HUNTINGDON Racecourse is laying on a warm welcome for families at its opening jump racing fixture of the autumn on Sunday.

As well as six horse races, among the attractions for visitors are a free behind-the-scenes tour and the chance to test their jockey skills on a mechanical horse, plus a bouncy castle, inflatable basketball and a bungee trampoline in the Main Enclosure.

The behind-the-scenes tour – organised by the British Horseracing Education & Standards Trust – begins at 12.50pm outside the weighing room.

As Sunday is Freebets.co.uk family day, there is an advance tickets offer - �10 admission (a reduction of �5), quoting ‘tenner’ when booking by telephone on 0844 579 3007 or online at www.huntingdon-racecourse.co.uk. Accompanied under 18s are free.

The scheduled first race time is 2.30pm with gates open from 12.30pm. Adult admission into the Main Enclosure is �15, with accompanied under 18s entering free of charge.

Meanwhile, the racecourse has announced that it will stage 18 fixtures in 2013, one more than this year. The extra date is in September.

In one significant change, the racecourse will stage a ladies’ day in May rather than a ladies’ evening.

2013 fixtures – January: Friday 11, Friday 25; (Feb) Thursday 7, Thursday 21; March – Sunday 3, Wednesday 13, Thursday 21; April – Monday 1; May – Wednesday 22; August – Monday 26; September – Monday 9; October – Sunday 6, Tuesday 15; November – Sunday 3, Tuesday 12, Saturday 23; December – Thursday 12, Thursday 26.