HAYDOCK Park launches its new flat racing season on Easter Saturday, aiming to make horse racing easier for occasional racegoers to understand.

A special simplified guide to the horses is becoming a regular offer on major race days for visitors who are less familiar with racing than keen punters.

The easy-to-follow racecard guide - named 'Harry's Hot Shots' after the racecourse's mascot, Harry Haydock - makes choosing selections from big flat racing fields straightforward. And Harry puts his own punting reputation on the line with suggested bets.

The new flat season is also being marked with a special family day, the first 800 children arriving at the racecourse will each be given a free chocolate Easter bunny.

The Easter Saturday family day will also feature jugglers, clowns, stiltwalkers, fire-eaters, and balloon modellers, as well as a Punch & Judy show, a children's magic show and face painting.

TV cameras will be at Haydock to broadcast the first three races live on BBC Grandstand starting at 1.30pm.

Principal race is the 2.30pm £20,000 Field Marshal Stakes over five furlongs which attracts good early season three-year-olds.

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