VISITORS will have the opportunity to see behind the scenes of Malton's successful racing industry next month.

The annual Betfair Malton Open Day takes place on Sunday, August 31 - a week later than previous years.

With 20 racing yards opening their doors to the public, the open day also raises funds for four charities - Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Malton Hospital, Jack Berry House and Racing Welfare.

Visits to the racing yards take place during the morning followed by the opportunity to meet equine heroes, jockeys, trainers and stable staff after lunch.

Afternoon events will be centred around the Milton Rooms in Malton Market Place where the British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust will provide an interactive area for children to learn about horse racing.

There will also be a celebrity quiz with a guest panel, and a selection of trade and catering stands outside with various other displays and demonstrations including a Natural Horsemanship display with Gary Witheford at Tim Etherington’s yard.

Malton has been associated with the training of thoroughbreds for more then 300 years and is the third largest training centre in the UK, after Newmarket and Lambourn.

The area is home to more than 1,000 racehorses who last year were the winners of 600 flat races and, 150 jumps races and more then £4 million in prize money. The opening of the local training stables offers a unique first hand perspective of what happens in the world of horseracing.

Karon Brown, a member of the Malton Racing Association, said: “The Open Day is a great opportunity to come along to Malton, visit the various different yards, meet the horses, jockeys and trainers and watch some brilliant demonstrations.

"The question and answer session should be really interesting and draw a large crowd to the Market Place and we hope that the day will both raise awareness of what Malton has to offer and raise plenty of funds for four fantastic charities.”

The yards open from 9am until 1pm, with Tim Easterby’s opening half an hour earlier, and admission is £10 for adult and under 12’s go free. Admission includes a free park and ride system with a bus every 15 to 20 minutes taking visitors to all the yards in Malton and Norton.

Further details can be found at www.maltonstablesopenday.co.uk.