Bumper crowd expected on highlight day for Arab racing

The biggest day on the Arabian racing calendar in Britain is staged at Newbury this afternoon, with £180,000 of prize-money on offer and a bumper crowd expected to take advantage of free entry at the Berkshire track.

Gates open two hours before the first of eight races at 2pm, and younger racegoers can look forward to pony rides, a falconry exhibit, face painting and plenty of other off-track entertainment, while one lucky adult racegoer will drive away with a Citroen C1 Touch CTi.

Organisers have increased the prize fund for the day by £20,000 this year, attracting a record number of overseas runners and a number of professional jockeys including Ted Durcan, Harry Bentley and Dane O’Neill, with the £55,000 Shadwell Dubai International Stakes at 4.50pm topping the bill.