October Highlights – A Mega Month of Action Ahead

Features | 30^th September 2022

There really is something for every fan at the races this October. From Flat Racing Ultimate Raceday at QIPCO British Champions Day to the opening meeting at the home of jump racing, Cheltenham, there's plenty to look forward to!

October is a month that caters spectacularly to racing fans of every creed. The turf Flat racing season comes to a glorious crescendo on Saturday 15 October with QIPCO British Champions Day, while the Jump racing season starts kicking properly into gear!

The stunning end of the Flat season celebration at Ascot attracts some of the very best horses with four Group 1 races on the glittering card.

Unbeaten superstar Baaeed is expected to take on last year’s Derby winner Adayar in the QIPCO Champion Stakes, while the top milers will battle it out for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

The champion jockey, apprentice, rider, trainer and owner will also be crowned at the thrilling season finale.

It is the ultimate raceday with so much going on around the racing. Top jockeys Hollie Doyle and Tom Marquand will hold a race-riding masterclass and there will be the chance to win some superb prizes in a range of competitions.

To sign off in style, Craig Charles will host an after party to end QIPCO British Champions Day. There’s plenty of other superb days of racing up and down the country during October with a wonderful mix of Flat and jumping action.

Kelso hosts its Family Raceday this weekend. There will be a funfair at the track on Sunday 2 October and The Scottish Racing Academy will return with its excellent interactive corner. Uttoxeter will also hold its popular Bresbet Gentleman’s Day this Sunday.

Alongside the jumps racing action on Sunday 2 October will be a best dressed competition with the chance to win a range of excellent prizes.

There will also be the opportunity to meet former Irish boxing champion Big Joe Egan. There will be stars of the future on show at Newmarket when the town’s Rowley Mile track hosts Dubai Future Champions Day.

There are seven Group races run over the course of Friday 7 and Saturday 8. The Dewhurst Stakes has been won by some of Flat racing’s greatest champions, including Frankel, and this year’s race is sure to feature some of the stars of next season.

The Welsh Racing Weekend will see some of the country’s best jumps action. It kicks off on Friday 7 with the opening day of Chepstow’s two-day meeting. Jump racing fans often see this as the start of the season proper. The big race of the day is the Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle and there will be live music from Irish folk band Murphy’s Marbles.

The following day, Saturday 8, will feature the Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Hurdle and the Native River Chase.

The Jam will be playing all their biggest hits, including Going Underground and The Eton Rifles, after racing. All visitors to Chepstow’s big meeting will get a complimentary ticket to Ffos Las’ Gentlemen’s Day on Sunday 9.

Gruffydd Wyn will belt out the national anthem in the parade ring before the Welsh Champion Hurdle and Gary Ryland will be performing in the bar during the afternoon.

There will be the opportunity to buy some early Christmas presents on the opening day of York’s final meeting of the season when there will be a countryside market.

The two-day fixture takes place on Friday 7 and Saturday 8. The Black Marcs band will be playing a range of hits from the ‘50s right up to the modern day at Catterick’s Dash meeting on Saturday 15.

Sedgefield will hold its biggest race of the season on its Family Funday on Sunday 16. The meeting features The Durham National when there will be free children’s entertainment.

Cheltenham will be ‘Showcasing Sustainability’ at its opening fixture. The racecourse will be shining a light on the work taking place by The Jockey Club across its 15 tracks to become more sustainable, as well as its plans for the future.

The two-day Showcase meeting on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 will also celebrate racehorse ownership to give visitors a fascinating insight into the thrills of being involved in racing clubs and syndicates.

Newbury’s final Flat meeting of the season will have extra ‘oomph’. The two-day meeting on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 will feature an Oktoberfest alongside some quality action on the track.There will a live Oompah band, a selection of traditional Bavarian food and, of course, steins of beer.

The Final Group 1 of the British Flat season – The Vertem Futurity Trophy – will also be staged at Doncaster. It’s represents a final chance for Flat racing fans to take in clues for next year’s Classic contests as the best two-year-olds face off down the mile straight on Town Moor.

There will be some spooky goings on when Aintree kicks off its winter season. The Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase – won in the past by the likes Kauto Star, Smad Place and Frodon – will feature on Sunday 23.

It’s not just superb jumps action that will entertain the crowds as it is on Jewson Halloween Family Day. There will loads of fun for all the family, including a ghost train, haunted house, Halloween treasure trail and spooky face paintings. The month comes to an end with a superb two-day meeting at Wetherby featuring the Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase.

The race, won by the likes of Cue Card, Bristol De Mai and Cyrname in recent years, is often the first port of call for horses making their way towards the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

There is high-quality racing on both Friday 28 and Saturday 29 at the Yorkshire track. There is so much going on in the racing world in October so make sure you don’t miss out.