The festive season is one of the best seasons for betting, with so many UK sporting events occurring around that time. Horse racing is no different with British traditional Boxing Day horse races 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.
What’s Happening on Boxing Day Horse Racing Day
With so much going on all at the same time, it may become overwhelming just to process everything. There are a total of eight racing events on the day 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 our more detailed descriptions of the events down below.
CourseLocationRace typeTrack typeFirst Race
Sedgefield*/
NewcastleNewcastleJumpTurf11:45
WetherbyWest YorkshireJumpTurf11:52
Market RasenLincolnshireJumpTurf11:55
Fontwell ParkSussexJumpTurf11:57
HuntingtonCambridgeshireJumpTurf12:06
WincantonSomersetJumpTurf12:18
Kempton ParkSurreyJumpTurf12:45
WolverhamptonWolverhamptonFlatAWT13:50
*The Sedgefield race has been moved to the Newcastle Racecourse due to maintenance.
Best Boxing Day Horse Racing betting sites
#1
BetVictor
Brilliant site fire horse racingMany horse racing specialsBet £10 on horse racing get £40
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 at odds 2.00+ within 7 days, no cashout. Get 3x £10 Free Bets, set events at odds 2.00+. Plus a £10 Slot Bonus, selected games, wager 20x to withdraw max £250. Plus 100 Free Spins. 100 Free Spins have no wagering. Bonuses and Spins expire in 7 days. Card payments only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
#2
William Hill
Leaders in Top Price Guaranteed (TPG)Frequent special offer and promotionsVery dedicated to horse racing
New customers using Promo code H30 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. See full terms below. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
#3
bet365
One of the best all round sitesFrequent offers including TPGLive streaming sports services
18+ – Offer for new customers at bet365.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
#4
Coral
Amazing Coral Racing Club membershipGreat horse racing promosBet £5 Get £20 in free bets offer
18+ New UK+ ROI Customers only. Deposit & Bet min £5 as first bet at minimum odds 1/2 to qualify for 1x £20 Free Bet. Certain deposit methods and bet types excluded. Free bet valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
#5
Paddy Power
Best Odds Guaranteed offerGet up to £20 back if bet loses welcome offerExcellent customer service
18+ New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Paddy’s Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
#6
Ladbrokes
Huge variety of horse racing specialsOne of the finest British bookiesBet £5 Get £20 welcome offer
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first 5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x 5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cashout, restrictions + Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
#7
BoyleSports
Variety of horse racing offersBet £10 Get £10 + £10 casino bonusLive streaming on horse races
*New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile only. £20 in FREE Bets (FB) as £10 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7 day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
#8
Betway
Quality horse racing promotionsA great all round betting siteMoney back as a free bet if you come 2nd, 3rd, or 4th
New UK customers only. Min Deposit: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. Debit card deposits only. This is offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. 18+ Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
Why is Boxing Day Horse Racing So Popular?
Horse races happen all throughout the year, but Boxing Day has a special place in many UK fans across the country. A UK tradition, horse racing on boxing day is held at many different locations simultaneously meaning loads of people can get involved.
Boxing Day horse racing is one of the biggest days in calendar year of racing. It really has become a tradition, with the first Boxing Day holiday horse race being the ‘Yorkshire Christmas Meeting’ at Wetherby first held on Boxing Day all the way back in 1940. That’s a whopping 82 years ago.
Kids Go Free
A great incentive to get young people involved in the sport, the kids go free incentive is also a great opportunity for 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. This has allowed many young people to get involved in the sport.
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.
The offer is brilliant, both for families who don’t need to pay as much to watch one of Britain’s greatest pass times, and it’s also perfect to get more young people interesting in the sport. 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. There are so many races and different events going on that the betting options are almost limitless. Betting on the races may be complicated, that’s 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 are 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 just what you need to enhance your betting experience.
Kempton Park King George VI Chace 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 this event on their big screens.
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.
TimeRaceDistance (Miles)
12:45The Ladbrokes Get Your £1 Free Bet Novices’ Limited Handicap Steeple Chase2m 4f
13:20The Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Steeple Chase3m
13:55The Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle2m
14:30The Ladbrokes King George VI Steeple Chase3m
15:05The Ladbrokes “We Play Together” Novices’ hurdle2m
15:40The Ladbrokes Fan zone “Your Team Your Game” Handicap Hurdle2m 5f
Not only is it a great day out, with so many races it’s a great day for betting especially thanks to the ability to make bets instantly on your phone with sports betting apps.
Sedgefield Boxing Day Racing (Moved to Newcastle Racecourse)
The Sedgefield Boxing Day race has been relocated to the Newcastle Racecourse. The main reasons behind this are to allow more time between races for maintenance and it gives Sedgefield more time to improve their facilities for upcoming races.
The Newcastle racecourse is still a great place to be, and the action will be just as good as Sedgefield, so there’s not reason to be any less excited. The races haven’t been announced yet, but we’ll keep you up to date when they are confirmed. For now, here’s the most important information:
Gates Open – 10:00am
First Race – 11:45am
Last Race – 3:10pm
Youths ages 17 and under enter free of charge and booking can be done online on their dedicated Newcastle racecourse website.
Wetherby Racecourse Yorkshire Christmas Meeting
The William Hill Yorkshire Christmas Meeting is steeped in tradition, beginning all the way back 1940. It is one of the oldest and most popular Boxing Day races around. There are seven jump races on the race card including the showcase ‘Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase’.
