In the flesh: find out what goes on inside a horse – and more – at The Showcase (Photo courtesy Cheltenham Racecourse)  


Pure thoroughbred: 1903-built City of Truro was the first locomotive to reach 100mph and it is operating on the GWR during The Showcace on 17th September. (photographer: Paul Stratford)

The Honeybourne Line and Cheltenham Racecourse are joining forces to provide families with a rare glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes - both at the railway and at The Showcase event at the racecourse.

Happening on  Saturday 17^th October, the day starts at 9.30 am at Toddington with a look at what goes on to prepare  steam locomotives for a day's work; and how locomotives are restored and overhauled.  One of the engines in steam this day is itself a pure thoroughbred: 'City of Truro' was the first locomotive to reach 100mph way back in 1904, when it was just one year old.  Today it's owned by the National Railway Museum.

A pleasant train ride to Cheltenham Racecourse station for The Showcase event then follows.  This station is today busy throughout the year but it first opened in 1912 especially for race traffic. 

It was only used on race days but also saw equestrian traffic - horses travelled by rail too, before the advent of faster and more reliable road transport.  Now restored by the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, the station was re-opened by HRH The Princess Royal, herself a keen horsewoman, in 2003.

There's a very short walk to the racecourse where visitors will enjoy the Showcase Event, including seven races and the Charles Owen Pony Racing Finals at 12.45. 

The behind-the-scenes Showcase includes learning how to saddle a horse, visits to the weighing room and commentary box, meeting some of the jockeys, go into the parade ring and even present a trophy. 

Visitors will then be free to catch any train back to Toddington.

Says Malcolm Temple, chairman of the GWR: "This is going to be an amazing family experience. The history of horseracing and railways are inextricably linked - trains carried both horses and racegoers and at important race meetings, Cheltenham Racecourse station was used by thousands of people. 

"History is repeating itself.  Although we no longer carry horses, the Honeybourne Line does run special trains for important race meetings once again, including today's Showcase Event - using the station exactly for what it was built for."

Tickets cost just £30 per adult and children go free.  Tickets are available from the GWR's ticket offices, or online from the Cheltenham Racecourse website here or telephone 01242 621 405 to book.