A review of procedures will take place after a race was ultimately awarded to the seventh-placed jockey, when the majority of runners were disqualified for missing a hurdle.

Confusion arose in the mares’ handicap hurdle at Fontwell Park yesterday (15 November) when it appeared chevron signs had been placed in a hurdle in the final circuit resulting in seven jockeys missing out the jump. The chevrons had been carried across the course in order to guide riders around pulled-up horse Bluebell Sally, who was receiving veterinary treatment.

Welsh jockey Jack Tudor on the Clare Hobson-trained Dharma Rain was the only rider to jump the obstacle, so he was awarded the win, instead of the first-home Harry Reed on Just Henny.

A stewards’ report said an enquiry was held to establish the placings owing to the fact all the riders, except Jack and Sean Houlihan on Bluebell Sally, bypassed the third flight from home on the final circuit.

Jockeys Jeremiah McGrath, Brendan Powell, Page Fuller, Lucy Gardner, Harry Reed, Tabitha Worsley, and Niall Houlihan were interviewed, as were the clerk of course, the head groundsman and an additional member of the ground staff. After listening to the evidence and watching recordings of the incident, the stewards revised the placings, awarding Jack the win while all other runners were disqualified for taking the wrong course.

“Taking into account, on this occasion the poor visibility, and the illusion that the chevrons had been placed in the hurdle – which was caused by the chevrons being carried across the course behind the hurdle, which gave riders cause for concern for the safety of all involved – no penalties were imposed on any rider,” read the report.

In a post-race interview with At The Races when describing what happened Jack said it had been “very unclear” whether the hurdle was included or not.

“It looked like that hurdle could have been out very easily, it was a 50/50,” he said.

Although he had seen the other riders go round the fence, Jack jumped the hurdle, adding that there was “nothing on the fence”.

“I thought I will go with my gut instinct and jump it,” he said.

A spokesman for the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) told H&H a report of the incident had been forwarded to the BHA’s head office for further consideration, including whether any further regulatory action needs to be taken.

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“The BHA will also work with the racecourse to understand what caused the incident and what the course can do to ensure that a repeat does not occur,” he said.

A spokesman for Arena Racing Company (ARC), which owns Fontwell Park, told H&H ARC is in the process of undertaking a full review of the procedures that were adopted to guide runners around a horse receiving veterinary treatment.

“Regardless of the outcome of this investigation, as a goodwill gesture to the owners of the horses that were subsequently disqualified, ARC will pay the equivalent of the prize money to the first four horses past the post and the applicable appearance money scheme to the remaining runners,” he said.

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Set up camp near one of Britain’s racecourses so that you can be there for the first race in a flash...

1. Sunny Hill Farm, Somerset

Nearest racecourse: Wincanton, 10 minutes by car

For you: a detached barn conversion with four bedrooms, positioned off the beaten track with a range of versatile outbuildings.

For the horses: a timber stable block in need of maintenance with two boxes as well as an open-fronted shelter. Set in 5.5 acres with a further 12 available.

What’s the damage? £595,000

Agent: Stags

Telephone number: 01935 475000

Visit: www.stags.co.uk

2. Leighterton Barn, Gloucestershire

Nearest racecourse: Cheltenham, 35 minutes by car

For you: a Cotswold stone barn conversion with four-to-five bedrooms in a private setting, with 360° views over the surrounding countryside.

For the horses: a large, flat paddock with post-and-rail fencing and a timber-framed building with three stables. Set in 5.8 acres.

What’s the damage? £1.7m

Agent: Knight Frank

Telephone number: 01285 898184

Visit: www.knightfrank.co.uk

3. Cassillis Estate, Ayrshire

Nearest racecourse: Ayr, 20 minutes by car

For you: an imposing castle positioned above the River Doon with 13 bedrooms, a cinema, ballroom, converted former coach house and further cottages. There is 1.8 miles of salmon and trout fishing on the River Doon.

For the horses: a stable block with three traditional boxes, set in 309 acres.

What’s the damage? Offers over £3.9m

Agent: Savills

Telephone number: 0131 247 3720

Visit: www.savills.com

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4. Rock Road Cottage, Monmouthshire

Nearest racecourse: Chepstow, 15 minutes by car

For you: a five-bedroom home with panoramic views over the Usk Vale to the Welsh mountains, a cinema room and a large kitchen with an AGA.

