The festive season is one of the best for betting, with so many UK sporting events occurring around that time. Horse racing is no different, with British traditional Boxing Day racing happening in many places 🔯through the UK. This🌳 article serves as an overview of all the best races on the day, including some betting tips.
- 1 Best Boxing Day Horse Racing betting sites
- 2 Boxing Day Racing: What’s Happening?
- 3 Why Is Boxing Day Horse Racing So Popular?
- 4 Betting on Horse Racing
- 5 Kempton Park King George VI Chase Day
- 6 Sedgefield Boxing Day Racing
- 7 Wetherby Racecourse Yorkshire Christmas Meeting
- 8 Market Rasen Racecourse Boxing Day Races
- 9 Fontwell Park Boxing Day Races
- 10 Aintree Boxing Day Fixture
- 11 Wincanton Boxing Day Races
- 12 Wolverhampton Boxing Day Racing
- 13 Most Notable Historic Boxing Day Races
- 14 5 Reasons To Bet on Boxing Day Horse Racing
- 15 Boxing Day Racing Promotions
- 16 ThePuntersPage Final Say
- 17 Boxing Day Horse Racing FAQs
Best Boxing Day Horse Racing betting sites
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Boxing Day Racing: What’s Happening?
With so much going on at the same time, it may become overwhelming just to process everything. There are a total of eight Boxing Day racing events, and figuring out which one you should go to may be a challenge. Here is a brief overview of every race; feel free to check out o🍌ur more detailed descriptions of the events down below.
| Course | Location | Race type | Track type | First Race |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedgefield Racecourse | Durham | Jump | Turf | 11:45 |
| Wetherby | West Yorkshire | Jump | Turf | 11:52 |
| Aintree Racecourse | Merseyside | Jump | Turf | 11:55 |
| Fontwell Park | Sussex | Jump | Turf | 11:57 |
| Market Rasen | Lincolnshire | Jump | Turf | 12:05 |
| Wincanton | Somerset | Jump | Turf | 12:18 |
| Kempton Park | Surrey | Jump | Turf | 12:45 |
| Wolverhampton | Wolverhampton | Flat | AWT | 13:50 |
Why Is Boxing Day Horse Racing So Popular?
ℱHorse races take place throughout the year, but Boxing Day has a special place in many UK fans' hearts and since it is held at many different locations simultaneously, loads of people can get involved.
Boxing Day horse racing is one of the biggest days in the calendar year of racing. It really has become a tradition, with the first Boxing Day holiday horse race — the ‘Yorkshire Christmas Meeting’ at Wetherby — first being held on Boxing Day all the way back in 1940!
Kids Go Free
A great incentive to get young people involved in the sport, the kids go f🐼ree incentive is also a great opportunity f🌞or families to have a fun day out together without breaking the bank.
The Kids Go Free offer is eligible for under 18s when accompanied by an adult. Some race clubs go the extra mile and even offer discounts for other age groups — one such offer is at Kempton Park, where youths between the ages of 18 and 24 only need to pay half price.
Be sure to check out if there are any particular offers at 🍨your racecourse of choice.
Betting on Horse Racing
It’s a perfect day to bet on horse racing — with are so many races and different events going on, the betting options are almost limitless! Betting on the races may be complicated, which is why we have our very own dedicated betting on horse racing guide.
The first things that should come to mind are bet builders and accumulators, which a🃏re great for this sort of event. With so many races happening on the same day, even a super large bet can be lost or won in just a few short hours.
System bets are also a very useful tool to give you the best chances of winning some cash. They may be complicated at first, but once you understand the concept, they really could give you some great value. Our system bet guide is excellent and may be jus⛎t what you need to enha𝓀nce your betting experience.
Kempton Park King George VI Chase Day
The second most prestigious horse racing event of the year, second only to the Cheltenham November Meeting, The King George VI Chase Day is a packed Christmas festival event. The entire event takes place over two ♒days.
The 26th is one of the most interesting as it features three grade one races out of the six which will be competed in. The biggest event on the day in the UK, some other tracks will also be streaming it on their big screens, and all bookies will have special King George VI Chase Day promotions.
