2012 at the races

2012 is set to be one of the biggest sporting years in recent memory, and Uttoxeter Racecourse is again due to host it's fair share of action and drama.

The venue's showpiece event, the Betfred Midlands Grand National, this year takes place on St Patrick's Day - March 17 - which should ensure a terrific atmosphere.

Tickets for the seven-race day are already available from the course website - www.uttoxeter-racecourse.co.uk - with regular tickets priced between £14 and £30.

Throughout the year, the course will again be hosting Family Fun Days, which will see children's entertainment, stalls and fairground rides, as well as a full programme of racing.

These will take place on Saturday May 5, Sunday June 3 and Sunday September 23.

Traditional course favourites will also be returning in 2012, including the Easter Holiday Raceday (Saturday March 31), Ladies Night (Thursday June 14), the English Summer National (Sunday July 1) and Ladies Day (Thursday July 26).

Towards the end of the year, two charity racedays take place. The Help for Heroes Raceday, which goes ahead on Thursday October 18, and the Emergency Services Raceday (Wednesday September 12), which everyone at the course will hope is a little less dramatic than last year, when the Emergency Services were indeed called into action to help a member of staff who had fallen ill.

Looking ahead almost twelve months, the Christmas Market, Christmas Party Racing and the New Year's Eve meet will all be taking place during the next festive season.

Further information on all the racedays and events, as well as how to purchase tickets, can be found at the Uttoxeter Racecourse website - www.uttoxeter-racecourse.co.uk.