IF YOU find yourself with an hour to spare next weekend, why not gallop down to the Ryedale Folk Museum?

The Hutton-le-Hole venue is the host of a special two-day exhibition on Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9 celebrating everything that is great about horseracing in the county.

Organised by a 14-strong group of business studies students at Lady Lumley's School, in Pickering, a series of exhibitions, displays and activities should keep the punters entertained.

Leading trainers Tim Easterby, John Quinn and Peter Beaumont are among the handlers who have loaned treasured mementos to the youngsters, along with Aintree, York and Newmarket Racecourses.

So as well as getting to grips with an ecquiciser (a mechanical horse), visitors will also be able to remember Jodami's famous 1993 Cheltenham Gold Cup win for Brandsby-based Beaumont, revel in the memories of Sea Pigeon's Ebor and Cheltenham triumphs while also thumbing through memorabilia relating to Ryedale's Grand National winners.

The students have been supervised by business studies teacher Steve Varey, who previously worked as an education officer at the British Horseracing Board.

"Over the last few months, I and a group of business studies students have been working on organising an event at the Ryedale Folk Museum which focuses on the county's racing heritage, " he said.

"We've been trying to put together a series of exhibits, activities and displays which will hopefully show what a great heritage Ryedale has for racing.

"We have been very lucky in that Aintree Racecourse has helped us out with several items related to Ryedale's Grand National winners all the way down to Newmarket and Darley Stud who have also given us items.

"The students have been looking into finances, advertising and promotion as well as organising so, from the point of view of their curriculum, the whole experience has been hugely beneficial.

"Hopefully, it will be something they remember and can put into practice in the future."

Alastair Wilkinson, 14, one of the pupils organising the event, said he was really looking forward to seeing the fruits of all the students' labours next month.

"It has been really enjoyable, " he said.

"We've even got to miss a few lessons as well. We are looking forward to the weekend and we will be down there setting up and getting ready."

Varey added: "There's still some work to do, but if it all comes together it should be a great success.

"It is getting a little bit nerve-racking now as the weekend gets closer.

"Hopefully it will all go well and we will be able to look back with a lot of pride."