Sparkie the Sandown Park racecourse mascot will be among a host of guests enjoying the venue’s annual family fun day.


The day promises to be a colourful one, with something for everyone and a combination of thrilling racing action and free entertainment for under-18s.


There is a unique opportunity to meet the author Lauren Child, who will be available to sign a selection of all her books, which includes her award-winning series Charlie and Lola.


Charlie and Lola has become one of the most popular series on TV and won several awards worldwide, including four Baftas. 


The programme is now aired in more than 34 countries and the spin-off books have sold more than 5m copies. 


The much-loved Thelwell ponies will also be on display and racegoers can purchase some of the merchandise and chat to some of Norman Thelwell’s family members.


He was considered the unofficial artist of the British countryside and was best known for his humorous cartoons of little girls and their ponies.


The Esher venue will have a strong family feel on the day and there will be plenty on offer to keep children entertained.


There will be an inflatable assault course, themed craft workshops, a balloon modeller and face painting.


A Mad Hatter’s tea party show will be put on for racegoers to watch the Mad Hatter lose his teapot as teatime quickly approaches.


A Sandown spokesman said: “The March Hare and the dormouse offer more hindrance than help and to top it all a stranger by the name of Alice arrives and asks to join them.


“It all goes topsy-turvy from then on; even the table gets in on the act. 


“You can also join in with the Queen of Hearts’ croquet and become a hoop or a hedgehog.


“This sounds utter madness, well yes, quite simply it is, but that’s how things work in Wonderland.”


All activities are included in the entry fee.


Sandown Park racecourse; Portsmouth Road; Esher; Saturday, September 1; adults grandstand tickets £20; children under 18 accompanied by an adult go free; sandown.co.uk; 01372 470047.