THIS year’s Middleham Stables Open Day will revert to the event’s traditional date of Good Friday, with 13 yards having confirmed they will be open to the public.

Last year, the Open Day, which is sponsored by ARC, switched to Easter Monday, but this year’s event will take place on Friday, March 30.

Stable yards will be open from 9.30am to 1pm, with Mark Johnston once again set to showcase his Park Farm Spa facilities. Jedd O’Keefe, whose stable star, Sam Spinner, is set to start as the favourite for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, will be opening his yard, along with Karl Burke, who trained Group One winners Laurens and Unfortunately last season.

A number of historic yards in the area surrounding Middleham will be taking part in the Open Day, with Ann Duffield set to show the public around her water treadmill recuperation facilities, and James Bethell hosting a jumping demonstration and show of two-year-olds at his Thorngill stables.

There will be market stalls and food in the centre of Middleham, along with a craft fair at the Key Centre and a parade of local fox hounds.

In the afternoon, the action will switch to the Low Moor, where planned activities include the retraining of racehorses musical ride, and a schooling session of National Hunt horses from Micky Hammond’s stable. That will be followed by an inter-yard team competition, featuring a Donkey Derby.

Last year’s event helped raise funds for Racing Welfare’s planned Hill House development in memory of Jessica Bethell, as well as supporting the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Riding for the Disabled, Citizens Advice Bureau and Middleham Sports and Wellbeing Association.

Sarah Fanning, of Racing Welfare, said: “We are very much looking forward to running the 2018 Open Day. While the event worked on Easter Monday last year, it was felt by the trainers that its traditional Good Friday place is better suited for yard working patterns, and we are delighted to benefit from ARC’s generous sponsorship again this year.”

Sam Cone, PR and communications director of ARC, added: “ARC is delighted to continue our support of the Middleham Open Day, which offers racing fans a fantastic opportunity to see behind the scenes of some of the top racing yards in the country.”

Tickets for the Open Day are on sale now at www.middlehamopenday.co.uk, with adult tickets priced £10, concessions £7.50 and those aged 16 and under admitted free.