Family Fun Days

Will I see horses close up?

Yes! You can watch them in the parade ring before races. That’s a small track where horses walk around to show themselves off to the public. You may be surprised by how big they are in real life. 

In the parade ring, you’ll also get to see the jockeys, owners and trainers too. At the end of the race, the winning horse comes back into the parade ring so everyone can applaud and shout ‘well done’.

Where are the family fun days?

They happen at racecourses all over the UK.

Famous courses such as Ascot, Newmarket, York and Aintree all hold family fun days but you will find that most racecourses in the UK will run at least one family fun day each year. Some may have several. A good starting point is to find the nearest racecourse to where you live and find out what dates their family fun days are planned. All the fixtures for the family fun days are on the Great British Racing website.

Do I need to dress in a special way?

No! Just wear comfy clothes and trainers so you can run around and … have fun!

Can I bring my own food?

Some places let you bring picnics and have special places set aside in the racecourse for families. These are often in the centre of the course, so you have a great view of everything that’s happening.

Some courses also have burger vans, ice cream stalls and sweet shops!

Are the races boring?

Not at all! The horses run very fast and you can hear the sound of their hooves as they go past. There’s even a commentator to tell you how the race is going and at the finish, lots of people cheer as the horses head for the finishing line. And you can watch all the action on big screens.

Can kids ride the racehorses?

Unfortunately not — racehorses have special jockeys who are trained to ride them.

But at many courses, you can ride ponies and sometimes pretend to be a jockey in games.

Is it safe?

Yes. There are many people working at the course to make sure everything runs smoothly and everyone is safe. You may spot stewards and first-aid teams around, and most courses have special family areas.

Are horses treated well?

In the UK, British Racing is one of the best in the world when it comes to looking after horses. The industry has invested more than £35 million in veterinary research and education since 2000, which has benefited all breeds of horses. During National Racehorse Week, the public can go behind the scenes to see the level of care horses are given. You can find more information on equine welfare at HorsePWR.

How long does a family fun day last?

Usually 4–6 hours, so there’s lots of time to play and watch racing. Most race days have at least six races – often around 30 minutes apart – and there will be lots of exciting things going on for you in between the races.

Why are family fun days so good?

There’s so much to see and do – you will obviously be able to see horses parade and race each other but there’s also lots of shows and activities through the day. And you can enjoy the whole event with your family.

You can find out more about family fun days on the Great British Racing website.