl Burke opening from 10am), with a host of activities to follow on Middleham’s Low Moor including the inter-yard team challenge and the Aiskew Equine and Pet Supplies Dog Show.

Tickets are now available to purchase at the early bird rate of £10 for adults and £6.50 for concessions if purchased before February 28 while under 16s go free.