ENGLISH TEXTS
as it’ s known, is a public holiday in the UK and the perfect opportunity to throw open stable doors and let the general public discover the world behind the scenes of racehorse training. I know the Middleham Open Day well, having taken part in it in various ways, having grown up nearby in this Yorkshire village nicknamed“ the Newmarket of the North.” I attended with my family from the very first editions back in the 1990s. As a young, pony-mad teenager, I was familiar with point-to-points and fox hunting, but I was fascinated by this world where the horse was an athlete and a king. After the morning visits to the stables and gallops, the fun continued into the afternoon, with the highlight being a showjumping competition featuring jockeys – an event I had the chance to take part in with my Pony Club friends. I remember feeling intimidated at the thought of being teamed up with professionals, but quickly reassured by their ease with our ponies and their great sense of fun. We were totally won over by this new horsey world and its people! In the years that followed, I switched sides. Probably influenced by what I’ d seen at the Open Day, I took a“ gap year” between school and university working as a stable lass in a small Middleham yard. Good Friday was a big date for the whole yard. We would take the hors- es out very early, and then everything had to be spotless – the horses gleaming, the yard immaculate – ready to welcome the visitors. And they came from all walks of life: racing fans who had travelled from afar to meet horses they had bet on or watched at the track; tourists spending Easter weekend in the area who were discovering an entire horse racing world they’ d never known existed; curious locals who were used to seeing racehorses on the roads but wanted to know more about the industry hidden behind the stable doors tucked away across the village; and above all, lots of children – all thrilled to get close to our horses. Wherever they came from, they all left with a better understanding of racing, the care given to the horses, a desire to go racing or place a bet, and for some, even dreams of becoming an owner or co-owner. After the morning tours, the atmosphere turned convivial, with inter-yard competitions keeping spirits high – a much-anticipated moment of relaxation for stable staff back then, and likely still today – a chance to bond and enjoy the festive vibe. More recently, I came full circle by returning to Middleham as a tourist. On the must-see list were the top yards of Mark Johnston and Karl Burke, with the horse pool and cutting-edge facilities at Johnston Racing the star attraction, followed in the afternoon by demon- strations and classes for retired racehorses. In true British fashion, there were also dog shows, a parade by the local hunt, and of course a multitude of food trucks, beer tents, and even homebaked cake sales raising money for charity. Because while the main aim of the Good Friday Open Days is to promote racing and win over hearts, they also serve a social purpose. In 2025, the entry ticket at Middleham cost £ 12.50( free for under-16s) and £ 15 at Lambourn( free for under-12s). More than 3,000 visitors came to Middleham, and over 10,000 to Lambourn, where star hurdler Constitution Hill was one of the headline attractions, along with top jockey Nico de Boinville and Group 1-winning trainer Jamie Osborne, who put on a show in the showjumping ring. It’ s a win-win for the industry and for charities like Racing Welfare who benefit. While we wait for the 2026 edition – or perhaps an Open Day in France – the next rendezvous is in September for the Newmarket Open Day!
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