RACEHORSE Trainers based in Scotland are offering a fantastic opportunity to discover the inner workings of a race yard, by opening their doors to the public for free.

A number of leading trainers including Sandy Thompson based near Duns and Jacki Stephen based near Lilliesleaf and Harriet Graham and Gary Rutherford from near Oxnam will host open days as part of National Racehorse Week.

The family friendly nationwide event runs from 10 -18 September and launched last year with great success.

The open days are free to attend and people of all ages are welcome, offering a fantastic family day out in the countryside.

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the stars of the sport up close and meet the team of staff and professionals who provide highest level of care to these magnificent animals 365 days of the year.

The open days will showcase a range of activities which varies from yard to yard, but all will offer the chance to meet racehorses in training, as well as the much-loved stable stars who have retired.

The trainers and their team will host a guided tour of their facilities; offering the chance to see horses exercise on the gallops, and on the treadmills and walkers. Some yards even have purposefully designed equine swimming pools, an activity most horses enjoy and just like with humans, it offers a great low-impact workout.

Physiotherapists, chiropractors and farriers (who put the horse’s shoes on) are an intrinsic part of any trainers' yard, and many open days will offer demonstrations and insight into this important aspect of horse welfare.

Even for those with little interest in horses and horseracing, these open days promise a unique and wholesome ‘day out’, amidst beautiful countryside. There will be light refreshments in most cases.

TV Star and ITV Racing Presenter Chris Hughes, himself a huge racing enthusiast is an ambassador for National Racehorse Week said: “The impact of getting up close to a horse cannot be underestimated.

And racing has created a unique opportunity through National Racehorse Week to help people meet these incredible animals, experience the life of a thoroughbred and talk to the dedicated teams who care for them 365 days a year.

There is nothing quite like this in any other sport. More than 11,000 places will be available to book free of charge at locations up and down the country with everyone welcome to join.”

Visits to the event must be booked in advance. To find out which yards are open in your area, there is a useful postcode search on the National Racehorse Week website that will advise you of a number of events in your area. Please visit: