The Exeter Wincanton fixtures programme will undergo a major October shake-up as Exeter Racecourse and Wincanton Racecourse will face changes following a prolonged spell of dry weather and unseasonably warm temperatures, with The Jockey Club confirming alterations to scheduled National Hunt meetings.
Exeter Racecourse’s season opener, scheduled for Thursday, October 15, will be cancelled because limited watering capacity and very little rain in the forecast will make it unlikely that the ground conditions will improve sufficiently to provide safe racing. Wincanton Racecourse’s season opener, meanwhile, will be transferred to Market Rasen on Sunday, October 25, while Kempton Park’s first Jump fixture of the season on October 18 will remain under review.
The decision to cancel Exeter’s opening fixture will come after the course faces limited opportunities to improve the ground through watering. With little rainfall expected, conditions will not be expected to reach the required standard in time for the meeting.
Exeter’s second fixture, scheduled for Tuesday, October 20, will also remain under close observation. The Jockey Club will continue to monitor the weather forecast and ground conditions before deciding whether the meeting will be able to take place. Alternative arrangements will be explored should the fixture also need to be cancelled.
Exeter Wincanton Fixtures Undergo Key October Changes
The most significant transfer will involve Wincanton Racecourse’s season opener on Sunday, October 25. The full card will move to Market Rasen and will take place on the same date, providing an alternative venue for the scheduled programme.
Market Rasen will be able to provide suitable ground for the fixture after staging racing throughout the summer. The move will allow the Wincanton card to proceed despite the continuing warm and dry conditions affecting the original venue.
Wincanton Racecourse will not be able to stage the meeting as planned because conditions will not improve sufficiently, while its limited watering capacity will restrict the ability to prepare the ground for the fixture. The decision will therefore allow the complete programme to be transferred rather than cancelled.
Kempton Park will also feature in the ongoing review of October fixtures. Its first Jump meeting of the season will be scheduled for Sunday, October 18, but the ground will currently not be considered fit for Jump racing.
No final decision will yet be made on the Kempton meeting. The Jockey Club will monitor conditions over the following week and will explore alternative options for staging the races elsewhere if the ground does not improve sufficiently.
The changes will come as racing authorities continue to assess the impact of the unusually warm and dry spell on National Hunt venues. Ground conditions will remain central to decisions on whether meetings can proceed safely, with watering capacity differing between racecourses.
For racegoers affected by the cancelled Exeter fixture, General Admission ticket holders will receive automatic refunds. Hospitality guests will be contacted directly by the relevant teams regarding their arrangements.
Tickets for the additional Market Rasen fixture will be available from £10 in advance. Wincanton Racecourse Annual Members will also be able to attend the transferred meeting under an additional reciprocal arrangement.
Further updates will be provided by The Jockey Club as decisions are made regarding Exeter’s October 20 fixture and Kempton Park’s October 18 meeting. The organisation will continue to assess the weather forecast and ground conditions before confirming any further changes to the programme.
The Exeter Wincanton fixtures programme will see Exeter’s October 15 opener cancelled, Wincanton’s October 25 season opener transferred to Market Rasen and Kempton Park’s October 18 Jump meeting remain under review because of dry ground conditions.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.