AINTREE Racecourse will show its commitment to promoting horse welfare for the third year running as the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) National Championships gets underway.

Taking place at Aintree’s International Equestrian Centre the event will run from Tuesday, August 22 to Sunday, August 27 and will offer six-days of stellar racing all to highlight the welfare of these great animals.

This year the event has expanded and the highlights on the final day include the RoR Elite Showing Series Final and the crowning of the ROA and Goffs UK Supreme Champion worth £2,500 to the winner.

Other championship finals on the weekend include The Jockey Club RoR Novice Show Series Final, the TARRA In Hand and Ridden Series Final, the RoR / Tattersalls Special Final and the RoR Veteran Championship.

Culminating on Sunday evening with a gala dinner and the awarding of the supreme champion.

In addition to the top class line-up of equine talent, sporting soprano and Aintree ambassador Laura Wright will be performing a repertoire of classical hits at the gala evening.

For the first time ever Aintree will also host the RoR Dressage Championships and these run from Tuesday to Thursday, while a highlight on Friday will be the RoR/TBA Retrained Racehorse Challenge Final.

In 2016 more than 190 horses competed in the 72 classes, with champions crowned in a range of showing events.

Among the winners was subsequent RoR 'Horse of the Year' Monet’s Garden and the 'Supreme Champion' Beware Chalk Pit ridden by Rebecca Court.

The welfare of the racehorse begins long before it reaches a racecourse and ends long after its racing career and Aintree alongside The Jockey Club want to ensure that this is made possible.

Aintree Equestrian centre manager Carly Sage said: “We’re delighted with the success of the RoR Championships over the past two years and pleased to be able to expand it to six days, this year.

“Although only in its third year, the RoR National Championships has already established itself as a key event in our calendar and shows the priority Aintree and racing puts on the welfare of horses.

“The quality and quantity of entries has been superb over the past few years and so far this year they’re coming in thick and fast with entries closing on August 1.

“It’s free to attend all six days with plenty of different Equestrian events taking place – we look forward to a fabulous six days of competition.”

Chief executive of RoR Di Arbuthnot said: “It’s wonderful how quickly the event has established itself and this year represents another step forward, particularly with the welcome addition of the Racehorse Owners Association, ROA, and bloodstock auctioneers Goffs UK as sponsors, as well and an exciting Gala evening to look forward with Laura Wright performing.

“The team at Aintree work very hard in support of RoR and we are looking forward to another successful RoR National Championships.”

Entries are now open and close at midnight on Tuesday, August 1 visit horsemonkey.com