DJ Sara Cox has revealed her love of horse racing as she looks forward to spinning the decks at Haydock Park this Saturday.

BBC Radio 2 DJ Sara will play a 90-minute set in the Paddock at Haydock Park after the races at the Armstrong Group Stakes.

The Bolton-born DJ said her interest began after jockey Willie Carson signed her race card at Haydock when she was a child.

“I still have a dream when I’m at the races that a trainer will come up and say that something’s happened to his jockey and ask me to ride it,” said Sara.

“They work so hard and they are so brave – it has to be in the blood. It is a calling and I always wanted to be a jockey.”

Sara was the all-partying poster girl of the 90s, hosting BBC Radio One’s Breakfast Show for three years, regularly attracting 10 million listeners.

“They were definitely good times, but sometimes really silly too,” she added.

“On My Radio One show, I’d go out have fun, then collapse in my chair next morning and tell the listeners all about it – and they loved it.

“It was the time of my life, and I was very lucky.

“I did some really cool stuff like interviewing Leonardo DiCaprio, Sting, Robbie Williams and lots of other really interesting people.”

And Sara lists the late David Bowie among her favourite interviews from that time.

“David Bowie was very, very special, such a nice human being.

“He could tell I was completely frazzled and star struck, but he was very kind and put me at my ease. It was a lovely interview to do.

“What I’ve learned over the years is to treat people well and do your best, because people will want to work with you.”

Throughout her career, Sara, who now hosts Sounds of the Eighties on Radio Two, has always shown bags of down to earth northern charm and a sparkiness that made her a huge favourite.

Sara is no stranger to getting in the saddle too, having tackled the Dartmoor Derby and is a veteran of two Magnolia Cups, an amateur race for lady riders at Goodwood.

She added: “I can’t wait to be back at Haydock Park again.”

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