Newcomers to the sport of horse racing will have a dedicated member of Wincanton’s team to accompany them throughout the day to help demystify the ins and outs of a day at the races on its Newcomers Day on January 4.
From explaining the minutiae of the racecard and what goes on behind the scenes in the weighing room, to understanding the day to day life of jockeys, the horses that make up the sport and how they are trained to race, it will be an all-encompassing day that promises to enlighten, enthrall, and garner new interest for a sport that is as social as it is entertaining.
General manager Huw Williams explained: “To come racing for the day can seem quite intimidating, but its one of the friendliest sports there is, and a really great day out, because whether you are racing alone, or attending with family and friends, there is always something to talk about – the horses.
“Also, we want to use it as an opportunity to explain about the whole system of racing, from how horses are started off, to the many retraining of racehorse programmes available that enable the horses to enjoy another career once they have retired.”
On Newcomers Day, there’s also an opportunity to take part in a walk around the track with clerk of the course Dan Cooper, and embark on a trip to the start, as well as jump on an equicisor that will be in the “all you need to know zone’ hosted by former jockey Mark Wall.
Huw Williams added: “It’s a great opportunity to have someone on hand throughout the meeting, which is perfect if you are planning on coming alone as you’ll have company all day. It’s a one off, and the only day we do this, so we hope people will jump on board and learn about horse racing.”
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- Gates open: 10:30am
- First race: 12:40pm
