A number of prominent UK horse racing venues are to offer free admission to meetings in April, following the success of a 'free racing week' last year.

Ascot, Newmarket and Sandown are among 25 venues to be taking part in the 2011 venture, which is being offered in partnership with Racing for Change and lovetheraces.com. Last year's week-long period of free admission attracted around 40,000 extra racegoers and its success has prompted organisers to extend the period to a month.

Racing for Change chief executive Rod Street said: "This ground breaking move in April is being organised in a bid to attract record numbers of new customers to the fun and exciting sport of horse racing. "The aim of the month is to appeal to people who have been infrequent visitors to horse racing in the past or who have never been to a racecourse."