Category Archives: Exeter Racecourse
What’s On @ Exeter Racecourse
Tuesday, November 5
Haldon Gold Cup Day
Haldon Gold Cup Day at Exeter is Devon’s premier race meeting and everyone who loves great racing, fresh air and being in the thick of the action makes it a date in their diary.
It’s when Haldon Hill is buzzing with excitement at the prospect of some of the country’s very best racehorses vying to add their name to the BetVictor Haldon Gold Cup’s prestigious role call.
This year to add to the excitement, past winners, including Planet of Sound and Medermit, will be parading prior to the race
The two miles race is fast and furious and spectacular leaps are guaranteed over Exeter’s chase fences. It’s attracted some brilliant racehorses in the past – Edredon Bleu, Best Mate, Viking Flagship and last year’s superb winner Cue Card. It was an exhilarating thrill watching his foot perfect performance and he went on to taste glory at the Cheltenham Festival.
Haldon Gold Cup Day is a time for racegoers to treat themselves. A table booked in the Desert Orchid Restaurant is a fantastic way to relax and enjoy the racing while the Haldon package is great value for money with the chance to enjoy a meal in the Haldon room.
First race: 1.50pm.
Children aged 17 and under race free.
Tickets cost from £13 (if booked in advance).
A free bus leaves Exeter St David’s at 12.10pm and the Bus & Coach Station 12.25pm, returning half an hour after the last race.
Ticket Hotline: 08445 793005
Restaurant and Corporate Events: 01392 832599
Book online: www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk
Wednesday, November 13
Student Free Raceday
Exeter’s mid November meeting is when students descend on Haldon Hill to enjoy a free day at the races.
Anyone who is studying, whether its for a degree, or a British Horse Society exam is welcome to attend for free, as long as they possess a valid student card.
A free behind the scenes tour precedes the six races, and Luke Harvey will be offering his tips from the winners’ enclosure too.
Students are also eligible for a 50 per cent discount off Grandstand and Paddock tickets throughout the season.
Seven races are on the card with the first off at 1.40pm and with a beginners’ chase and novice chase included it’s sure to attract some promising young horses.
First race: 1.40pm.
Children aged 17 and under race free.
Tickets cost from £13 (if booked in advance).
A free bus leaves Exeter St David’s at 12.00pm and the Bus & Coach Station 12.15pm, returning half an hour after the last race.
Ticket Hotline: 08445 793005
Restaurant and Corporate Events: 01392 832599
Book online: www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk
Sunday, November 24
Devon Day at Exeter Racecourse
Devon Day at Exeter Racecourse is new to the track and to kick it off, a very special race will be staged. A team of Clydesdales who live on Dartmoor and provide horseback holidays over the moors during the summer, will race two furlongs down the home straight with jockeys on board. It is sure to be a spectacle as the gentle giants while highlighting the plight of this endangered species whose numbers have dwindled in recent years.
The meeting will also be the launch of Exeter Racecourse’s, Heart of Devon and Visit South Devon’s campaign to highlight all the great things to do in winter in the Westcountry, such as racing, walking and eating at the county’s many renowned pubs and restaurants.
A fine roast lunch will be available in the Desert Orchid Restaurant where racegoers can book a table and relax there for the day while enjoying the spectacular views across the racecourse.
First race: 1.05pm.
Children aged 17 and under race free.
Tickets cost from £13 (if booked in advance).
A free bus leaves Exeter St David’s at 11.25am and the Bus & Coach Station 11.40pm, returning half an hour after the last race.
Ticket Hotline: 08445 793005
Restaurant and Corporate Events: 01392 832599
Book online: www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk
Friday, December 6
Christmas Racing at Exeter
It’s time to celebrate Christmas at Exeter Racecourse and this popular meeting will be a hive of activity as businesses, friends and families descend on Haldon Hill to start the festive season off in style.
The six race card features the four-mile handicap steeplechase where horses with plenty of stamina come to the fore. There’s also a novices’ chase that is sure to attract some top class future prospect.
Discounts are available for bookings of ten or more or there are special Christmas packages available from £25 which include entry, a racecard, turkey sandwich, a mince pie, mulled wine or a soft drink so if you want to get in among the action it’s the perfect place to be.
First race: 12.40pm.
Children aged 17 and under race free.
Tickets cost from £13 (if booked in advance).
A free bus leaves Exeter St David’s at 11.00am and the Bus & Coach Station 11.15am, returning half an hour after the last race.
