Knight riders: Wetherby Racecourse visitors will wear armour to remember War of the Roses battle

Wetherby racecourse will remember one of the bloodiest battles fought on English soil as they are holding a Medieval Day on Saturday. The Battle of Towton, a triumph for Yorkists against Lancastrians during the War of the Roses, is being commemorated.

That battle was fought in the snow during 1461 and took place just 15 miles from Wetherby. That Towton battle brought about a change of monarchs with the victor - the Yorkist Edward, the Duke of York - becoming King Edward IV. At the age of just 19, he replaced the Lancastrian King Henry VI after a struggle in which more than 20,000 are understood to have died.

The Wetherby course are holding a race called the Towton Novices Steeplechase in the afternoon - and there will also be re-enactments, battle demonstrations, birds of prey and live music. Re-enactors will be going about their chores in a living history medieval encampment.

The Knights in Battle Medieval Society - a group based in Sheffield - will be aiming to bring the history to life. The focus of the medieval activity will be at their Battle Camp site. There will be a field kitchen, involving the cooking of seasonal food using historical methods and recipes. Craftsmen and women will demonstrate sewing, spinning, basket weaving and whittling.

Children aged under 17 will be admitted free, making it a family day out. When the demonstration battles are staged at regular intervals throughout the day, it is a chance to cheer the Knights and boo the baddies. They can also meet a Knight and handle some of the weapons and armour on display - and hold a hawk.

Standard admission into the Paddock is priced at £17 per adult, with gates opening at 10.30am and the first race of seven races taking place at 1pm.