Attractions, Exeter Racecourse

EXETER RACECOURSE FIXTURES OCT, NOV & DEC 2012

Thursday, October 11

South West Athletes Celebration Day

Racing returns to Exeter on Thursday, October 11, and the racecourse will be saluting Westcountry-based London 2012 Olympians at its first meeting of the new season as well as offering free entry to Devon and Cornwall-based Games Makers when it stages a South West Athletes Celebration Day.

After its customary five month break the racecourse will be welcoming back old friends and new as the first of 15 top class meetings gets underway while also using the occasion to celebrate the achievements of Team GB, particularly those based locally.

Among the athletes attending are three –day eventing legend Mary King who represented her country for the sixth consecutive time at London 2012. With her horse Imperial Cavalier she helped Team GB secure team silver and Exeter has named a race in her honour.

Exeter is a favourite among many of the country’s trainers who use it as a nurturing ground to launch the careers of their potentially top class horses and they are sure to be at the meeting along with the country’s top jockeys including AP McCoy, Richard Johnson and Tom Scudamore.

The first of six races gets underway at 2.20pm and advanced tickets are available from £13 and raceday packages, from £25. There is a free bus service from Exeter St David’s railway station, which leaves at 12.40pm and Exeter Bus & Coach Station, which leaves at 12.55pm. The bus returns 30 minutes after the last race.

Games Makers eligible for free entry should bring their London 2012 identification badges.

For more information, visit www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk.

 First race: 2.20pm*

Tickets from: £13 (if booked in advance)

Children aged 17 and under race free

Restaurant from: £69pp

Private box from: £59pp + VAT

(*Race time may be subject to change)

Tuesday, October 23

Best Mate Novice Chase Day

The legendary racehorse Best Mate is remember at Exeter Racecourse on Tuesday, October 23 with a beginners’ chase run in his name.

The three-times Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, who won over £1m in prize money, began his glittering steeplechase career in the equivalent race in 2000.

The Best Mate Novice Chase is renowned for attracting some of the country’s very best horses like the 2009 winner Tataniano.

The novice chase run over three miles also attracts top horses – in 2010 Quinz was cheered home to success and he followed up with a win in the prestigious Racing Post Chase.

The first of six races gets underway at 2.10pm and advanced tickets are available from £13 and raceday packages, from £25. There is a free bus service from Exeter St David’s railway station, which leaves at 12.30pm and Exeter Bus & Coach Station, which leaves at 12.45pm. The bus returns 30 minutes after the last race.

For more information, visit www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk.

First race: 2.10pm

Tickets from: £13 (if booked in advance)

Children aged 17 and under race free

Restaurant from: £69pp

Private box from: £59pp + VAT

(*Race time may be subject to change)

Ticket hotline: 08445 793005, book on-line www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk

Tuesday November 6

Haldon Gold Cup Day

Exeter stages its richest raceday of the season  on Tuesday, November 6 when a feast of top class action coupled with a bumper crowd of racegoers will ensure the atmosphere is buzzing.

The Haldon Gold Cup is one of the early highlights of the National Hunt season and usually attracts a plethora of chasing stars that use the race as a stepping-stone to bigger and better things.

Its roll of honour is impressive. In the 1990’s Travado became synonymous with the race, and after winning it three times, a hospitality suite was named after him.

Viking Flagship had already won two Queen Mother Champion Chases before he won the race as a 10-year-old in 1997.

The 1999 winner Flagship Uberalles tasted more chasing glory following his Haldon Gold Cup success including three Tingle Creek victories and the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Edredon Blue and Azertyuiop also both won the race before Queen Mother Champion Chase glory.

However, Best Mate is the name everyone will remember for his association with the race. One of the greatest steeple chasers of all time, he won the race in 2001, before winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

While the Haldon Gold Cup is the highlight, two novice hurdle races are also renowned for providing scintillating action with top prospects likely to line up.

The first of six races gets underway at 1.50pm and advanced tickets are available from £13 and raceday packages, from £25. There is a free bus service from Exeter St David’s railway station, and Exeter Bus & Coach Station. The bus returns 30 minutes after the last race.

For more information, visit www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk.

