Newmarket may be known as the home of horseracing but visitors to the town’s open day on Sunday, September 22 will also be treated to a football match, when a team of jockeys take on the trainers at the Rowley Mile.
While the jockeys, led by Frankie Dettori and managed to chat show host Jeremy Kyle, consider themselves to have the upper hand, the trainers’ team does have a secret weapon in the form of local handler Mick Quinn. The former Portsmouth and Newcastle player is managing the five-a-side team which includes Ed Walker, Hugo Palmer and Ed Dunlop.
Dunlop, certainly likely to be the tallest player on the pitch, said: ‘The jockeys may have the ability and the speed but with our size and tenacity they are in for some serious competition and ferocious tackles!”
The Betfair Newmarket Open Day starts with horses from various yards in the town cantering on Warren Hill with commentary on each horse. A large number of the training yard will be open to the public throughout the morning from 9.30am to 12.30pm, while the action at the Rowley Mile Racecourse starts from 1.30pm.
As well as the football match, other attractions include a Shetland Pony Grand National, mounted games and fairground rides. Entry to the open day is £15 on the day (free for children under 12) or can be pre-booked online for a cost of £13. All money raised from the day will be split between three charities – the British Racing School, National Horseracing Museum and the New Astley Club.
For further information, please see www.newmarketopenday.co.uk.