There will also be live entertainment as well as free parking, and free entrance guests under the age of 18. It is advised to be early on the day due to high traffic.
Some of the enclosures are already sold out and the dinning package is also sold out. 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.
With the exact times of the races not being confirmed here is the relevant information for the race day. We will be updating this once the races are confirmed.
Gates Open – 10:00am
First Race – 11:52am
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. The event has become a family tradition for many Lincolnshire residents bringing in large crowds on the day.
The event will host seven jump category rases 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 race times still haven’t been confirmed but the most important info you need can be found here:
Gates Open – 9:55am
First Race – 11:55am
Last Race – 3:25pm
Fontwell Park Boxing Day Races
Fontwell Park boasts an excellent Boxing Day event in Sussex. Seven races will be competed in, all are jumping races and will take place throughout the afternoon.
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. However here ae the main details:
Gates Open – 9:57am
First Race – 11:57am
Last Race – 3:27pm
Huntington Day at the Races
Huntington Racecourse offer a great Boxing Day event, one which has become the most popular date on their calendar. The event features seven races and is represented by both small and large stables creating an interesting mix of talents.
The standard of competition may not be as high as their Peterborough Chase Day, which also happens in December, but the fierce competition surely makes up for that.
With the schedule already confirmed it is easier than ever to keep up with all that’s going on. There will also be a big screen for the King George VI Chase. Under 18 visitors enter free and booking is best done online prior to the event.
TimeRaceDistanceType
12:07The Racing TV Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Race3m 1f 10ydsHurdle
12:40The Brampton Novices’ Hurdle Race2m 3f 137ydsHurdle
13:15The Racing TV Handicap Steeple Chase2m 7f 129ydsChase
13:47The Alconbury Handicap Hurdle Race2m 4f 145ydsHurdle
14:22The Racing TV Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase2m 3f 189ydsChase
14:57The Merry Christmas Handicap Steeple Chase2m 3f 189ydsChase
3:32The Racing TV Open National Hunt Flat Race1m 7f 171ydsFlat
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.
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 TimeRaceDistanceType
12:18The EBF Mares’ Novices’ Limited Handicap Steeple Chase2m 4f 35ydsChase
12:53The Wincanton Racecourse Supporting #RacingWithPride Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Race1m 7f 50ydsHurdle
13:28The Lord Stalbridge ‘Festive Challenger’ Gold Cup Handicap Steeple Chase3m 1f 30ydsChase
14:03The John Heathcock Service to Racing Mid Season Handicap Steeple Chase2m 4f 35ydsChase
14:38The Eastbury Hotel Handicap Hurdle Race1m 7f 50ydsHurdle
15:13The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Race3m 150ydsHurdle
15:45The Wincanton Racing, Events, Golf and Footgolf Open National Hunt Flat Race1m 7f 50ydsFlat
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 o action on the day.
What makes Wolverhampton unique is that it is one of the UK’s best all terrain racecourses and in fact uses and artificial surface. Another key difference in the fixtures is that the races 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 is not yet confirmed so here are all the most important details.
Gates Open – 12:20
First Race – 13:50
Last Race – 17:20
Most Notable Historic Boxing Day Races
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. This was also the second win by Irish trainer Willie Mullins.
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 odds to win the title on her horse Frodon.
Henry Brooke’s Hattrick
In 2018 Jockey Henry Brooke made it 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
It’s the biggest day for the sport in the calendar year.
There are tons of betting promotions and offer to take advantage of.
Watching the action live has never been easier, with so many events in as many locations.
The number of events gives you the opportunity to create even bigger and more ambitious bets.
Horse racing is one of the most popular betting markets in the world with huge, in-depth markets to choose from.
Boxing Day Horse Racing Promotions
Everybody loves a promotion; punters live for that little extra boost that comes with a free bet or odds boost. Horse racing is no different with a number of sites offer some great promotions for horse racing, especially on boxing day.
A staple 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 to choose from, and countless betting sites to get them from.
The most common form is a ‘Bet and Get’ For example BetVictor offer a great ‘Bet £10 and Get £40’ in free bets on horse racing. Others may offer a money back in free bets if your first bet loses. Each operator has their own set of term and conditions, so we suggest checking these out to make sure you get your desired promotion.
An excellent addition to any operator’s portfolio, the best odds guaranteed is a perfect addition to your betting arsenal. What is ‘best odds guaranteed’ you ask? It essentially acts as a guarantee that if you bet on a horse, and the 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 conditions, which vary depending on the operator, are the time which you can place a qualifying bet. There are many betting companies who offer it and checking out which suites you best is ideal.
This simple offer is generally applied to all sports and is very common during major sporting events. Bet boosts or enhanced odds are 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 you a chance to win big. There may even be bet builders with boosted odds.
All the best horse racing operators will have many more promotions and offers for those punters looking for the best deals. There are many enticing promotions, here are a few to look out for.
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 you your money back if a horse fails to start a race or is considered to ‘lose all chance’ at the stalls.
Top Price Guaranteed – William Hill – This offer makes sure that the odds provided is the best in the market. If another top operator has better odds, William hill will match it ore even beat it.
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 change with the changes.
Boxing Day Horse Racing FAQs
ThePuntersPage Final Say
The Boxing Day horse race is a Christmas tradition and has been for the best part of 2 centuries. Besides the great day out, especially for families with kids, 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.
Jeremy is a die hard Evertonian and a massive sports fan. If he’s not watching Everton, he’s either playing football or watching whatever sport he can find on TV. With a keen interest in sports betting, sports writing is a match made in heaven.
