Racecourse prepares for its opening day

Goodwood will be opening on May 6 with seven races.

There will also be the chance to explore more of what the Goodwood Estate has to offer – including golf, aviation and driving experiences.

The team from Golf At Goodwood will helping racegoers try the game and practice their swing techniques with an inflatable golf net.

A ‘longest drive’ competition using sophisticated Trackman technology will be putting skills to the test.

For those aged 17 and under, complimentary young driver experiences will give a taster of the programmes provided at the Goodwood Motor Circuit. The 20-minute sessions include a slalom challenge, reversing round corners, hill starts and parallel parking.

The Goodwood Estate is also home to an aerodrome and the aviation team will present a state-of-the-art helicopter on the afternoon, allowing guests to explore the cockpit and ask any questions they may have about flying.

From flights in a Spitfire to majestic tours of the sky above the Sussex coast, the aviation enthusiasts at Goodwood will explain all about the Goodwood aerodrome.

Goodwood Health Club will also be providing complimentary foot massages, water massages and manicures.

Seamus Buckley, who is preparing for his final season as clerk of the course at Goodwood, said; ‘Everything is going as planned and the course itself is in very good condition.

‘We are where we want to be at this stage, though the dry weather has not helped the turf, so we’ll think about doing some watering to keep some moisture in the ground for opening Saturday.’