PLENTY of entertainment is on offer at Sedgefield tomorrow when the course hosts its Butterwick Hospice Care race night.

As well as a conventional programme of horse racing, racegoers can also enjoy the Mascot Three-Legged Derby and the Hobby Horse Oaks.

Sedgefield's general manager Jim Allen founded the Mascot Grand National during his time at Huntingdon racecourse. The annual event is now televised nationally and generates enormous sponsorship income.

Recruited to turn around the fortunes of County Durham's only racecourse, Mr Allen has now initiated the Mascot Three-Legged Derby, with Hartlepool United's mascot H'Angus The Monkey among more than 20 sporting mascots lined up for the one-furlong event.

The second unconventional race of the evening is the one-furlong Hobby Horse Oaks, an initiative from Butterwick Hospice Care. Regular racecourse sponsor Saltwell Signs is making 50 hobby horses for racegoers to use, with prizes for the best turned out hobby horse and the best turned out jockey.

Mr Allen said: "We're turning our May Saturday meeting into a gala affair for a most worthy good cause. We'll be opening the gates at 2.30 and showing the FA Cup Final on the giant Tote screen.

"There'll be a funfair for children and a taekwando display, then our racing begins at 6.15."

More details on www.sedgefield-racecourse.co.uk.