The Summer Social Weekend at Chester Racecourse promises two thrilling days of racing action and vibrant summer festivities, taking place on Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14. The event opens with the White Oak UK Friday Social, followed by the grand finale, The Saturday Social. Racegoers can look forward to an exciting fusion of competitive racing and live music that sets the tone for a perfect summer weekend.
Friday, June 13 kicks off at 1:40 PM with the HRS Cladding Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Stakes, a Class 4 race over 7 furlongs and 1 yard, offering a £15,000 prize and a rare spotlight for amateur jockeys. Following at 2:15 PM, the TMT Group Handicap Stakes sees a speedy group of three-year-olds battle over 6 furlongs and 17 yards, also carrying a £15,000 purse.
The action intensifies at 2:50 PM with the White Oak UK Business Finance Selling Stakes, a key two-year-old contest with a notable prize fund of £25,000. At 3:25 PM, stayers take center stage in the Deepbridge Capital Handicap Stakes, run over 1 mile 2 furlongs and 70 yards for another £15,000 in prize money.
Rounding out the card are two divisions of the White Oak UK Business Finance Handicap Stakes, run at 4:00 PM and 4:35 PM respectively, both over 7 furlongs and 127 yards, each worth £15,000 and open to horses aged four and older. The day closes at 5:10 PM with the Going Is Good Handicap Stakes, a sprint for three-year-olds over the same distance and purse.
On Saturday, June 14, racing resumes with seven captivating contests starting at 1:35 PM. The day opens with the British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Novice Stakes, a prestigious Class 2 race over 6 furlongs and 17 yards for talented two-year-olds aiming to impress.
At 2:10 PM, the Precision Facades Handicap Stakes features horses aged three and older racing over 5 furlongs and 15 yards for a £25,000 prize. Then at 2:45 PM, the Horseradish Catering & Events Handicap Stakes challenges four-year-olds and up with a tough 1 mile 2 furlongs and 70 yards trip and a £25,000 purse.
One of the day’s highlights arrives at 3:20 PM with The Handicap Stakes, boasting a generous £50,000 prize pool over 7 furlongs and 127 yards. This is followed at 3:55 PM by the Going Is Good Handicap Stakes, a stamina-sapping 1 mile 7 furlongs and 196 yards race for older horses, awarding £15,000.
The penultimate event, the London Essence Handicap Stakes, takes place at 4:30 PM over a sharp 5-furlong sprint, open to four-year-olds and above, with a £20,000 prize fund. The meeting wraps up at 5:05 PM with the Summer Saturday On 28th June Handicap Stakes, a long-distance challenge over 1 mile 4 furlongs and 63 yards for older runners, offering a final £15,000 prize.
From amateur showcases to top-tier handicaps, and from sprints to stamina tests, the Summer Social Weekend at Chester is set to offer something for every racing enthusiast. Combined with vibrant live music and an electric crowd atmosphere, it’s more than just a race meeting—it’s a celebration of summer sport and social energy.
