Grab a chance to look behind the scenes at Newmarket’s horseracing community, watch races and feast at a food festival
Newmarket racecourse plays host to a fab weekend of festivities on 17 and 18 September.
Before (and during) Saturday afternoon racing on the Rowley Mile course, the Newmarket Open Weekend offers a chance to take tours at the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art, Rossdales Equine Hospital, Jockey Club rooms and the National Stud.
Author Jilly Cooper will be signing copies of her new book Mount! in the morning and afternoon and course gates open at 12.30pm for racing and the food and drink festival. There’s also sheep shearing and painted pony display, and a chance to watch the gallops (if you’re up early 8am-9.30am).
The aim is to raise funds for local causes, including Racing Welfare’s Newmarket Housing Project and the Newmarket Day Centre.
The Sunday features afternoon entertainment on the Rowley Mile, alongside the food festival, a showjumping competition at 3pm and a Tattersalls talk in the main sales ring at 11.30am. There’s also the chance to take more tours.
www.newmarketopenweekend.co.uk
