Gosden, Channon, Hannon and Hughes involved in our big day at Goodwood

Across six races, all named after Sussex and Hampshire papers owned by Johnston Press, there were 117 horses entered at the five-day declarations stage.

Trainers who have entered runners include many of flat racing’s top names, such as Richard Hannon, Mick Channon, John Gosden, Saeed Bin Suroor, Brendan Powell and Sussex duo Amanda Perrett and Gary Moore.

The meeting kicks off with the Chichester Observer Selling Stakes at 2.35, followed by The News Veterans’ Handicap at 3.10.

The feature race of the day at 3.45 is the listed West Sussex County Times On House Stakes, in which ever-present Goodwood specialist Richard Hughes and Jimmy Fortune already lined up for rides.

After that the Worthing Herald Maiden Auction Stakes, Bognor Regis Observer Handicap and West Sussex Gazette Handicap complete what should be an excellent afternoon’s racing.

To complement the racing, the racecourse will be transformed into a wonderland of excitement with free children’s activities, including circus workshops, fairground rides, children’s races, giveaways and dancing.

There’ll be a supervised playground and a crèche to leave the little ones while the adults enjoy the racing. Accompanied under-18s always receive free admission at the course.

Goodwood are offering readers of the Observer series the chance to purchase a family ticket for £20 – this is the equivalent to two Gordon Enclosure tickets, normally £19 each.

Visit www.goodwood.co.uk and and enter the code JPFUN2011 at checkout.

The offer closes at midnight on May 29 and a maximum of four tickets per household are available.

The race line-up on the day includes the Chichester Observer Selling Stakes and the Bognor Regis Observer Stakes Handicap.

We’ll have tips for the meeting on this website on Saturday.