There will be over 100 racedays on offer at British racecourses during December in the run up to Christmas and New Year, so if you are looking for an excuse to get away from the shops and those never ending Christmas adverts, then go enjoy some top class festive racing. You might even see Father Christmas watching a race or two!
And, if you are suffering from cabin fever by Boxing Day, then get you and your family out of the house and onto a racecourse. With no less than 10 racecourses racing on Boxing Day you are spoilt for choice on where to go. The highlight of the day will be the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton Park Racecourse, a race won by the legendary Kauto Star five times over his illustrious career. There’s also racing at Ffos Las, Fontwell, Huntingdon, Market Rasen, Sedgefield, Towcester, Wetherby, Wincanton and Wolverhampton.
Here are a few other racing highlights in the run up to Christmas:
Friday 7th December, Exeter Racecourse
The Christmas raceday is always a great mix of festive fun and top sporting action. This year there will be Christmas trees and mulled wine in abundance, coupled with the finest equine athletes to feast your eyes on. Top class action from the country’s leading novice horses is a certainty so wrap up warm and bring friends, clients, colleagues or family to a day at the races. Racing on the day features a four-mile handicap steeple chase, a long and testing race over large fences, and a novices’ chase run over two miles three and a half furlongs.
There is a free bus service from Exeter St David’s railway station at 11.20am and Exeter Bus & Coach Station at 11.35am. The bus returns 30 minutes after the last race. Advance adult tickets start from £10 and accompanied children under 17 go FREE. For more information please see Exeter racecourse’s website.
Saturday 8th December: The Tingle Creek Christmas Festival, Sandown Park Racecourse
Tingle Creek Chase day at Sandown Park Racecourse, offers plenty of festive cheer for all the family including traditional sleigh rides from Esher station, Santa’s Grotto, Christmas games and a Sleeping Beauty pantomime, all included in the price of your raceday ticket. There will even be a prize for the child with the best panto outfit, so make sure you bring your little Aladins and Cinderellas along with you!
Advance adult tickets for this iconic day start from just £23, accompanied children under 18 go FREE and there’s a complimentary crèche so be sure to put the date in the family diary and book in advance for great adult ticket savings! For more information please see Sandown Park racecourse’s website.
Saturday 15th December: The International, Cheltenham Racecourse
A wonderful day of the highest class Jump racing, featuring one of the most valuable hurdle races of the entire season. The StanJames.com International Hurdle, a hugely significant race in its own right, is one of the leading trials for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at The Cheltenham Festival in March.
You can also get hold of some essential Christmas presents at Cheltenham Racecourse’s shopping village. There will be over 60 stalls over the weekend, so there are no excuses for not finding that perfect present!
Tickets start at £12 for adults and accompanied children under 18 go FREE. For more information please visit Cheltenham’s website.
Saturday 22nd December: Christmas Raceday, Newcastle Racecourse
With only three days to go before Christmas, the Northumberland Chase Christmas Raceday is the perfect alternative to get you into a festive mood. With a Christmas Market, located in the Grandstand Hall on the ground floor, start winding down with an afternoon at the races and indulge in an array of stalls selling unique gifts and tasty treats for those special people in your life.
Advance online adult tickets start from just £15, accompanied children under 16 go FREE. For more information please visit Newcastle racecourse’s website.
Boxing Day Wednesday 26th December: The Welcome to Yorkshire Christmas Meeting, Wetherby Racecourse
Blow out the Christmas cobwebs and get some fresh Yorkshire air by going along to Wetherby racecourse for their Welcome to Yorkshire Boxing Day fixture. With a fantastic card of top-class racing including the feature race of the day the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Steeplechase, the day will be all set for you to cheer on some winners.
Adult tickets start from £17, children under 16 accompanied by an adult go FREE. For more information please see Wetherby racecourse’s website.
Boxing Day Wednesday 26th December The William Hill Winter Festival: Kempton Park Racecourse
If you’re sick of turkey, mince pies and watching television by Boxing Day then get you and your family out of the house and along to Kempton Park Racecourse for their premier raceday of the year featuring the King George VI Chase, a race won by the legendary Kauto Star five times over his illustrious career.
Advance adult tickets start from just £12, and accompanied under 18s go FREE. For more information please see Kempton Park racecourse’s website.
The first day of 2013 is also offering six fantastic racing fixturesincluding Catterick, Musselburgh, Cheltenham, Fakenham, Southall and Exeter. So why not bring in the New Year in style, take advantage of the bank holiday and get yourself along to one of these racecourses?!
For more information about horseracing, visit www.lovetheraces.com