We’ve not had jumps racing at Windsor since 1998, but the hedgehoppers are back at the royal track this Sunday (15th December), with Arena Racing Company managing to get the course back on the National Hunt rota for the 2024-25 season.
Horse Racing Fans Welcome Back Windsor Jump Racing
Since 1998, Windsor racecourse had raced soled on the flat – with the figure-of-eight course famed for staging Monday night cards through the summer months.
However, the track will return to become a venue that races under both codes – meaning the course is going to be in horse racing action all-year-round.
There are some changes though.
The old Windsor jumps track was a figure-of-eight shape – the same as the flat course. But this has be reconfigured as a left-handed oval, with many areas made wider which will create more space for the runners.
Nicky Henderson Supporting The First Windsor Jumps Card
In the build-up to Sunday’s first jumps fixture at Windsor many top trainers, including Nicky Henderson, had sent horses to the track to trial out the new layout and ground, with feedback given to make improvements.
Henderson said “The best thing about it was, and this will surprise people because it’s next to the Thames, is that there was rarely soft ground. You went to Windsor to get good ground even in January and February. It was extraordinary – it drained incredibly well.
“I am most certainly thinking I would run horses there. I can remember when I was at Fred Winter’s and we ran some seriously good horses there.”
Nicky Henderson has lived up to his word and supported the first Windsor jumps card with three runners on the card.
These are Old Time Chaser (3.40), La Pinsonniere (1.20) and Excello (12.12), who will be a short price with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK to win.
Windsor Jumps Card: Sunday 15th Dec 2024
See below the full running order ahead of Sunday’s Windsor jumping card – with all the races being covered on Sky Sports Racing.
- 12:12 – Fitzdares Welcomes Jumping Back @ Royal Windsor EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qual) (GBB) Cl4 (4-6yo) 2m4f SKY
- 12:45 – Fitzdares Royal Windsor Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl3 (5yo+ 0-130) 2m SKY
- 1:20 – Fitzdares Royal Windsor Racecourse Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl4 (3yo+) 2m SKY
- 1:55 – Fitzdares Thames Handicap Chase (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier) Cl3 (4yo+ 0-130) 3m SKY
- 2:30 – Fitzdares Windsor Castle Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Mares’ Hurdle Series Qualifier) Cl4 (3yo+ 0-120) 2m SKY
- 3:05 – Fitzdares Telephone Betting Handicap Chase Cl4 (4yo+ 0-120) 2m4f SKY
- 3:40 – The Fitzdares Windsor Christmas Handicap Hurdle Cl4 (3yo+ 0-110) 2m4f
Many Horse Racing Greats Have Won Over Jumps at Windsor In The Past
When Windsor last staged jumps racing, it was often used by horses owned by the Queen Mother.
While former Grand National winner Royal Athlete, who won the Merseyside Marathon in 1995, was seen winning over hurdles at Windsor in the seasons prior for trainer Jenny Pitman.
Well-known grey horse Monet’s Garden was also a past winner at the track – when taking the rescheduled Ascot Hurdle there in 2004, along with former Stayers’ Hurdle hero Baracouda, who landed the Long Walk Hurdle there the same year (watch below).
Windsor Will Also Stage The 2025 ‘Winter Millions’ Fixture, After It Was Moved From Lingfield
Another feather in cap for the return of Windsor jump racing, is that ARC, who also own Lingfield, have switched their popular Winter Millions fixture to Windsor.
Lingfield has had a history of having to cancel National Hunt cards in the winter months. With previous Winter Millions cards lost and others run on heavy ground it was thought safer to move the entire meeting.
The 2025 Winter Millions card at Windsor will take place on Sunday 19th January.