For the horses: three loose boxes, a tack room and an all-weather arena, with excellent hacking on its doorstep. Set in four acres.

What’s the damage? £1.18m

Agent: Fine & Country

Telephone number: 01291 629799

Visit: www.fineandcountry.com

Next week: Equestrian properties near Bath

Ref: Horse & Hound; 24 November 2016

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Sharp-eyed racing fans may notice a familiar location in the new British film Suffragette.

Royal Windsor racecourse was used as one of the filming locations for the drama about the Suffragette movement.

The film stars Carey Mulligan, who some will recognise from The Great Gatsby and An Education, Helena Bonham Carter and Meryl Streep.

Joining them is Anne-Marie Duff (The Virgin Queen), Brendan Gleeson (Harry Potter, Gangs of New York) and Ben Whishaw (Skyfall).

“The Suffragette Movement played an unrivalled, pivotal role in shaping the country we live in today and we feel honoured that our course was chosen as the filming location for this historical and poignant movie,” said Stuart Dorn from the racecourse.

In 1913, Emily Wilding Davison died after colliding with the Kings’ horse at Epsom racecourse.

The script is written by Abi Morgan and tells the story of the early feminist movement.

It follows ordinary working women who risked everything to fight for the rights we have today.

“No major film has ever dramatised the extraordinary fight of the Suffragettes for the right to vote,” said director Sarah Gavron.

“It’s easy to forget that British women only gained that equal right in 1928. And in some parts of the world that right is still denied.”

So far, the film has had great reviews from the critics — Robbie Collin described it as “hot blooded and riveting” in The Telegraph — with The Guardian, The Times and The Telegraph all giving it four stars.

The film, produced by Ruby Film for Pathé, Film4 and the BFI, opens in cinemas across the UK on 12 October.

British racecourses are no strangers to the silver screen.

Ascot was used as a filming location for James Bond films Skyfall (2012), starring Daniel Craig as 007, and in A View To Kill (1985) with Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent.

Sandown Park also doubled-up as Milwaukee’s airport in the 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually.

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Ever dreamt of galloping off into the sunset with your other half? That’s exactly what one newly-wed couple chose to do on their special day at Musselburgh racecourse last week (Thursday, 30 July).

Army doctor major Chris Baird-Clarke and his wife Shelley tied the knot at the East Lothain racecourse while astride their horses.

Assistant registrar Jan Boyd oversaw the wedding vows in a ceremony held at the winning post in front of guests and the couple’s two-year-old son Alex.

The couple then took Irish draught, Rosie, and Arab, Mimi, for a gallop up the home straight and past the winning post.

It is believed the wedding is the first of its kind in Scotland.

Chris donned family tartan trews and Bonnie Prince Charlie jacket and Shelley wore a traditional-style ivory wedding dress.

During a three-year posting with The Royal Scots in Edinburgh, Chris would frequently go racing at Musselburgh.

Shelley, who rehabilitates horses, said she is “thrilled” that the racecourse gave them the go ahead.

Shelley said: “It is the second time married for both of us and we wanted to do something out of the ordinary, which was just for us, and this was perfect.”

The newly-weds are also celebrating Chris’ promotion to lieutenant colonel as head of defence occupational medicine for the army in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Chris has served in Iraq with The Royal Scots, including a seven-month stint near Basra during the second Gulf War.

He has also served in Germany, Canada, Iraq and Afghanistan with the 1st Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.

He said they originally thought of getting married on the beach at Gullane and then having their reception at the racecourse.

“We have been very impressed at how unbelievably hospitable and accommodating everyone has been in making this all come together,” he added.

Musselburgh racecourse’s Aisling Thornton, said: “We do receive some left of centre requests from visitors to Musselburgh and we always do our best to accommodate within reason.

“We are delighted that Chris and Shelley chose the racecourse to hold their wedding and hope the setting and special arrangements will bring happy memories for years to come.”

Horse & Hound recommends all riders/handlers wear appropriate safety wear, including safety hat and appropriate footwear, whenever they are handling or riding horses.

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Last week’s Royal Ascot was as good a race meeting as I can remember. I’m pretty sure it gets harder to win there every year.

Toronado cruised through the Queen Anne before winning with the minimum of fuss. Whether he will be able to match the fast improving Kingman is debatable, but he has got better from three years old to four.

