Children will take the reins of key raceday roles at Haydock Park Racecourse next week, as part of Great British Racing’s Under 18s Race Free campaign

29 July 2019, London:

Young visitors to Summer Family Funday at Haydock Park Racecourse next week (Thursday 8 August) will be given the thrilling opportunity to try their hand at a number of key raceday roles, from raceday presenter and weighing room operative, to serving in the racecourse’s hospitality facilities and reporting on the ground conditions.

The Kids’ Takeover Day has been brought to Haydock Park by Great British Racing as part of its Under 18s Race Free campaign, which has been created to highlight the fact that under 18s go free to almost every racecourse, at almost every raceday. This summer sees more than 200 fixtures taking place up and down the country, 50 of which are special family days, where additional activities are put on for families and young people to enjoy alongside the racing.

Facilitated by Racing to School, an education charity which delivers free outdoor learning activities for young people at racecourses, studs and trainers’ yards across the country, the Kids’ Takeover Day was first trialled at Bath Racecourse, and is being rolled out at a number of racecourses across the summer by Great British Racing, offering children unprecedented access to the races and the chance to turn their hand to some of horseracing’s greatest job roles.

In addition to the Kids’ Takeover, visitors to Haydock Park Racecourse on 8 August can enjoy an exciting afternoon of horseracing, together with all the fun of the seaside. There will be a replica beach, and music and games throughout the afternoon. Children can even win a medal if they choose to participate in the beach games! Candy striped stalls, an inflatable assault course, craft tables and face painting complete the line up – and all of this is completely free for children aged 17 and under, with tickets starting at £15 (advance price). All children will be invited to participate in the Kids’ Takeover Day on arrival at the racecourse.

This news follows Great British Racing’s recent survey findings that 83% of UK parents feel that cost prohibits children from participating in outdoor activities; 86% of parents wanted their children to spend more time outside during the school holidays; 77% of parents have been put off taking their children to live sport as a result of the cost; and 60% of parents do not take their children to live sport at all.

This year’s campaign is also fronted by ambassador and mother-of-two Tess Daly, who commented: “As a parent, the school holidays are a fantastic opportunity to spend quality time with your children, yet finding activities that are stimulating, healthy and affordable can be a challenge.

“As a child, my parents went out of their way to take me to live sport and I do the same for my kids now – there’s nothing better than a day at the races. As well as the thrill of the racing, the kids are able to run around in the fresh air and there’s plenty of activities for them too, from having their faces painted to meeting race horses.”

Watch Tess as she explores a racing yard here and a day at the races here.

Toby Shaw, Director of Communications & Marketing at Great British Racing, added: “Racing remains one of Britain’s most popular spectator sports, with millions enjoying the excitement of race meets each year. At Great British Racing, we want to introduce more youngsters to the thrill of the sport: with more than 50 dedicated family days, our ‘Under 18s Race Free’ campaign provides an unforgettable day out in the fresh air for the whole family, without having to break the bank.”

Go to under18sracefree.com to find your local family raceday this Summer.

Under 18s Race Free Timetable 2019

About Great British Racing

Great British Racing is the marketing and promotional arm of British horseracing - the second biggest spectator sport in the country. Their role is to widen the horseracing’s fan-base, help grow revenue streams, and maintain British racing's position internationally as the best in the world

About Racing to School

Racing to School (formerly BHEST), established in 1993, is a registered charity (No. 1040590) responsible for the development and delivery of racing-related education programmes. Delivered free to schools at racecourses, studs and trainers’ yards across the UK, Racing to School’s lively approach supports children and young people by demonstrating a practical application of a range of National Curriculum subjects and sparking a knowledge and understanding of the sport of horseracing. The charity’s beneficiaries rose to over 14,000 in 2018, with a target to grow participation an additional 5% in 2019. More info is available at: www.racingtoschool.co.uk