TAUNTON racecourse opens its gates again next Thursday when a generous £38,500 is up for grabs in prize money with the first of the seven races on the card due off at 12.35pm.

The feature race, at 1.35pm, is the Taunton Racecourse Owners Club Novices’ Limited Handicap Steeple Chase over 2m ½f which has prize money of £10,000 on offer.

Half an hour later sees the Setsquare Recruitment Mares’ Handicap Hurdle Race run over 2m 1f.

The next action, at 2.35pm is the Cystic Fibrosis Novices’ Handicap Hurdle, at 3m ½f the longest on the card.

The presentation to the winning owner will be made by Anthony Lewis who, five years ago, set himself the task of visiting every course in the UK alphabetically to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis.

Since then he has raised £44,000 and will be hoping to add to this with a bucket collection for this very worthwhile cause at the end of the meeting.

A second chase follows 30 minutes later this time over half a furlong under 3m and the afternoon concludes with the Independent Racecourse Ltd Handicap Hurdle race at 3.35pm.