The events comprising the Henry Cecil Open Weekend I Newmarket on Sept. 21-22 were revealed on Wednesday.
A total of 26 trainers will open their yards to the public, while there will also be the My Pension Expert Racing Personality Show Jumping Competition and the My Pension Expert Shetland Pony Grand National among other events. In addition to raising money for the events charity partners–Newmarket Housing Trust and Racing Welfare–the open weekend is also part of National Racehorse Week.
Access to the British Racing School, the Injured Jockeys Fund's fitness and rehab centre – Peter O'Sullevan House, Jockey Club Rooms, Rossdales Equine Hospital and Godolphin Lifetime Care at Woodditton are available on Saturday, Sept. 21. Visitors can also learn about the breeding process and meet the resident stallions at The National Stud however tours are now sold out. At 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, visitors are invited to attend the main sales ring at Tattersalls to learn about the oldest firm of horse auctioneers in the world and hear from an auctioneer on how he sells high priced bloodstock.
Beginning at 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22, over a quarter century of trainer will open their yards, including Louise Allan, Hilal Kobeissi, Martin Dunne, Patrick Owens, George Margarson, Simon Pearce, Jack Jones, James Horton, Ben Brookhouse, William Knight, Stuart Williams, Sir Mark Prescott Bt, Amy Murphy, Dylan Cunha, Tom Clover, James Tate, Alice Haynes, James Ferguson, Harry Eustace, Charlie Fellowes, George Scott, Kevin Philippart de Foy, Marco Botti, Michael Bell, Simon and Ed Crisford and John and Thady Gosden.
General admission to the National Horseracing Museum (NHRM) costs £5 per day during the Henry Cecil Open Weekend when you show your Open Weekend wristband. The Charlie Hills trained former champion sprinter, Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), will be at the museum over the weekend for guests to meet on the hour from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. each day.
Also on Sunday and beginning at 8 a.m. until 8:45 a.m., fans can see horses gallop on the Warren Hill Gallops sponsored by Tattersalls, among them G1 Irish Champion Stakes hero Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).
For a weekend wristband purchased in advance on the Henry Cecil Open Weekend website, the price is £15, while it is £20 per person when purchased over the weekend. Children aged 16 years and under are free.
Charlie Fellowes, chairman of The Henry Cecil Open Weekend, said, “We are delighted to be welcoming visitors back to Newmarket for the Henry Cecil Open Weekend. Our revised format will be introduced for the first time this year which has seen unprecedented support from trainers opening their doors on a biannual basis, we hope visitors will enjoy the action packed two days we have in store as there really is something for all the family to enjoy.
“Named in honour of the great Sir Henry Cecil this weekend is all about celebration. We hope people will join us to help raise as much money as possible for our two fantastic charities, The Newmarket Housing Trust and Racing Welfare.”
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