Saddle up for the Peter O’Sullevan Lambourn Open Day 2025

LAMBOURN’S big day out is back.

It returns after last year’s event was cancelled due to wet weather conditions, making car parks unusable.

This year legendary jockey Sir AP McCoy will be among the big names in horseracing taking part in the activities at the Peter O’Sullevan Lambourn Open Day 2025 on Good Friday, April 18.

The event is billed as a “fantastic, family day out” and a unique opportunity to visit Lambourn Valley trainers’ yards and come face to face with the horses and trainers along with their staff and jockeys – and dogs are welcome.

The yards are open from 9am until 1pm; entry will cost £15 per person but entry for children aged under 12 is free.

The afternoon entertainment starts at 1pm; entry is £10 per person with free car parking and, again, entry for children under 12 years is free.

In the Carisbrooke Stud Celebrity Show Jumping, celebrity jockeys including Sir AP McCoy compete keenly against each other in a competition where the fences get higher in each jump off.

There will also be a dog show.

Bring your dog and enter the various classes [all dogs to be on leads at all times].

The competition classes are:

Cutest Puppy under one year

Most handsome boy

Prettiest girl

Golden oldie eight years and over

Best child handler [12 years and under]

Best six legs [where the dog and its handler compete together]

Waggiest tail

Best rescue

Most appealing eyes

Fastest sit – the last dog to sit in each round gets knocked out until there is a winner

The Best In Show: The Perennial Lambourn Cup, presented by Dentons; rosettes to sixth place in each class sponsored by Browne and Daughters.

White Horse Feeds are donating prizes for the winner of each class and the Veterinary Hospital Hungerford is donating dog toys as tombola prizes

Other attractions include the Shetland Pony Grand National, All Steps Formation Riding – “like synchronised swimming, but with horses” – and the Windsor Clive International Parade of Equine Heroes.

This will feature famous racehorses, past and present, trained in the Lambourn Valley, parading to bring back memories, with full commentary on their achievements.

These will include Altior, Coneygree, Mr Vango and Sprinter Sacre.