This year's Malton Stables Open Day has been cancelled owing to continuing concerns over the foot and mouth crisis.

The hugely-popular annual event, which has become one of the principal highlights in the whole Ryedale calendar, had been scheduled to be held on Sunday, August 26 when, as usual, some 20 stables housing more than 500 horses would have opened their doors to the public. But, following a meeting of the Malton Racing Association (MRA) committee, it has now been decided that it should be cancelled.

There will still, however, be a Malton Racing Association theme to the afternoon race meeting at Beverley on the same day, the popular course having this year teamed-up with the MRA as a provider of the afternoon entertainment.

Updated: 10:41 Thursday, June 14, 2001