Ticket Hotline: 08445 793005
Restaurant and Corporate Events: 01392 832599
Book online: www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk
Thursday, December 19
Christmas Racing at Exeter
It’s time to celebrate Christmas at Exeter Racecourse and this popular meeting will be a hive of activity as businesses, friends and families descend on Haldon Hill to start the festive season off in style.
The six race card features a novices’ chase and hurdle for mares, and top class prospects are sure to be in action. There’s also a novices’ chase that is sure to attract some top class future prospect.
Discounts are available for bookings of ten or more or there are special Christmas packages available from £25 which include entry, a racecard, turkey sandwich, a mince pie, mulled wine or a soft drink so if you want to get in among the action it’s the perfect place to be.
First race: 12.50pm.
Children aged 17 and under race free.
Tickets cost from £13 (if booked in advance).
A free bus leaves Exeter St David’s at 11.10am and the Bus & Coach Station 11.25am, returning half an hour after the last race.
Ticket Hotline: 08445 793005
Restaurant and Corporate Events: 01392 832599
Book online: www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk
Wednesday, January 1
New Year’s Day Racing
New Year’s Day on Haldon Hill is a great Devon tradition and folk from far and wide gather at the racecourse to toast the first day of the year.
It’s the perfect day out for anyone who is new to racing with a great atmosphere guaranteed.
For those wishing to make it a day to remember, book a table in the restaurant and enjoy a wonderful lunch with a fantastic view across the racecourse. The hospitality suites are perfect for New Year’s Day parties while groups of ten or more can enjoy a discount off the ticket price.
First race: 12.25pm.
Children aged 17 and under race free.
Tickets cost from £15 (if booked in advance).
A free bus leaves Exeter St David’s at 11.00am and the Bus & Coach Station 11.15am, returning half an hour after the last race.
Ticket Hotline: 08445 793005
Restaurant and Corporate Events: 01392 832599
Book online: www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk
Ladies’ Night at Exeter Racecourse
Ladies’ Night at Exeter Racecourse
Tuesday, May 7, 2013 – Gates open: 3.55pm – First race: 5.55pm
Admission Prices: Grandstand and Paddock – £15 on the day, Premier – £20 on the day)
25% off the gate price if booked by midnight, May 3.
Groups of 10 or more – Grandstand and Paddock £10 each.
Children: free aged 17 and under
Exeter Racecourse’s most glamorous night of the year on May 7 looks set to be buzzing with hundreds of people expected to take advantage of its 25% off all tickets offer.
That means that everyone who pre-books their tickets by midnight, May 3 will enjoy six races, live music after racing with Joey and The Lips and the chance to enter the fashions awards, with great prizes up for grabs courtesy of Bovey Castle, for just £11.25.
Racegoers can make it really a special evening by dining in style in the Desert Orchid Restaurant. For group bookings of ten or more, Grandstand and Paddock admission is just £10 per person. There’s also a special Ladies’ Night package which includes a drink on arrival, High Tea, tipsters talk, and a table for the evening for just £45.
Ladies’ night is when the glitz and glamour of racing descend on Haldon Hill and it is the place to be seen in Devon this spring. The six great races include the final of the Exeter Racecourse Point-to-Point series which adds to the excitement. And after racing the dance floor will come alive as Joey and the Lips takes to the stage.
If you fancy a flutter on the horses, and don’t want to leave empty handed, make sure you listen to racing pundit Luke Harvey’s tips half an hour before the first.
As with all race meetings, men are welcome too to share in all the fun, unless you’d rather have a good old-fashioned girls night out.
Doors open at 3.55pm. With a free bus from Exeter St Davids at 4.20pm and Exeter Bus and Coach Station at 4.35pm, returning half an hour after the last race, Ladies’ Night at Exeter is a chance to really let your hair down and enjoy a night out at the races.
Ticket Hotline 0844 5793005 or book online.
Rugby comes to the races at Exeter’s April evening meeting
Rugby comes to the races at Exeter Racecourse next Tuesday (April 30) with its first evening meeting of the season staged in conjunction with the Exeter Chiefs.
The Chiefs’ long serving hooker, Neil Clark, has made over 150 appearances for the club and he’s been honoured with a testimonial year.
As part of the year-long activities being held in his honour, he’ll be at the racecourse along with his team mates including captain Tom Hayes, New Zealand Maori Hoani Tui, full back Luke Arscott and Wales international Craig Mitchell.
Racing kicks off at 5.35pm with the Neil Clark Testimonial Handicap Hurdle and the player said: “It’s amazing to have a race named after me and fantastic that we are part of the evening. I cannot thank Exeter enough.
“There will be quite a lot of us coming along, but we still have a match to go, five days later, so we’ll be having a few, but not too many.”
That match could be the decider of whether the club again qualifies for prestigious Heineken Cup rugby, a feat they achieved for the first time last season.
Clark admits that since teaming up with the racecourse he’s become a huge racing fan and says it would be great to emulate fellow rugby union players Mike Tindall, James Simpson-Daniel and Nicky Robinson and have a horse like Moonbeg Dude, winner of this year’s Welsh National. “That would be great, but it’s just a dream,” he said.
And although this is his testimonial year, Clark reckons he has about another five seasons left in him, depending how his body holds up.
Six races make up the card and throughout the evening players will be on course for autographs. “It’s all part of the evening and we’re all really looking forward to mingling with everyone and enjoy our night at the race,” he said.
With a selection of Otter Ales available throughout the night, anyone who likes racing, rugby and beer is in for a treat.
A free bus is available from Exeter St David’s at 4pm and Exeter Bus and Coach Station at 4.15pm, returning half an hour after the last race. Children aged 17 and under race free.
To book tickets in advance call 0844 793005 or visit www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk
Spring raceday sponsored by Higos at Exeter
Higos Insurance Services sponsors Exeter’s raceday next Tuesday (April 16) where the first of seven races is off at 2pm.
Last year’s meeting saw the ever-popular Sea Saffron, trained locally at Exeter by Sue Gardner, win a competitive marathon handicap steeplechase run over three miles six furlongs, and the race is sure to be popular again with the country’s staying chasers who know how to keep up a relentless gallop.
Also on the card is a two miles seven furlongs novices’ hurdle, two handicap hurdle run over the same distance and two miles one furlong, a two miles three furlongs novices’ chase and a novices’ hunter chase run over three miles. Concluding the card is the Connolly’s Red Mill Bumper Challenge.
Exeter’s general manager Tim Darby said: “We are looking forward to welcoming Higos Insurance Services to Exeter for their second sponsored raceday at the course. The raceday experience is becoming widely recognised as one of the best ways to network with other businesses and we very much hope it is a success for Higos.”
Higos Insurance Services Ltd specialises in the provision of both personal and commercial insurance products. It has branches in Exeter Barnstaple and Plymstock, as well as 16 other offices across South West England.
The company was founded in 1990 by racing enthusiast Ian Gosden, who also sponsors the yard of Barnstaple-based racehorse trainer Victor Dartnall, and employs over 210 members of staff. On its Exeter raceday, it will have six named races well as full branding of the event.
A free bus to the racecourse leaves Exeter St Davids at 12.20pm and Exeter Bus and Coach Station at 12.35pm and returns 30 minutes after the last race.Ticket hotline 0844 5793005. www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk
Meeting: Tuesday, April 16
Gates open: 12pm
First race: 2pm
Admission prices from £13. Go to www.exeter-racecourse for further information
Exeter kicks off its hunter chase season
Exeter Racecourse stages the first of its four hunter chases next Tuesday when the top class chaser Diamond Edge will be remembered in the Diamond Edge Open Hunter Chase.
The racecourse is committed to supporting the grass roots of horse racing, with sponsorship of a series of ten point-to-points across the Devon and Cornwall area, culminating in the final on Ladies’ Night, May 7, and two further hunter chases on April 2, April 16.
General manager Tim Darby said: “We all enjoy point-to-pointing and the hunter chases are an important part of our racing calendar. In return, we hope that point-to-point enthusiasts will come to Exeter and support us.”
It was edge of the seat stuff in 1979 when Diamond Edge held off Royal Frolic and Master Smudge to win the Whitbread Gold Cup at Sandown. While Diamond Edge Open Hunters’ Chase over three miles won’t be of that caliber it is sure to attract some of the most consistent point-to-pointers in training.
Racing kicks off at 2pm with the Bhest Racing To School Novices’ Selling Hurdle over two miles one furlong. Then it’s the Carter Dawes Financial Planners 10th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle followed by the Kip Kealey Novices’ Chase.
The three mile Exeter Novices’ Handicap Chase is next on the card and last up is the Visit The Desert Orchid Restaurant Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
Racegoers wanting to dine in style can take a seat for the afternoon in the Desert Orchid Restaurant for just £40 per person. The price includes a premier badge, table for the day, access to the Tote and a meal. To book call the office on 01392 832599 or email [email protected]
A free bus to the racecourse leaves Exeter St Davids at 12.20pm and Exeter Bus and Coach Station at 12.35pm and returns 30 minutes after the last race.
