Warwick Racecourse are encouraging punters to pull on their Christmas jumpers at the jumps this festive period. 

Racegoers will have the chance to win a range of prizes at Warwick’s Eventmasters Christmas at the Races on Thursday, December 14 for the best Christmas jumpers.

A bumper crowd is expected to attend one of the most popular events of the season as visitors start their festive season with a day out at the track.

Prizes for the most original and ‘cheesy’ jumpers include an annual membership to Warwick Racecourse and tickets to future race meetings, plus gifts from Warwick’s local community supporters.

The Eventmasters Christmas Raceday will feature a seven race card, getting underway with The Larkshill Engineering Juvenile Hurdle Race at 12.20pm and closing with The Eventmasters Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race at 3.35pm.

Andre Klein, General Manager at Warwick Racecourse, said: “We’re looking forward to seeing everyone on the day in their favourite Christmas jumpers and embracing the festive spirit.

“It’s vital that all horses racing at Warwick are good jumpers, so we wanted to challenge racegoers to wear ones where all patterns go! We will try and get everyone together for a big group photo in the stands, which will be a bit of fun.

“The Eventmasters Christmas at the Races raceday is one of the highlights of the season here at Warwick, punters come out in their droves for this one and we’re expecting another huge crowd on the day.

“It is a great chance to do something different for your Christmas party this year and make sure it’s one that everyone remembers for all the right reasons!

“We have seven brilliant races taking place during the course of the day and it will provide the perfect opportunity for everyone to start their festive celebrations early.”

The 1707 restaurant has already sold out for the day but tickets are still available for the popular Christmas-themed GoodGoing Marquee.

The GoodGoing Marquee includes a three-course festive feast, with live music and entertainment in the marquee throughout the day.

Gates open at 10.20am and under-18s go free, with advanced tickets for the main enclosure priced at £12.50.

For more ticket information call 01926 405 560 or go to www.warwickracecourse.co.uk

ENDS

PICTURE CAPTION: Warwick Racecourse staff pictured donning their Christmas jumpers, from left to right, Guy Woodward (head groundsman), Thomas Williams (operations executive), Georgie Norton (events executive), Simon Butler (groundsman), Charlotte Parkins (business development executive), Andre Klein (general manager) and Paul Delaney (groundsman).

Notes to Editors

Warwick Racecourse is one of the oldest racecourses in the country and the first to stage a jump race as part of a racecard in 1831, effectively establishing the National Hunt sport. In 2014, it became an all-jumps track with a five-year plan to become one of the UK’s leading small jumps courses. Dan Skelton, one of the country’s brightest young National Hunt trainers, is its ambassador.

Attendances for 2016 (41,604) were up 28 per cent on the previous year – the biggest like for like percentage increase in attendances of any racecourse in the country.

Fixture highlights include the Grade 2 Leamington Novices’ Hurdle (Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle), Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices’ Chase and Grade 3 handicap Betfred Classic Chase.

High-quality racing takes place on weekdays and weekends, and afternoons and evenings, from September to May, with a range of meetings to appeal to racing regulars and newcomers alike.  More information is available at www.warwickracecourse.co.uk

Warwick Racecourse is part of The Jockey Club, which has been at the heart of British racing for more than 260 years.

Today the largest commercial group in the sport, The Jockey Club runs the leading racecourse group in the UK by turnover (2015: £174.2m), attendances (2015: 1.95m), total prize money (2015: £43.9m), contribution to prize money (2015: £19.9m) and quality racing (Group and Graded races); more than 3,000 acres of world-class training grounds in Newmarket, Lambourn and Epsom Downs; The National Stud breeding enterprise and education provider; and the charity for racing's people in need, Racing Welfare. More information is available at www.thejockeyclub.co.uk.