BRIGG PEOPLE WELCOME AS LINCOLNSHIRE RACECOURSE GOING BACK IN TIME TO THE 1940s

The countdown has started to Market Rasen Racecourse’s MansionBet 1940s Raceday on Sunday, 19th May with many people from Brigg and district will be attending.
The day will remember the part that Lincolnshire played in the Second World War, including the county’s setting as the ‘Home of the RAF’, the work of the Home Guard and the importance of agriculture and ‘Digging For Victory’ during the conflict.
The feature horse race during the afternoon is the appropriately named MansionBet Dam Buster Chase; RAF Scampton, the home of the Dam Busters, being just over a dozen miles from the racecourse.
There is no dress code, but visitors are being encouraged to come along in period dress, with prizes being awarded for the best dressed lady, gentleman and child. It’s affordable for families too, with general admission for adults costing from just £9 in advance, while all accompanied under 18s are admitted free of charge.
As well as the seven horse races, visitors will be able to look at vintage vehicles, browse trade stands, watch re-enactment displays and join in Lindy hop dancing with music from May Blossom.
Even the food menus will have a wartime theme, while there will be bunting, colour and street jive dancing to represent the VE Day celebrations which took place on 8th May 1945 as fighting in Europe finally came to an end.
Entertainment includes bagpipes, displays from the Market Rasen Air Cadets and Rasen Heritage, plus Living History including jeeps, an RAF motorcycle, camping and evacuee display, and vintage fairground stalls including coconut shy, hook a duck, ball in a bucket, high sticker, splat a rat and cactus lasso.
The racecourse is working with AGE UK Lindsey, the racecourse’s charity of the year from June 2019, and Lincolnshire museums and trusts to deliver the 1940s day for the enjoyment of the public.
Nadia Powell, General Manager, Market Rasen Racecourse, said: “We are delighted to be working with our partners, including our sponsor MansionBet and our new official racecourse charity AGE UK Lindsey, to bring an exciting day of racing while remembering the 1940s. The county of Lincolnshire played a truly significant part in the war-time effort and we wish to remember the huge contribution and sacrifices that were made. All ages will be able to enjoy the activities that we will lay on during the MansionBet 1940s Raceday on Sunday, 19th May.”
The Live Jive Dinner Dance package, available to purchase in advance, will have 1940s music from the Bluebird Belles in the Brocklesby Suite restaurant. The offer, at £80 per person, includes a County Enclosure admission badge, a reserved table for the day, a 1940s themed three-course a la carte lunch, a Market Rasen cream tea, raceday programme and betting facility. Under 12s eat free of charge when accompanied by a full paying adult restaurant package.
The Victory Afternoon Tea Experience, from £45 per person, is based in the County Room, with views across the track and of the winning post. The 1940s-themed offer includes County Enclosure admission, a full afternoon tea with sandwiches, cakes and scones, a table for the day, a private viewing balcony, raceday programme, waitress service and a betting facility.
Gates will open at 12.15pm, with the first race starting two hours later. The finale is at 5.45pm.
Further details about Market Rasen Racecourse, including ticket purchases, can be found at www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/marketrasen
Free tickets and discounts are available via Tickets for Troops, booked at www.ticketsfortroops.org.uk