HEREFORD Racecourse will be hoping for another bumper crowd as the let children attend for free at their New Year Racing meet.

Taking place on January 2, the six race card will see gates open at 11.20am and the first race start at 12.50pm.

Hereford Racecourse Chief Executive Rebecca Davies is hoping that the event will appeal to all the family.

She said: "For teamhereford there will be minimal New Year’s Eve partying as we welcome in the New Year with racing on January 2.

"Like so many in racing, the Bank Holidays are often the busiest time for those involved in racing with stablestaff, groundsmen and many others working antisocial hours to keep the show on the road.

"Advance tickets for all January fixtures are just £10, and under-18s go free. Schools are still on holiday on January 2 so why not get together with friends and family and enjoy a private box for just £45 per person including lunch."

Despite heavy rain and blustery conditions a huge crowd of just under 3,000 people attended the racecourse's Christmas Jumper Day.

Davies added: "It was our richest ever raceday with £116,00 prize money with the feature £35,000 George Smith Horseboxes Mares’ Chase Final going to Still Believing trained in Wales by Evan Williams.

"Star of Lanka obviously has a soft spot for Hereford, following up his course victory last month with another victory on Saturday for Lambourn trainer Warren Greatrex.

"As the end of the year is nearing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many sponsors and commercial partners whose support at Hereford enables us to stage such competitive and valuable racing like last weekend.

"From local to national businesses their backing of Hereford Racecourse plays a huge part in helping us move forward and we hope that those relationships continue well into 2019 and beyond."