SUNDAY racing is here to stay, Haydock Park's managing director has revealed.

As the racecourse looked forward to its annual Sunday meeting this weekend, Richard Thomas said it was vital for horse racing to continue to attract the new family audiences that Sundays bring.

"It is so obvious the different crowd that comes to Haydock on Sundays - last year there were so many youngsters. It is they who we must draw in greater numbers as well as satisfying our more traditional customers," he said.

This year is the first when there has been racing on 14 consecutive Sundays during the summer months in Britain -- a move that hasn't been universally welcomed within the racing industry.

Haydock aims to attract all types of people to racing -- from 12,000+ crowds on big summer Saturdays to 10,000+ on ladies' evenings. And the family audience that prefer Sundays has just as big a part to play in the racecourse's future, said Mr Thomas.

This Sunday sees lots of family entertainment laid on at Haydock -- with jugglers, clowns, face painters and magicians.

Accompanied children under 16 gain free admission to the racecourse, so there is every reason why family Sundays at Haydock should continue to be successful.

First race time is 2.20pm. Admission is £35 to the Premier Enclosure on the top floor of the Centenary Grandstand, £20 to the County Enclosure, £12 to Tattersalls, and £6 to the Newton Enclosure. Accompanied children under 16 enter free. Senior citizens and students, with appropriate identification, enter Tattersalls and the Newton Enclosure at half price. Advance tickets for all race meetings at Haydock are available by calling 01942 402624.

More details about the racecourse are available on web site www.haydock-park.com where going and weather updates, as well as race entries and overnight declarations, are available. Results and a report can be seen after racing.