Tickets are being taken up quickly, so we suggest that you book in advance to reserve your spot. Under 18s enter free, while 18–24-year-old tickets are half-price. The schedule of the day is as follows.
| Time | Race | Distance (Miles) |
|---|---|---|
| 12:45 | The Ladbrokes Boost Your Odds on Racing Novices’ Limited Handicap Steeple Chase | 2m 4 1/2f |
| 13:20 | The Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Steeple Chase (In Memory of Nigel Clark) | 3m |
| 13:55 | The Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle | 2m |
| 14:30 | The Ladbrokes King George VI Steeple Chase | 3m |
| 15:05 | The Ladbrokes “To Win Free Music Tickets” Maiden hurdle | 2m |
| 15:40 | The Ladbrokes “Get Bets Odds Guaranteed” Handicap Hurdle | 2m 5f |
Not only is it a great day out, with so many races it’s a great day for betting, especially thanks to sports betting apps,🐭 which make it possible to make bets instantly on your phone.
Sedgefield Boxing Day Racing
Since the 1920s, Sedgefield has hosted one of the North-East's standout horse racing events on Boxing Day. This year, you get to continue the tradition by stepping away from the holiday routine and joining a festive atmosphere infused with betting opportunities.
With 6 to 8 jump races planned, the racecards will be filled to the brim. Don't forget to go over the details and brush up on your tote betting knowledge beforehand. For an added dimension to the experience, operat🃏ors such as BetVictor have prepared exclusive free bets, odds boosts, and other Sedgefield Boxing Day race promos for both new and existing users.
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Gates Open – 9:45am
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First Race – 11:45am
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Last Race – 3:10pm
Youths ages 17 and under enter free of charge and booking can be done online on their dedicated Newcastle racecoꦬurse website.
Wetherby Racecourse Yorkshire Christmas Meeting
Steeped in tradition, dating back all the way to 1940, the William Hill Yorkshire Christmas Meeting is one of the oldest and most popular Boxing Day races around. There are seven jump races on the racecard, including the showcase ‘Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase’.
There will also be live entertainment as well as free parking, and free entrance for guests under the age of 18. It is advised to ℱbe early on the day 🏅due to high traffic.
Some of the enclosures are ✅already sold out and the dining package is also sold out, so it’s best to get a move on if you’re planning on attending the event. Like all races, we recommend booking in advance to ensure that you have a place to watch the action unfold before your eyes.
If not, you can always check out the live streaming of the event on William Hill Betting TV and their WH radio and leverag♒e their dedicated Wetherby Racecourse Yorkshire Christmas Meeting bonus ofꦡfers.
With the exact times of the races not yet confirmed, here is the relevant information for the race day. We will be updating this once m♊ore information is out.
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First Race – 11:52am
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Last Race – 3:20pm
Market Rasen Racecourse Boxing Day Races
The ‘Rand Farm Park Boxing Day at the Races’ is the day event taking place at the Market Rasen Racecourse. It has become a family tradition for many Lincolnshire resi👍dents, bringing in large crowds on the day and sending 𓆉punters in a Rand Farm Park Boxing Day promo frenzy.
It will host seven jump category races, with the famous Lincolnshire National over three and a half miles race set as the featured event. As with other horse racing events, 🎃its best to book in advance as spaces are🌳 already becoming quite limited.
The event is great for all the family, with live music and many bars for adults, as well as a play area and face-painting boot for the young ones. Under 18s get free admission. There is also a new family marque which will house several festive stalls.
The events on the racecard are as follows:
| Time | Race | Distance | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:05 | The Rand Farm Park Day Nursery Introductory Selling Handicap | 2m 125yds | Hurdle |
| 12:40 | The North Lincs Components Limited Novices' Hurdle Race | 2m 125yds | Hurdle |
| 13:15 | The Mal & Mo Fox Memorial Vase Novices' Handicap Steeple Chase | 2m 7f 191y | Chase |
| 13:47 | The Rand Farm Park All Weathers Novices' Handicap Steeple Chase | 2m 5f 89y | Chase |
| 14:22 | The Rand Farm Park Family Days Out Novices' Handicap Hurdle Race | 2m 4f 139y | Hurdle |
| 14:57 | The Pallinc Lincolnshire National Handicap Steeple Chase | 3m 3f 123y | Chase |
| 3:32 | The Rand Farm Park Pigs In Blankets Handicap Hurdle Race | 2m 2f 140y | Hurdle |
Fontwell Park Boxing Day Races
Fontwell Park boasts an excellent Boxing Day event in Sussex. Seven r💝aces will be competed in, all are jumping races and will take place throughout the afternoon, giving you enough time to study the racecard and take advantage of the Fontwell Park Boxing Day betting bonuses.
