THE Malton Stables Open Day returns this weekend after a year off.

Renamed Malton Festival of Racing, the event will take place on Sunday, September 17, and is sponsored by Arena Racing Company (ARC).

Organised by the charity Racing Welfare, total of 16 yards in the Malton and Norton area will open their doors to the public in the morning and a programme of activities is scheduled for the afternoon.

Visitors will also be able to visit the Injured Jockey Fund’s Jack Berry House where there will be tours of the facility with Jack Berry himself. In the afternoon, a Q & A session will take place at the Milton Rooms for the public to ask all of their racing-related questions to a panel of personalities.

The Malton Festival of Racing Dog Show, sponsored by Linton Pet Shop, features two classes for jockeys and trainers as well as six classes open to the general public and will be held in the Market Place.

To conclude the afternoon activities a horse-hopper race will take place for teams of stable staff from different Malton yards with a prize-giving for the winners and a ducking stool for the losers.

The event is also supported by Malton Estate and there will be activities in the town’s Market Place throughout the day with a wide range of stalls including clothing and craft items for sale, a birds of prey display and face painting for children as well as street food. There will be a display of racing memorabilia and photographs in the Conservative Club.

Funds raised through the event will support Racing Welfare’s services in Malton as well as Jack Berry House and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Susannah Gill, director of external affairs at ARC, said: “This year’s Malton Festival of Racing promises to be the biggest and best yet and ARC is delighted to sponsor the event. We hope as many people as possible will take the opportunity to meet the equine and human stars of the sport, while raising money for great causes.”

Tickets can be bought on the day or in advance from www.maltonfestivalofracing.co.uk