First race: 1.50pm

Tickets from: £13 (if booked in advance)

Children aged 17 and under race free

Restaurant from: £74pp

Private box from: £64pp + VAT

(*Race time may be subject to change)

Ticket hotline: 08445 793005, book on-line www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk

Wednesday, November 14

Student Raceday

A thrilling day for racing fans, top class action is guaranteed at Exeter Racecourse on Wednesday, November 14 when the gates will be thrown open to offer free entry for all students.

Whether they are studying for an NVQ in Horse Care or an MA in English, if they have a valid student card, it’s a fantastic opportunity to share a passion for racing with other students, or  be part of a great day out.

A behind-the-scenes tour will give an insight into Exeter, and TV racing pundit Luke Harvey will explain how to bet, and hopefully tip a few winners too.

Throughout the season, students will be entitled to 50% off Grandstand and Paddock admission on production of a valid student card.

This mid-winter fixture is one regular racegoers always thoroughly enjoy, and fanatics of the sport will be scribbling in their notebooks for future big winners during the season ahead. Recent past runners at the meeting include The Minack, Junior and Giles Cross who have all gone on to enjoy multiple big race successes.

Two novice chases, run over three miles and two miles one furlong, a two miles five furlongs novice hurdle  and the class 2 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle are sure to include horses whose trainers’ long term aims include the Cheltenham Festival.

The first of six races gets underway at 1.50pm and advanced tickets are available from £13 and raceday packages, from £25. There is a free bus service from Exeter St David’s railway station, and Exeter Bus & Coach Station. The bus returns 30 minutes after the last race.

For more information, visit www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk.

First race: 1.40pm*

Tickets from: £15

Packages from: £25

Restaurant from: £69pp

Private box from: £59pp + VAT

(*Race time may be subject to change)

Sunday, November 25

South West Salute

The South West Salute is being billed as the south-west’s largest ever charity event and to show its support, Exeter has dedicated this Sunday raceday to the cause.

Set to take place next summer at Westpoint, the aim of the South West Salute is to raise £2million for the six military charities. Local charities based in the West Country are to benefit too.

At Exeter’s race meeting £1 of every ticket sold will be donated to the charity, all serving personnel will be eligible for half-priced entry and children aged 17 and under race free.

It looks certain to be a treat for all the family, with the Armed Forces supplying tri-service recruiting vehicles as well as a range of static displays brought by the military to showcase their equipment. On the track there will be six competitive races to enjoy.

The first race is off at 1.05pm and advanced tickets are available from £13 and raceday packages, from £25. There is a free bus service from Exeter St David’s railway station, and Exeter Bus & Coach Station. The bus returns 30 minutes after the last race.

For more information, visit www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk.

First race: 1.05pm*

Tickets from: £15

Packages from: £25

Restaurant from: £69pp

Private box from: £59pp + VAT

(*Race time may be subject to change)

Friday, December 7

Christmas at Exeter

Christmas is coming, and why not celebrate at Exeter. 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.

It’s Friday, so why not take the day off, treat yourself to a long weekend, and come racing.

Racing features a four-mile handicap steeple chase, where the staying chasers will be in action, and a novices’ chase run over two miles three and a half furlongs.

The first race is off at 1.05pm and advanced tickets are available from £13 and raceday packages, from £25. There is a free bus service from Exeter St David’s railway station, and Exeter Bus & Coach Station. The bus returns 30 minutes after the last race.

For more information, visit www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk.

First race: 12.30pm*

Tickets from: £15

Packages from: £25

Restaurant from: £69pp

Private box from: £59pp + VAT

(*Race time may be subject to change)

Thursday, December 20

Festive fun and Christmas cheer

Another superb meeting with a novices’ hurdle and chase for mares, a handicap chase and an amateur riders handicap hurdle which are sure to attract plenty of runners.

Santas on the Run

At this meeting its not just horses the horses that will be in action. Santas will be racing down the home straight in aid of the Children’s Hospice South West and anyone who would like to dress as Father Christmas and raise money for the charity can take part. Simply register at www.chsw.org.uk/santas or call 01271 325270.

The first race is off at 1.05pm and advanced tickets are available from £13 and raceday packages, from £25. There is a free bus service from Exeter St David’s railway station, and Exeter Bus & Coach Station. The bus returns 30 minutes after the last race.

For more information, visit www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk.

First race: 12.30pm*

Tickets from: £15

Packages from: £25

Restaurant from: £69pp

Private box from: £59pp + VAT

(*Race time may be subject to change)

Tags: exeter, Racecourse