A HUGELY popular event which has become a mainstay of the region’s racing calendar will be returning, it has been confirmed.

The Middleham Stables Open Day, which is celebrating its 22nd anniversary, will be held on Good Friday - April 3 - next year.

This year there were fears that race meetings – which were held for the first time on Good Friday – would ruin the event.

However on the day those fears proved unfounded when more than 6,000 fans of the sport made the pilgrimage to the Dales town.

This year more than 500 horses will be available for visitors to see – and racing from Lingfield will also be beamed live on to a big screen.

The event is a big money-spinner for various charities and this year it raised more than £18,000.

This year the two main good causes to benefit will be the Household Cavalry Foundation and the Jessica Bethell Charitable Foundation.

The latter was formed in memory of the daughter of James Bethell, the chairman of Middleham Trainers’ Association, who died tragically two years ago at the age of just 24.

Lesley Sweeting, the chair of directors at Middleham Key Centre, who administrate the day, explained: “Jessica’s parents James and Sally set up the foundation to fund research into meningitis and we are proud to have chosen the Foundation as one of our two main charities for open day next year.

“Jessica was a huge supporter of the open day and it is fitting we should remember her and raise funds for such an important cause.”

She added: “The stables at Middleham contain some of the finest racehorses in the north of England and we are looking forward to one of the biggest and the best days in the open day’s history next year.

“Having coped successfully with racing on Good Friday, there is every cause for celebration.”

Tickets cost £10 per adult, including a souvenir brochure and a chance to win a prize in the programme draw. Admission for accompanied children is free.

The yards are open to the public from 9.30am till either 1pm or 2.30pm. Free parking is available in Middleham or nearby Leyburn, with free bus links between car parks and the outlying stables.