Stables open to the public for The Malton Festival of Racing

Re-named the Malton Festival of Racing, the day is being organised by Racing Welfare, with sponsorship from Arena Racing Company. The event provides a full day of activities suitable for the whole family with free entrance to children under 16.

Dual Royal Ascot winner Ribchester will be one of the star equines on show at Richard Fahey’s Musley Bank Stables while Brian Ellison will have the ever-popular Top Notch Tonto and the top-class staying chaser Definitly Red. Another must-see yard to visit will be that of Mick Easterby who is joining the list of open yards for the Malton Festival of Racing for the first time. Other trainers opening to the public are Julie Camacho, Tim Easterby, Lucy Egerton, Suzzanne France, Malcolm Jefferson, Peter Niven, David O’Meara, Ollie Pears, John Quinn, Gary Sanderson, Nigel Tinkler, John Wainwright and Mark Walford.

Throughout the morning visitors will also be able to visit the Injured Jockey Fund’s Northern Rehabilitation and Fitness Centre at Jack Berry house where there will be tours of the facility with Jack Berry himself as well as a ‘Beat the Jockeys’ Wattbike challenge in the gym and the opportunity to try out race-riding skills on an equiciser.

At Richard Fahey’s Musley Bank Stables, at 12.30 after yards have opened in the morning, the Jockey’s show-jumping relay will take place. Sponsored by McClarron Insurance and Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors, there are a whole host of big names taking part. The event, where jockeys will be paired with a member of the pony club to jump two rounds against the clock, will see local flat jockeys include Paul Hanagan, Tom Eaves, Tony Hamilton, Jason Hart, Barry Mchugh and Sammy-Jo Bell hoping to serve it up to their jump counterparts. These include Grand National winner Derek Fox as well as Henry Brooke and Brian Hughes.

Later on, in the Milton Rooms, a Q & A session will take place for the public to ask all of their burning racing-related questions to a panel of racing personalities. These include top multiple Group winning trainer Richard Fahey, Oaks-winning Jockey Paul Hanagan and Derek Fox. Also taking part is the two-year old training maestro Jack Berry MBE who trained the likes of Mind Games and Bolshoi. The panel will be chaired by Racing UK presenter Niall Hannity.

The Malton Festival of Racing Dog Show, sponsored by Linton Pet Shop, features two classes for jockeys and trainers as well as six classes open to the general public and will be held in the Market Place. Find out which trainers and jockeys, under the expert eye of a judge, win the title of being ‘most like their dog’!

To conclude the afternoon activities a horse-hopper race will take place for teams of stable staff from different Malton yards with a prize-giving for the winners and a ducking stool for the losers.

The event is also supported by Malton Estate and there will be plenty to do in Malton Market Place throughout the day with a wide range of stalls including clothing and craft items for sale, a birds of prey display and face painting for children as well as street food. Local businesses are expected to be open and there will be a display of racing memorabilia and photographs in the Conservative Club.

Funds raised through the event will support Racing Welfare’s services in Malton as well as the Injured Jockeys Fund’s Jack Berry House and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Tickets can be purchased on the day or in advance from www.maltonfestivalofracing.co.uk.

Susannah Gill, Director of External Affairs at ARC, said; "This year’s Malton Festival of Racing promises to be the biggest and best yet and ARC is delighted to sponsor the event. It comes at the end of a big week for racing in Yorkshire with the four day St Leger Festival at Doncaster, and we hope as many people as possible will take the opportunity to meet the equine and human stars of the sport, while raising money for great causes."