*Disclaimer – This is a sponsored post with Great British Racing*
Earlier this week we visited Catterick Bridge Racecourse as part of Great British Racing’s Everyone’s Turf campaign. We had our very first race day experience back in 2019 and we all really enjoyed it and couldn’t wait to go again. We’ve visited Ascot, Pontefract and Southwell Races before so we were excited to see what Catterick had to offer at their Family Race Day.
Everyone’s Turf
The Everyone’s Turf campaign aims to introduce horse racing to those who may never have been before. Racing has something for everyone whether it’s delicious food, family entertainment or thrilling sport. It’s the perfect opportunity to spend time with friends or family this summer with over 400 race days across England, Scotland and Wales. Fixtures include 33 Family Days, 36 Music Nights and 27 Ladies’ Days. So there really is something for everyone.
Under 18s race free at most fixtures when accompanied by a ticket holding adult. Which is great as I think we are all feeling the pinch at the moment and looking for cheap ways to keep the kids entertained this summer. All activities at Family Race Days are free too.
Catterick Racecourse
We arrived at Catterick just before the gates opened at 11:50am ready for a fun filled race day. The racecourse is located just outside Catterick Village, right off the A1 so it was really easy is to find.
Catterick is one of the busiest racecourses in North Yorkshire and offers racing all year round. The first recorded meeting took place back in 1783. Today, although improvements have been done, the framework of the old 1906 stand is still evident in the present Grandstand.
“Catterick Racecourse is one of the true homes of the Northern racing scene – a venue steeped in tradition and a favourite among many of the region’s owners, trainers and racing public.”
Food and drink
There were six races throughout the day, the first of which was at 1:50pm so we had plenty of time to grab some food beforehand. We enjoyed a hearty and delicious meal of pie, chips and gravy at the Paddock Cafe, followed by an ice cream for the kids and a pint for mummy and daddy! There are a few cafes, bars and restaurants around the racecourse, as well as food vans. So there’s plenty of choice when it comes to food and drink.
Kids activities
Next we headed to the family area where the kids enjoyed the free activities on offer, which included a bouncy castle, soft play area, crazy golf and a treasure hunt. As you can see both Max and Evie really enjoyed themselves, they would have stayed on that bouncy castle all day if I’d let them!
There are a number of Family Race Days happening over the remainder of summer, all of which offer free kids activities such as funfair rides, circus skills workshops, face painting and even a petting farm!
Parade ring
One of our favourite things to do at the races is to watch the horses in the parade ring. This is where you can see the beautiful horses up close as they walk around the parade ring before each race.
Next week we are visiting a trainers yard as part of National Racehorse Week and we are very excited to get a behind the scenes look at how the horses are cared for on a day to day basis.
The main event
Then it was time for the main event, the horse racing! We got the kids to pick a horse from each race, my husband tried to explain how it all works but to be honest I think they just went with the most fun sounding names! But that seemed to pay off because Max’s horse won in the first race! It was such a great atmosphere and the kids really enjoyed watching the horses and jockeys in action.
We had a fantastic day at Catterick, there was so much for us to do as a family and all at a great price. If you’ve never been horse racing before and aren’t sure what to expect, a family day is the perfect introduction. The casual dress code and relaxed atmosphere are ideal for those who want a family day out but aren’t experts in the sport of horse racing.
If Catterick Racecourse isn’t for you, there are 58 other racecourses across the UK offering both jump and flat racing. You can find your local racecourse via the postcode search on the Great British Racing website.
Thank you for reading.
