JUMPS racing WILL return to Towcester after a nine-year absence and severe debt crisis – after six fixtures were confirmed for next year.
It comes as arguably the greatest National Hunt jockey of them all, AP McCoy, hailed the ‘fantastic’ return of the sport to a ‘proper’ track.
The site of McCoy’s landmark 4,000th winner, the first meeting of the new era at the Nottinghamshire track is set for Wednesday, October 20 next year.
There will be one meeting a month in November, December and January before two meetings in February 2028.
Towcester racecourse – dubbed ‘the home of the slow racehorse‘ because of its gruelling, uphill finish – closed in 2019 with more than £1million debts.
It has hosted greyhound racing since but interest in a return of thoroughbreds has ramped up in recent years.
And, with the help of bookies Betway, an official return of the jumps is now on the horizon.
McCoy, the 20-time champion jumps jockey, said: “Towcester is a track that means a great deal to me.
“I rode my 4,000th winner there, which was one of my most memorable milestones, so I have a strong personal connection with this racecourse.
“It’s fantastic to see National Hunt racing returning to the racecourse after such a long absence.
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“It’s a proper jumps track and with the investment being made and the plans for its future, I’m sure it can re-establish itself as a valuable course for National Hunt racing.”
Richard Thomas, Chief Executive of management company Orchestrate, commented: “Seeing dates in the diary for the first time in nearly a decade is a genuinely exciting moment for everyone here.
“We said in July that we wanted to bring horse racing back to Towcester for the local community and for the sport, and we now have a clear programme to work towards.
“There is plenty to do between now and October 2027, but work on the track is already well underway and we can’t wait to welcome horses back.”
While Lewis Knowles, PR Manager at Betway, said: “We’ve had a fantastic response from racing fans and industry professionals alike following our announcement that horse racing would soon return to Betway Towcester, and we’re now delighted to confirm the dates of six fixtures for the 2027/2028 National Hunt season.
“Following the announcement, the first question everybody asked was, ‘when?’, so, we’re thrilled to now be able to give racing fans a date to circle on their calendars for next year.
“Work is well underway at the course as we prepare for that opening fixture, and we’re hoping to have more exciting announcements to make over the coming weeks and months.”
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