Middleham open day

DESPITE fears that this year might the last before racing on Good Friday is introduced, the Middleham Trainers' Association's annual Open Day will go ahead in April "as strong as ever".

Set for April 3, the Open Day has been a feature of spring in North Yorkshire for 20 years during which time the association have raised over 230,000 for charities in the Middleham area with 16,000 being raised at last year's event when, for the first time, afternoon activities included the opportunity to see horses being galloped on the world-famous moor.

James Bethell, the association's chairman, confirmed yesterday the Open Day would be run as planned but added the prospect had been raised in discussions with his opposite number at Lambourn, where there is an similar annual event, of the British Horseracing Authority ending the tradition of having Good Friday as a non-racing day in 2011.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We had a meeting of the association on Tuesday night and everything was positive.

"All our members will be doing their bit and Mark Johnston, who is no longer a member, will be opening his stables as usual along with the rest of us," said Bethell. "We will not be organising the afternoon session this year for financial reasons – the marquee we hired last year for the gallops cost the association 600 and in the present economic climate we can't really justify the expense.

"Otherwise it will be business as usual with all the yards in Middleham opening between 9.15am and 1pm and Ann and George Duffield, who train at Constable Burton, open to visitors in the afternoon as usual.

"Patrick Haslam has revved up the members to make this year's event, which may be the last – although we have been saying that for some time now – as good as any in the past, Sally Hall has been allocating the various jobs to everyone and Kate Walton has, as usual, been wonderfully enthusiastic," said Bethell.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Entry will be 6 in advance, 7 on the day and children under 12 are admitted free of charge.

Shuttle buses will be on hand to take visitors from the car parks to the yards and there will be stalls and entertainment in the town square. For further information contact Middleham Key Centre on 01969 624411.

Ante-post favourite Oh Crick will bypass Saturday's Blue Square Handicap Chase at Doncaster. Alan King's seven-year-old enjoyed a fantastic campaign last season, with successes at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals.