Sir Alex Ferguson hopes for a win at Carlisle Racecourse
Sir Alex Ferguson has a horse running at Carlisle Racecourse Credit: PA
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has a horse running at Carlisle Racecourse this afternoon.
The 71-year-old, who ended his 26-year reign at Old Trafford this month, is joint owner of Forget Me Not Lane which will line up in the sixth of seven races at Monday's meeting.
Sir Alex's horse is likely to be among the favourites, having won its previous three races.
It is not yet known if Sir Alex will be at the racecourse to see how Forget Me Not Lane fares over one mile and three furlongs in the 4.55 at Carlisle.
British pop legends 'Madness' are to perform at Carlisle Racecourse this summer.
The band were due to perform last year, however a waterlogged course meant the gig was cancelled.
Around 9,500 people are expected to attend the event on 6th July.
Madness were one of the UK's most successful bands in the 80s with 15 of their hits making the top 10.
Richard Clements is the general manager at Carlisle Racecourse.
He said:
"We are absolutely thrilled to be able to bring Madness to Carlisle at the second attempt after the disappointment of last year's cancellation. They are a national treasure."
Champion Jockey AP McCoy will take part in Carlisle's race meeting today.
The legendary rider, who has been champion jumps jockey for the last 17 seasons, has five rides at the city track, including four for top trainer Jonjo O'Neill.
He will face competition at Carlisle tomorrow from his main rival Richard Johnson, who is also making the trip to Cumbria.
In all, there are 61 horses declared as runners. McCoy goes in the first race aboard Another Trump. His other rides are in the final four races with Mister Hyde, Ballyclough, Merry King and Ballymartin King.
The jump season starts at Carlisle race course and there are a number of top trainers have horses testing the ground.
Nigel Twiston-Davies and David Pipe will both enter horses in races at Carlisle's first National Hunt meeting.
Richard Clements, Carlisle Racecourse's general manager, said:
"The opening jumps fixture is one of the highlights of our racing season and there is a great line-up, with 53 entries across seven races. It also includes some real quality, with several major names making a long trip north."
Grand national winning jockeys Jason Maguire and Timmy Murphy have rides at the fixture.
The meeting will be first one in charge for new head groundsman Thomas Wootten, who has taken over from his father Tony who retired earlier this year.
It's the biggest night of the year at Carlisle Racecourse. Ladies night is the only meeting in the world that's exclusively for female jockeys. It also attracts the largest crowd of the year.
Four of tonight's riders come from the same all-female stable near Penrith where the horses are trained by Dianne Sayer. Kim Inglis went to speak to them before the event.
Ladies day at Carlisle rcaecourse Credit: Carlisle Racecourse
Carlisle racecourse's busiest day of the year gets underway with ladies day. Thousands will attend the world's only race fixture for lady Jockeys, with 6 races.
There are prizes for the best dressed lady, the best dressed gent and the best hat.