Anyone under 18 is eligible for free entrance and the day is filled with activities for the whole family. There shall also be a big screen where visitors can watch the prestigious King George VI Chase live as it happens.
Similar to other races on the day, most details are still being confirmed. Ho🌃wever, here are the main details:
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Gates Open – 9:57am
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First Race – 11:57am
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Last Race – 3:27pm
Aintree Boxing Day Fixture
This Boxing Day, Aintree Racecourse unveils its first-ever Boxing Day event, following the move from Huntingdon Jockey Club. This ♐move, prompted by previous weather-related disruptions, ensures a more consistent and high-q♏uality racing environment for the core Jump season.
At the same time, the event, taking place at the renowned Randox Grand National Festival venue, gives ample opportunity for bettors to engage in the festཧive spiꦚrit of betting, backed with some top-value horse racing bonus deals.
Here's the entire race schedule:
| Time | Race | Distance | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:55 | William Hill Double Your Odds Mares’ Handicap Hurdle | 2m 4f | Hurdle |
| 12:30 | The Unibet Veteran’s Handicap Chase | 2m 4f | Chase |
| 13:05 | The William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle | 2m 4f | Hurdle |
| 13:40 | William Hill Epic Value Handicap Hurdle | 2m ½f | Hurdle |
| 14:15 | William Hill Epic Boost Handicap Chase | 3m 1f | Chase |
| 14:50 | William Hill Cheltenham NRMB from January 1st Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase | 2m 4f | Chase |
| 15:25 | William Hill Stories Open National Hunt Flat Race | 2m 1f | Flat |
Wincanton Boxing Day Races
The Boxing Day event is by far the most popular date on the calendar for the Wincanton racecourse, with thousands of people flocking to the tracks to witness the great show. Boo𒆙kies are going all out on Winc𓆏anton Boxing Day bonuses, especially with free bets for new users.
Wincanton also offer a park-and-ride service for their event from King Arthurs School in West Hill, as well as free entrance for under 18 viewers.
The racing schedule has already🦄 been made available, although the exact time of each race may be subject to some slight changes.
| Start Time | Race | Distance | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:18 | The Ollie Michael Smith Memorial And Ebf Mares' Novices' Limited Handicap Steeple Chase | 2m 4f 35yds | Chase |
| 12:53 | The Steel Beams Online Mares' Novices' Hurdle Race | 1m 7f 50yds | Hurdle |
| 13:28 | The Rodney Francis Chinnock Memorial Lord Stalbridge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase | 3m 1f 30yds | Chase |
| 14:03 | The Somerton Gates & Railing Handicap Steeple Chase | 2m 4f 35yds | Chase |
| 14:38 | The Steel Beams Online Handicap Hurdle Race | 1m 7f 50yds | Hurdle |
| 15:13 | The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Race | 3m 150yds | Hurdle |
| 15:45 | The Supporting Southmead Hospital's Intensive Care Unit National Hunt Flat Race | 1m 7f 50yds | Flat |
Wolverhampton Boxing Day Racing
The Wolverhampton racecourse is located a couple of miles from the Wolverhampton Center and is a stunning racecourse. With seven races to be completed, there is plenty of꧋ action to bet on.
What makes Wolverhampton unique is that it is one of the UK’s best all terrain racecourses, and in fact uses an artificial surface. Another key difference in the fixtures is that the rac🐻es are predominantly flats rather than hurdles or steeples.
Tickets are ❀selling fast with a number of areas and bundles already sold out. Buying a ticket online as early as possible is crucial as tickets may be sold out by the 26th.
Information of the races is꧑ n🍃ot yet confirmed so here are all the most important details:
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Gates Open – 11:50
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First Race – 13:50
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Last Race – 17:05
Most Notable Historic Boxing Day Races
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King George VI Chase 2021 Just last year, history was made during the 2021 Ladbrokes King George VI Chase. Tornado Flyer became the longest-priced winner ever at 28/1. This beat the previous record of 25/1 set in 1987 by French raider Nupsala. It was also the second win by Irish trainer W𓆏illie Mullins.
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Bryony Frost Makes History In 2020, Frost became the first female jockey ever to win the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase. A 20/1 outsider, few had hopes for Frost; however, she overcame the odd♏s to win the title on her horse Frodon.
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Henry Brooke’s Hattrick In 2018, Jockey Henry Brooke made three wins in a row at Wetherby’s Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase. He did this on three different horses and is the only person in the competition to win💖 three times in a row.
5 Reasons To Bet on Boxing Day Horse Racing
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It’s the biggest day for the sport in the calendar year.
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There are tons of betting promotions and offers to take advantage of.
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Watching the action live has never been easier, with so many events in as many locations.
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The number of events allows you to✤ creat🐈e even bigger and more ambitious bets.
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Horse racing is one of the most💯 popular betting markets in the world, with huge, in-depth markets to choose from.
Boxing Day Racing Promotions
Everybody loves a promotion; punters live for that little extra something that comes with a free bet or odds boost. Horse racing is no different, with a number of sites offering some great promotions, es🍸pecially on Boxing Day.
Welcome offers
A s⛦taple of any good betting site, welcome offers are a great way to start your betting experience on a high. There are countless types of welcome offers and betting sites to choose from. The most common form is a ‘Bet and Get’. BetVictor, for insta🍷nce, offers a great ‘Bet £10 and get £20’ in free bets on horse racing. Others may offer money back in free bets if your first bet loses. Each operator has their own set of terms and conditions, so we suggest checking these out to make sure you get your desired promotion.
Best Odds Guaranteed
This is an excellent addition to any operator’s portfolio and betting arsenal. What is ‘best odds guaranteed’, you might ask? It essentially guarantees that if you bet on a horse and th♉e odds change for the better, you will be paid out with the better odds if it wins. There are no risks to this, and the only condition, which varies depending on the operator, is the time at which you can place a qualifying bet. Few companies offer it, and checking out which suits you best is ideal.
Bet boosts
This simple offer is generally applied to all sports and is very common during major sporting events. Bet boosts or enhanced odds are a further incentive to get you betting. Here’s a simple example: if a horse’s odds are 5/1, an operator will offer it as 7/1, giving youܫ a chance to win big. There may even be bet builders with boosted odds.
Other offers
All the best horse racing operators will have many more promotions and offers for those punters looking for the best deals. With many enticing promo🦄tions, here are a few to l꧂ook out for.
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Run for your money – BetVictor – Nothing is worse than placing a bet only for you to lose before a🦋 race even starts. This offer gives y♊ou your money back if a horse fails to start a race or is considered to ‘lose all chance’ at the stalls.
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Top Price Guaranteed – William Hill – This offer makes sure that the odds🦹 provided are 🐽the best in the market. If another top operator has better odds, William Hill will match or even beat them.
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Each Way Extra – bet365 – When using an each-way bet, you can choose to increase or decrease the number of places🔯 in♌ a race. Obviously, the odds will be altered with the changes.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
Boxing Day racing is a Christmas tradition and has been so for the best part of two centuries. Besides th♎e great day out, there is an exceptional amount of value to betting on the day. We recommend going to watch the races live to really get into the action and place some more well-informed bets.
Boxing Day Horse Racing FAQs
🥃Boxing Day racing includes eight different events, held in: Newcastle, Wetherby, Market Rasen, Fontwell Park, Aintree, Wincanton, Kempton Park, and Wolverhampton.
All raceℱs start at around midday and last until late afternoon. Being there early is key to avoiding traffic and unnecessary hassle.
Boxing Day racing tickets can be bought online at any of the racecourses’ dedicated websites. You may also be able to buy tickets on the day at the specific loca🐻tion.
‘Yorkshire Christmas Meeting’ at Wetherby was the first Boxing Day horse race in 1940.
With its dedication to the sport and thanks to its ‘Top Price Guaranteed’ offer, bet365 is considered to have some of the best odds in the marke♊t.