CARLISLE Racecourse hosts its annual Family Countryside Day next Sunday and it's a real celebration of Cumbrian life.

Following January's traumatic floods, the racecourse hopes this year's event will provide a celebration for the county through a traditional race day and countryside events.

Alongside the busy racing schedule will be a programme of traditional countryside displays. The Scottish Terrier Racing Team will be demonstrating the country sport of terrier racing, which usually involves a chaotic and hilarious race to catch the lure from their handlers. Hound trailing will be demonstrated by the Border Hound Trailing Association and Hawkeye Falconry will be flying a range of its birds.

Carlisle's single most-valuable race of the year, the Cumberland Chase, offers prize money totalling £40,000.

Racecourse managing director John Baker comments: "Our last Countryside Day was a great success and we are hoping to attract the same high calibre entrants this year."