Ticket hotline 0844 5793005. www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk
Designer Dress Extravaganza at Racecourse’s Wedding Fayre
Designer Dress Extravaganza at Racecourse’s Wedding Fayre
An array of designer wedding dresses, with up to 70pc off, as well as outfits for the mother of the bride and bridesmaids are just part of the attraction at Exeter Racecourse’s Wedding Fayre, on Sunday, February 17.
The event, which is free to attend, promises to be a one-stop shop for anyone planning a wedding, with advice available from professionals involved in making a wedding day a memorable occasion.
Specially trained staff from a variety of bridal and occasion wear boutiques across the south-west will also be on hand to give help and advice on the dresses.
They will be available on a first come first served basis, and with typical reduction of £600 on a dress costing £900, and £2000 dresses on sale for around £600, it will be a case of early birds getting the best deals.
Helen Johnson, director of Dream Weddings magazine which is organising the dress sale, said: ‘It’s a fantastic opportunity for brides to get the dress of their dreams at a price they could only dream of. We have plenty of room, plenty of parking and entry is free.”
Exeter’s conference and events manager Michelle Thomas commented: “It’s the second time we’ve held a wedding fayre, following the over-whelming success of last year’s event, and we’re really looking forward to welcoming people to Exeter. As well as the tradestands and wonderful dresses, we’ll be able to showcase our own facilities at the racecourse which is fast gaining a reputation as a wedding venue with a difference.”
The wedding fayre takes place between 10am and 4pm.
Cheltenham Festival Preview Evening at Exeter Racecourse
Cheltenham Festival Preview Evening at Exeter Racecourse
Join the stars from the racing world at Exeter Racecourse’s Cheltenham Festival Preview Evening on Thursday, February 21.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls, Phillip Hobbs, David Pipe and the Racing Post’s Andrew King will be on the panel to answer all your questions about their runners at the Festival of jump racing and to give their opinions their rivals runners.
Channel 4 Racing’s Tanya Stevenson will host the evening and Paddy Power will advice on market movers, bankers and blow outs.
Join us from 6pm, with the panel starting at 7pm, on February 21 for an evening of informed entertainment. Tickets cost £20 each and include a hot supper. To book call on 01392 832599.
Santas furlong dash for children’s hospice
A one furlong festive fun run for Children’s Hospice South West will take place at Exeter Racecourse before its six-race card, which begins at 12.50pm on Thursday, December 20, and anyone with a penchant for dressing up as Father Christmas and raising money for good causes is being urged to join in. Free entry to the races, a Santa suit and a medal will be given to everyone who registers to run, jog or walk down the home straight for the charity which offers care for children who have illnesses which mean they will dies before reaching adulthood. Register on-line at www.chsw.org.uk/santas or call 01271 325270. A local Christmas package, a free bus service to and from the racecourse and free entry for children aged 17 and under are all available with details at www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk.
Romance and racing combine to win a night at Bovey Castle
A night’s stay at Bovey Castle is the prize on offer for everyone who pre-books to attend Exeter Racecourse’s annual Two For ?10 fixture on Sunday, February 10 when traditionally there’s always a hint of romance in the air, with Valentine’s Day just around the corner.
The prize is a luxurious Superior Castle bedroom for two, including breakfast, a three-course dinner in The Edwardian Grill and a glass of champagne on arrival. The free prize draw will take place on the race day and is open to everyone who buys a ticket in advance.
General manager Tim Darby said: “We are delighted to be able to offer this wonderful prize from Bovey Castle.
Everyone loves a bit of romance, and this fixture has proved a real lure for couples wanting to do something a little different by dining in the Desert Orchid restaurant or just enjoying time together.
“It’s a great day out for singles too and we find that people tell us its one of the easiest ways to meet
someone as the racecard acts as an ice breaker. And there is so much to talk about, you often see complete strangers at the beginning of the day leaving as good friends.”
Exeter’s February meeting has proved immensely popular in recent years as it offers exceptional value for money with children aged 17 and under racing free. “The atmosphere is always terrific with families flocking to Haldon Hill to enjoy an afternoon of sporting action,” added Tim.
Two for ?10 tickets must be pre-booked in advance by midnight on Friday, February 8 by calling the hotline on 08445 793005 or book on-line at www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk. Terms and conditions apply to the prize draw.
A free bus from Exeter St David’s and Exeter Bus and Coach Station leaves at 12.20pm and 12.35 on
February 10 returning half an hour after the last race on both days.
Web: www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk