Warwick’s Jumps season set to get off to a flying start

Warwick Racecourse is set for an action-packed winter of racing.

The Red Devils parachute display team will be dropping in to mark the opening day and the course has a number of other initiatives planned for the new season, including a student raceday on November 20 and children’s favourite Peppa Pig greeting racegoers at the Christmas Jumps meeting on Sunday December 8.

Clerk of the course Sulekha Varma described the track as being in “fantastic condition” ahead of next week’s meeting.

“The turf is looking well and is picking up nicely after the recent rain,” said Varma.

“Despite the lower temperatures, the grass is still growing, with the whole course being cut every two to three days. We have lengthened the cut so the turf will be more resistant when the winter frosts arrive.”

In all, there will be ten meetings over the season, with the highlights again being Betfred Classic Chase Day in January and the Racing Post Arkle Trials Day in February, with the latter boosted by the addition of a £20,000 mares’ hurdle, one of three new Listed races being introduced by the British Horseracing Authority this season.

The first race on Wednesday is the Follow Us On Twitter @WarwickRaces Handicap Hurdle and general manager Huw Williams cannot wait for the new season to start.

“It’s fantastic to see the return of the jumpers and Warwick is marking it in style with our special Armed Forces Day,” said Williams.

“While the jump action is exciting enough, the display by the Red Devils at noon is sure to be a great spectacle and something not to be missed.”

Gates open at 10.50am and tickets can be purchased in advance at www.warwickracecourse.co.uk.

Meanwhile, the Jockey Club, which owns Warwick, has announced the appointment of Andrew Clark as the course’s new chairman to succeed David Hill on January 1.

Clark, who has been a non-executive director of Warwick since January 2007, brings a varied business background to the role, having spent more than 20 years in the hotel industry in the UK and overseas before founding telecommunications firm Gemini Trading.

Commenting on his appointment, Clark said: “I’m delighted to be asked to become chairman at Warwick, which is a course I’m passionate about.”

“For more than six years, I have greatly enjoyed contributing as a racecourse committee director and I very much look forward to working more closely with our highly professional team under Huw Williams, as we strive to offer great racing and continually improve the raceday experience for owners and trainers, racegoers and participants.”