OUTSIZE jodhpurs and rival football mascots will be vying for glory at one of the most outrageous race meetings of the year.

The first hobbyhorse charity event at Sedgefield Racecourse on Saturday, May 17, will include a colourful array of races never before seen on the North-East racing circuit.

In aid of Butterwick Hospice, the equestrian antics will include a Butterwick Derby featuring sponsored hobbyhorses racing over the final furlong, complete with photo finish and cup presentation in the winners' enclosure.

The mayhem will continue with the Butterwick Gallop - a three-legged mascot race in which fluffy characters from rival football clubs are tied together in a dash to the finish line.

Sylvia Stoneham, fundraiser for the Bishop Auckland branch of the hospice, in County Durham, said: "It's a full race day but there will be all these other things going on. We've got a widescreen TV for the FA Cup Final and a fairground for the kiddies - but after that the real fun begins.

"The hobbyhorse race will include on-course betting, and jockeys are being encouraged to wear the most outrageous outfits possible.

"No experience is necessary, but you must have a sense of fun. All the wooden horses are provided.

"Then we'll have the three-legged mascot race, which should have some sparks flying because we're pairing mascots from rival teams."

Entry to the course is £6 on the day and children get in free. Organisers are limiting the number of sponsored hobbyhorses to 50, and anyone interested in racing should contact Butterwick's Bishop Auckland office on (01388) 603003. The meeting starts at 2pm.