Racing Welfare is to host the very first Virtual Yorkshire Open Day on September 13, an event designed to showcase racing in the county due to the cancellation of the Middleham and Malton Open Days due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With support from Arena Racing Company, the Virtual Yorkshire Open Day will feature racehorse trainers providing video tours to give viewers into their training operations, equine superstars and horses to follow.

There will also be the chance for viewers to participate in the Virtual Yorkshire Open Day through an online dog show, with winners decided by public vote, and an art competition that will be judged by Racing Welfare ambassador Darren ‘Birdie’ Bird.

Tim Fitzgerald, Vice Chairman of the Malton Open Day Committee, said: “The Covid-19 outbreak has given Malton Open Day the opportunity to develop into a virtual showcase of racing in Yorkshire.

“We are delighted to be able to share the array of amazing facilities available across the whole of the county and very much look forward to giving the public a behind-the-scenes experience.”

Racing Welfare’s Chief Executive Dawn Goodfellow added: “We are thrilled that, despite being unable to hold our Open Days in their usual format this year, we are still able to showcase these fantastic racing centres.

“It is a wonderful opportunity to promote the racing hubs of Yorkshire and Epsom to a much wider audience and I hope everyone will follow the events on the day and enjoy the insight on offer.”