Racegoers set to enjoy celebration of northern racing in March

Tickets are now on sale for the first-ever Racing Post ‘Go North’ Weekend. Racegoers are invited to attend three exciting days of jump racing and behind-the-scenes access across the north of England and Scotland in March. This weekend is part of an initiative to boost jump racing in the region and is led by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and sponsored by the Racing Post.

A weekend ticket which covers all three days of racing will be available for £40, with tickets also available for each individual fixture. Both can be purchased from the relevant racecourse websites.

A total of £400,000 in prize money is on offer across three fixtures:

1. Friday 20th March – Musselburgh Racecourse 
2. Saturday 21st March – Kelso Racecourse
3. Sunday 22nd March – Carlisle Racecourse

All three fixtures are accompanied by local trainers opening their yards on the morning of each day, offering the public behind-the-scenes insight into the industry before enjoying a day at the races:

• Friday 20th March – Nick Alexander, Lucinda Russell
• Saturday 21st March – Rose Dobbin, Katie Scott, Sandy Thomson
• Sunday 22nd March – James Ewart, Iain Jardine, Nicky Richards

A ticket for that day’s racing will be required for access to the stable visits in the morning.

A discounted weekend ticket will be available for Racing Post readers and members, which will give access to three days of racing and stable visits for just £30.

Retraining of Racehorses parades will focus on former regulars at northern jumps courses, with each racecourse also staging an exhibition on the history of the sport in the North. A prize for the top trainer/jockey/owner of the three fixtures will be presented at Carlisle on Sunday 22 March.

Trainer Nick Alexander, who is opening up his yard on Friday 20 March, said: “The region looks to be set for three great days of racing, and we’ll be looking to target the weekend with as many runners as we are able. We hope people will take the opportunity to come and take a look at how a racing yard works, all the care and attention that is involved in preparing a horse for a race and the facilities on offer to ensure they are looked so well after.” 

Kelso managing director Jonathan Garratt added: “This region has a wealth of equine and human talent when it comes to racing, as well as other equine disciplines.

 “To be able to highlight this on what is already one of our most valuable and high-quality fixtures is a great opportunity for Kelso and the wider area.”