The aforementioned Kingman annihilated Night Of Thunder and others in the St James’s Palace Stakes. Held up off a slow pace, he winged past them all and looks as though he is improving from race to race.

If he were mine, it would pain me that he was beaten in the 2000 Guineas. He is clearly miles better than the rest of his generation, but the history books show he was second on the day that matters most of all.

We can assume that many of his peers will be ducking him in the future. Though I doubt that will be the case with Toronado.

It looked like being a sensational meeting for Toronado’s owner, the new powerhouse of Al Shaqab Racing, which owns the Norfolk Stakes winner Baitha Alga and last year’s brilliant Arc de Triomphe winner Treve.

But Treve moved poorly to post for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and ran poorly in the race. Perhaps she had a difficult preparation, but it must be remembered that she is by Motivator out of a mare by Anabaa, a pedigree that suggests last week’s fast surface was unsuitable.

Furthermore, it was the first time she had run outside of Paris, a mere 30min from her Chantilly stables. No doubt we will see her back at her best in the autumn in France.

The Gold Cup was an epic contest. Irish hurdler Missunited set a steady pace before quickening up out of Swinley Bottom and getting the whole field off the bridle, under a fine ride from Jim Crowley.

But Joseph O’Brien on Leading Light and Ryan Moore (Estimate) were wise to it, and the former prevailed in a pulsating three-way finish.

There was plenty of sympathy for Estimate, who had missed work in the spring and rightly so. But Leading Light was the best horse on the day.

Rizeena bounced back from a poor run in the 1000 Guineas to win the Coronation Stakes. The best two-year-old filly of her generation, she had not run well at Newmarket in four starts.

Probably because of this her trainer, optimistic octogenarian Clive Brittain’s faith in her never wavered. I can’t think that I will still be at it at his age, or with his enthusiasm. His record in Group Ones is remarkable and one that should be revered.

Of the trainers, Sir Michael Stoute came out on top, just outpointing John Gosden, each of them with four winners. But they were both upstaged by Irishman Eddie Lynam who brought four horses and returned home with three winners.

Sole Power and Slade Power won both the Group One sprints and he won the Queen Mary with Alexander Anthem.

A year ago in this column, I wrote that Ryan Moore is the best jockey around because of his consistency. This year, he has been peerless in the saddle, and he continued with fine rides on the likes of Telescope and Arabian Moon.

Our very best jockeys over the decades have got to the point where they dictate how a race is run — and the rest follow. Ryan’s ride on Telescope being a good example.

Lester Piggott in the 1960s and 70s, Steve Cauthen in the early 80s, followed by Pat Eddery, Frankie Dettori and Kieren Fallon through the 80s, 90s and into the noughties.

Ryan has reached that level and is without doubt the complete jockey. There are, of course, days when Richard Hughes is his equal, particularly around Goodwood and some of the lesser tracks such as Windsor and Kempton.

However, the clamour for Ryan’s services in Hong Kong and Japan, where racing is more part of the public consciousness than here — and with prize-money to match — justifies the view that he is the best rider in the world.

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Great British Racing International (GBRI) has launched an exclusive members club, which aims to provide international owners with a better experience of British racing.

The new club will include members from 30 countries, including Australia, Hong Kong, Russia and Japan, as well as European countries and the Middle East.

The GBRI has paired up with The Racecourse Association to create the initiative with the support of various British trainers.

Membership will include a RCA badge — giving the member access to all British Racecourses as well as other complimentary offer — and full access to the Racing Post’s Daily iPad edition. 

GBRI’s international executive, Carter Carnegie said: “Owners are the most important stakeholders in racing, and we should never underestimate the fact that, along with owners based in Britain, so many international owners choose to make a significant and sustained investment in British racing.

Stephen Atkin, chief executive of The Racecourse Association, said: “We are pleased to have worked alongside GBRI to offer this exclusive membership club to international owners which supplements the existing badge scheme for racehorse owners.”

More than 20 former and current jockeys have been recruited as racecourse hosts to give visitors expert insight to their day at the races.

Jockey Club Racecourses launched the initiative, in partnership with the Jockeys Employment & Training Scheme (JETS), to offer an “enhanced raceday experience to its customers”.

The hosts include Grand National-winning jockey Brendan Powell and Derby winners Michael Hills and John Reid. They will share their knowledge with guests, explain what happens during a raceday, guide newcomers through reading the racecard and arrange visits behind the scenes.

“I’m delighted to be involved,” said John Reid. “It’s great to see The Jockey Club is contributing even more to British racing as an industry by employing retired and current jockeys. I’m certain we can give racegoers a really special experience.

“I’m ready with my anecdotes and to share my amazing experience of winning The Derby.”

JETS was set up to help former jockeys and support those nearing retirement with the transition to new forms of employment.

Jockey Club Racecourses’ Paul Fisher said: “[The hosts] are a great way for our customers to get even more out of their day at the races and learn new things about our sport.

“At the same time, it’s great to be giving something back to hardworking jockeys and in the process we hope to generate funds that we will reinvest into the sport.”

The initiative — available at all 15 of the Jockey Club racecourses — will be open initially as an upgrade to a hospitality or group booking.

Cost: £275; visit http://www.jockeyclubracecourses.com/jockey-club-hosts/

Racecourses across the country will be letting children in for free during the school holidays this summer.

From mid-July to early September, 48 racecourses will be offering complimentary admission for children at over 200 fixtures.

“Britain is enjoying a great summer of sport and horse racing is playing its part by providing affordable days out for families,” said Rod Street from Racing for Change.

This is an opportunity to give children their first taste of the sport and they can be kept amused with extra entertainments, from fun fairs to magic shows.

Under-18s will go for free at Newmarket’s Mini Racegoers Day on 28 July and at Ascot’s Shergar Cup on 11 August. And children under-11 will be admitted for free at Newbury’s Party in the Paddock on 18 August.

For a full list of fixtures offering free entry for children visit www.lovetheraces.com

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Grand National winning-jockey Bob Champion is undertaking a 10,000-mile journey this year, to raise £250,000 for charity.

The Champions 60:60 Charity Challenge is in aid of the Bob Champion Cancer Trust and The Injured Jockeys Fund and the inspirational jockey will set out from Ascot racecourse on 18 April.

Bob will visit all 60 British racecourses, on 60 consecutive racedays, driving between tracks in a Lotus, to end on 16 June back at Ascot.

Bob was diagnosed with cancer in 1979 and told he had eight months to live, but two years later he won the Grand National with Aldaniti.

“The charities are very close to my heart. It’s a three-fold mission — to raise money for them as well as trying to get more people into racing,” he told H&H.

Supporters are asked to make a minimum donation of £50 and choose which race meeting they want to attend.

They will then spend the day with Bob — meeting jockeys and going on a behind-the-scenes racecourse tour.

“I initially wanted to ride to each racecourse in 60 days — but it just wouldn’t work,” said Bob. “You can’t exactly canter up the M1 and it would probably have taken me three years!

“It was quite hard to find 60 days in a row with a meeting on, so there’s no logical order to the journey — I’ll be going backwards and forwards through England, Scotland and Wales.”

Everyone who supports the challenge will be entered into a draw for prizes including a trip to the 2011 Dubai World Cup and a behind-the-scenes tour at Channel 4’s The Morning Line.

For more information visit: www.champions6060.org.uk

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (11 February, ’10)

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John Deere tractors will soon be appearing at racecourses up and down the UK.

The machinery will be used to maintain seven racecourses around the country, thanks to an agreement with Arena Leisure plc.

Arena Leisure is the biggest racecourse operator in Britain, hosting 25 per cent of racing fixtures at seven racecourses around the country.

Ground staff at Doncaster, Folkestone, Lingfield Park, Royal Windsor, Southwell, Wolverhampton and Worcester will use John Deere equipment to maintain the courses, on a combined total of 514 hectares (1,271 acres).

Arena Leisure’s group procurement and special projects manager Geoff Adcock said: “We need reliable equipment and support with such a busy calendar — including 80 days of racing at Southwell and from 90 to 100 days at Wolverhampton.”

He added: “The key for us is that John Deere can supply everything we need, from walk-behind and ride-on mowers, and up to 200hp tractors.”

John Deere equipment will also be used by grounds staff at two 18-hole golf courses and two hotel complexes also used by Arena Leisure plc.

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Brand new racecourse, Great Leighs, will host its first race day on Friday, 4 April.

The Essex track is the first new racecourse to open in Britain in 81 years.

Inspectors from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) this week declared Great Leighs, near Chelmsford, Essex, fit for racing.

Racecourse owner John Holmes said: “One must not expect a grand opening, this is a completely new destination where safety will take precedence.”

Following the opening meeting, a further eight fixtures are planned for April. Organisers expect the public grandstand and hospitality facilities to be fully operational in time for a two-day meeting on 28-29 May.

“We believe that Great Leighs will play an important role on the international stage of horseracing, as well as benefiting the mid-Essex economy,” said Holmes, adding thanks to the BHA for their support and encouragement throughout the racecourse’s development.

Visit www.greatleighs.com for information on membership, fixtures and facilities.

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A disabled woman from Somerset has reached the winning post in her sights in her quest to walk and row the combined length of Britain’s racecourses to raise money for charity.

Jayne Dowling of Frome, who has restricted growth and scoliosis – a condition that causes curvature of the spine – has statically walked and rowed 88 miles, the equivalent length of 60 racecourses.

A staunch horse-racing enthusiast, Jayne has been encouraged and supported in her efforts by her friend and leading racehorse owner, Jim Lewis (pictured with Jayne above).

Jim Lewis, who owned triple Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate, said: “I first met Jayne at Wincanton Racecourse where I discovered that she was having a long-term love affair with one of my horses, Edredon Bleu.

“She and I have become firm friends and I will always do what I can to support her.

“In a reciprocal way, Jayne has put a lot of effort into raising money for my chosen charity, St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester. She is very committed to her fund-raising and with her enthusiasm and wonderful outlook on life, you can’t help but climb on board,” said Jim Lewis.

Jayne began her 88 mile quest at Frome Leisure Centre in September, allowing herself just 10 weeks to cross the finishing line.

Despite recent set-backs caused by a chest infection, Jayne met her deadline on Sunday (25 November) by completing her final course, Cheltenham – Jayne’s tribute to Best Mate.

“I have been passionate about horseracing since I was a child and I remember asking my grandfather to use my pocket money to place bets for me at the bookies,” said Jayne, who works as a secretary at South West law firm Withy King.

“Over the years, through my regular attendance at race meetings, I’ve become close to Jim Lewis and his family, and felt I wanted to do something to raise money for St Richard’s Hospice, one of the charities closest to Jim’s heart. I also wanted to support the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre which does such a wonderful job in re-habilitating and fostering-out ex-racehorses.”

Jayne, 38, ihopes to raise at least £2,000 in sponsorship, which she will divide between her St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester which has Jim Lewis as its Patron, and the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre in Lancashire.

Anyone interested in supporting Jayne’s two chosen charities, is asked to email her at jayneclipclop@blueyonder.co.uk.

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Four racecourses and one racehorse trainer lie within the new foot-and-mouth (FMD) surveillance zone. But all can continue with business as usual, provided they carry out appropriate biosecurity measures.

Racing continued at Kempton Park last night — just miles from the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Egham, Surrey — but every car and horsebox coming onto the racecourse was disinfected.

Racing will also continue at Ascot, Sandown Park and Windsor — with vehicle disinfection also a priority.

One trainer lies within the FMD 10km surveillance zone, but the British Horseracing Authority has allowed him to continue to have runners, provided he carries out “appropriate biosecurity measures” on his horses before they leave the yard.

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Hallo Dandy dies

Hallo Dandy, who won the 1984 Grand National was put down on Monday. The 33-year-old gelding was the oldest surviving National winner and spent the last 13 years at Carrie Humble’s Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre in Lancashire. He was put down following veterinary advice.

Royal Enclose to become less elite

The Royal Enclosure at the 2007 Royal Ascot (19 – 23 June) will be less exclusive, as officials have decided to include entry with “fine dining packages”. Up until now admission has been by invitation from members of four years standing only. But in the latest Royal Ascot brochure passes are included if you buy lunch in four of the racecourse’s 12 restaurants at prices from £530 to £1,410 per person.

Racehorse’s identity in question

Racehorse owner Robert Tierney will learn later this month whether he will face charges for substituting a winning horse for a slower one. Investigators have questioned Mr Tierney about the performances of Green Admiral, an 8-year-old gelding who after failing to win for years, suddenly took two victories in a week last February with many bets. A Horseracing Regulatory Authority inquiry has suggested that Green Admiral might have been substituted by King Crest, the winner of nine previous races.

Record prize money at Newmarket

Newmarket expects to award record prize money this season after reworking its calendar. Although the course will still run 37 meetings there will now be two Friday-Saturday fixtures of 18-19 May and 21-22 September bringing the total prize money to a record £7.4 million.

Justified back on track

Justified, who injured his back in the John Durkan Memorial Chase last month will be schooled at the Curragh this afternoon. The eight-year-old finished third behind Beef Or Salmon in November but has had two months off after it was discovered he had injured a joint in this back. Contacts say he is making a good recovery and will either aim for either the Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse or the Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles.

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Wincanton

Voted Racecourse of the Year in 2005, Wincanton racecourse is an ideal Boxing Day race venue. A multi-million pound refurbishment has transformed it into one of the West Country’s best racecourses and its countryside setting sets the scene for a Christmas flutter.

First race is at 12:30pm on Boxing Day, perfectly timed for lunch afterwards. The Paddock Pavilion will be serving a gourmet menu – a £55 package includes entry to the premier enclosure, parade ring viewing, lunch, afternoon tea and a private table throughout the day.

For more details contact (tel: 01963 32344).

Kempton Park – The Stan James King George VI Chase

The celebrated Stan James Christmas Festival is making a triumphant return to Kempton Park on 26 -27 December. Desert Orchid, Arkle, Best Mate and Kicking King have all featured in the Stan James King George VI Steeplechase on Boxing Day – undoubtedly the jewel in Kempton’s crown.

Tickets for both days are on sale now, with fantastic discounts and packages available for advanced booking. Tables in the stylishly refurbished Panoramic Bar & Restaurant offer fine views of the course as well as a sumptuous seasonal menu.

For more details (tel: 01372 477747) or email london.hospitality@rht.net

Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton’s first race is due off at 2:35pm on Boxing Day, so there is plenty of time for a decent lunch beforehand. The Ringside restaurant, on the ground floor is offering a three course roast lunch and a gourmet three course menu is being served at The Zongalero, the tiered restaurant on the third floor. Tables include TV monitors and the restaurant boasts panoramic views of the whole racetrack. Executive boxes are also available, all with private balconies looking out over the finishing straight.

As well as nail-biting racing, there will also be entertainment from soul and Motown singer Chester Riggon in the Premier Enclosure and a Madonna Tribute in the Ringside Restaurant.

For more details (tel: 01902 390027).

Towcester

Boxing Day at Towcester Racecourse is one of the busiest race meetings of the year with crowds of 9,000 strong gathering to view the action and enjoy a festive drink.

The grandstand offers panoramic views overlooking one of the most challenging National Hunt courses in the UK. Set on beautiful rolling hills in the Northamptonshire countryside, it’s a popular choice for any fan of the sport of kings. Entrance is only £10 for adults, under 16’s go free

For more details visit: www.towcester-racecourse.co.uk or (tel: 01327 353414).

Huntingdon

High class racing action and plenty of festive fun will be enjoyed at Huntingdon Racecourse on Boxing Day. A line-up of racing and entertainment will guarantee a great day out for both seasoned and first-time race goers. Whilst adults can enjoy a competitive six-race card of excellent jumps action and various trade stands, bars and restaurants, children can enjoy inflatable rides and sweets courtesy of Hugo the Hound, Huntingdon’s very own mascot. A Playstation 2 is also up for grabs in the festive children’s quiz.

Gates open at 10.45am, the first race is at 12.45pm, and the last race is at 3.40pm. All advance bookings for 15 people or more are subject to a 20% discount.

For more details (tel:01480 453373) or book online at www.huntingdon-racecourse.co.uk.

Wetherby

Wetherby’s Boxing Day meet is one of the busiest of the year, with crowds of over 15,000 expected. As Yorkshire’s favourite jump course, a post Christmas race trip has become a ritual with many Yorkshire families.

Skybet is sponsoring the meet for a fifth year – gates will open at 10am and first of six races sets off at 12:50pm. Live music will add to the festive atmosphere.

Demand for tickets has been so great that all the restaurants are fully booked, with only hospitality marquee packages remaining. However the racecourse is providing plenty of mobile food stands and public marquees to cater for the additional punters. Premier badges will sell out in advance so book your tickets online at www.wetherbyracing.co.uk or (tel: 01937 582035).