Horse racing is set to return to Towcester racecourse next year following a £2m revamp – nearly a decade after it hosted its final meeting.
Bookmaker Betway announced a new partnership with Towcester racecourse owners Orchestrate to bring the return of National Hunt racing to the Northamptonshire track in time for the 2027/28 jumps season.
As part of the deal, the venue will be renamed Betway Towcester Racecourse. Betway will be principal strategic partner of the racecourse and exclusive betting partner across all fixtures.
Towcester racecourse, where AP McCoy rode his 4,000th winner in 2013, hosted its last horse racing fixture in May 2018; administrators were called in on 29 August that year and it officially closed as a horse racing venue in 2019. Greyhound racing has continued at Towcester over recent years.
Orchestrate chairman Mike Davis said the company is “thrilled to welcome Betway as principal strategic partner of the refurbished racecourse”.
“It has always been our ambition to bring horse racing back to Towcester for the local community and fans of the sport. This partnership turns that vision into a reality,” he said.
“We are now working with the BHA [British Horseracing Authority] to secure the necessary racecourse licences, to enable us to race in the autumn of 2027. Positive conversations are also underway to finalise fixtures for that period, and it is amazing to see the racing community all working together to promote the sport.”
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Extensive course and facility refurbishment, worth more than £2m, is already underway. Top jockey Paul Townend will also be involved, focusing on jockey welfare, course layout and weighing room facilities. The racecourse’s revival will be documented in a fly-on-the-wall series, which is scheduled for release in 2027.
Betway PR manager Lewis Knowles said: “Towcester has such a rich history within British racing, and we’re delighted to be partnering with the team there to bring horse racing back to what is such an iconic racecourse.
“As principal strategic partners, we plan to offer a truly unique experience for racegoers, owners, trainers, and jockeys at Betway Towcester Racecourse. The hard work is already well underway as the team prepares the track and facilities for racing’s return.
“We’re also looking forward to documenting this journey through a fly-on-the-wall series to be released in 2027.
“Our thanks go to the team at Orchestrate for all their hard work in making this partnership possible, and we can’t wait to play our part in this exciting new chapter for the racecourse.”
Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.
