Exeter Racecourse’s season begins on 12th October with a new General Manager at the helm. Jack Parkinson, who started in September, has taken over the reins at the Devon venue and is relishing the prospect of seeing top class horses in action during the autumn and winter jump racing campaign.
“It’s an absolutely beautiful part of the world and my family and I are delighted to have moved here. I’m excited about the season ahead at Exeter. The racecourse is such an iconic venue and horse racing is an important sporting pastime. With three racecourses in the region and many point-to-points, horseracing plays a significant role for both socializing and corporate days out and its great to be working at a track that has such a great reputation,” commented Jack.
Seventeen fixtures will take place at Exeter during the 2017 -2018. The second meeting is on the 24th October which is Best Mate Beginners’ Chase Day, named after the three times winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and likely to attract several star hurdlers and chasers in the making.
Haldon Gold Cup Day, on Tuesday 7th November, is Devon’s richest raceday and attracts high quality horses. The 2m1f Haldon Gold Cup is regarded a stepping stone towards the spring festivals and always attracts runners of the highest caliber, while the hurdle races on the card also attract exciting young prospects.
Students come racing for free on 15th November and then the ever popular racing Clydesdales will return on Devon Day, Sunday,26th November when their beguiling presence will help raise funds for the Devon Air Ambulance. It’s a day not to be missed with the racecourse also celebrating all things Devon.
Two Christmas meetings are staged on 8th and 21st December with the latter also coinciding with the school holidays and featuring free children’s entertainment.
One’s of Devon’s greatest traditions – New Year’s Day racing – is another high point in the calendar, while next year, Super Sunday, Family Day and Ladies’ Night are all enduringly popular fixtures. Changes to the fixture list include an additional Sunday on 8th April which has been designated a Family Day and there is one evening fixture on 8th May that will celebrate the season’s finale.
The racecourse will also be sponsoring the point-to-point intermediate series with the hunter chase final at the course next spring.
Jack said: “I’m really looking forward to attending the point-to-points. Hunter chases are an important part of the racing calendar in the spring, and its great to support the series with our sponsored races.”
Leading jump jockey Nick Scholfield has also been appointed the racecourse’s ambassador and his weekly blog will be available to read on line.
To book tickets to Exeter’s curtain raiser visit the website www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk or call 01392 832599.
