By Sue Crawford

Last updated at 13:37, Tuesday, 10 April 2012

A festival of horse racing and music will add an extra sparkle to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Carlisle this summer.

Hundreds of free tickets are being given away for the Best of British Fun race day at Carlisle Racecourse on Bank Holiday Monday, June 4.

As well as flat racing, the meeting will also feature live music as part of the Carlisle Music City festival.

The racecourse is giving away 500 adult tickets worth up to £15 each, on a first-come first-served basis, on its website from 9am tomorrow with a maximum of four tickets per booking.

The live music will include local bands and a rooftop performance by tribute act Beatlemania, who will emulate their heroes’ famous final live appearance in 1969 with an open-air gig from the top of a building at the racecourse.

Richard Clements, Carlisle Racecourse’s general manager, said: “We wanted to join in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June, especially as the Queen is such a keen racing fan.

“She will actually be attending The Derby at Epsom just two days before our meeting – and Epsom is our sister racecourse as we are both owned by The Jockey Club.

“We are expecting quite a rush for our free tickets but I’d like to emphasise that they will only be available to be booked through our website.

“The Carlisle Music City acts will add to the day’s entertainment and there will be lots of Best of British attractions celebrating everything that is great about Britain.

“The final line-up of local bands is yet to be confirmed but the Beatles tribute act will play from the top of our General’s Bar.”

Gates open at midday, with the first race at 2.10pm and the last one at 5.40pm. Entry for under-16s is free.

First published at 11:23, Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk