Check out the Horse Dance of the Day

The biggest day in the British & Irish horse racing calendar is almost upon us as enthusiasts prepare to flock to local courses for the Boxing Day event. It’s the most exciting day of all for everyone involved in the sport, and there have been some rare moments over the years when racers have enjoyed such quality racing. during the holidays.

Horse racing, a time-honored tradition, has long been woven into the fabric of British culture and history, perhaps more than any other country. From its humble beginnings in the arena to the status of today’s elite race tracks, the sport has seen a remarkable evolution over the years. The atmosphere at the tracks on the big days is hard to describe as one mingles with the crowd, bets on the books and can hear the horses galloping near the main stations. Horse racing is more than just a sport in the UK, it can be seen as a celebration of culture, heritage, passion and prowess.

Boxing Day will be an exciting day, and racing fans will enjoy a feast of great action in Britain and Ireland over Christmas, including 12 Grade 1s and major handicaps such as the Coral Welsh Grand National and King George VI. The Chase, which usually steals the headlines, but there are many Grade 1 races in Great Britain and Ireland that have captured the hearts of racing fans over the years.

Boxing Day kicked off with the main card at Kempton, headlined by the day’s main race, the King George VI Chase. This historic No. 1 title, won by sports heroes such as Desert Orchid and Kauto Star, is one of the highlights of the show jumping, while on the same card, Christmas Threat also became one of the in the race. grandmother Leopardstown and Limerick’s four-day Christmas fairs run on the same day.

It’s not just Boxing Day when the big shows take place, with the Welsh National at Chepstow and then the Challow Hurdle at Newbury, leading up to Cheltenham’s traditional New Year’s Day show.

Full list of races to be raced on Boxing Day:

• Kempton (6 species)
• Down Royal (7 species)
• Sedgefield (7 species)
• Wetherby (7 species)
• Aintree (7 races)
• Fontwell (7 species)
• Leopardstown (7 species)
• Market Competition (7 categories)
• Limerick (7 species)
• Wincanton (6 species)
• Wolverhampton (8 species)

With the first race starting at 11.40 local time and the last starting at 17.40 there is sure to be plenty to keep race fans entertained. Fans will wake up on the 26th and start searching for their best bets for the day and try to figure out which race they want to watch, as many will collide. Whether gathering around the television at home, gathering with friends to watch, or actually walking to one of the tracks, there is much to look forward to on this important day in the horse racing calendar.

Another thing to keep in mind, especially this time of year, is the weather. As things stand, most tracks are forecast to have a dry day with Sedgefield looking set to have better days. The worst weather seems to be forecast for Fontwell, where rain is forecast but most tracks are cloudy but dry. The ground on most tracks is listed as Good, Good to Soft on most tracks, so it should suit most serious players.

The main race of the day is the King George VI Chase which will take place at Kempton Park. It is the highlight of the annual racing calendar and is made up of eighteen hurdles over a distance of approximately 3 miles. The race was first run in 1937 and is now regarded as the second most prestigious race in England, after the The Cheltenham Gold Cup takes place in March. The most successful horse in this race was Kauto Star, who won it five times. There are fifteen horses that have won more than once. This year’s favorite to win this prestigious tournament is Spillane Tower. Another good race run at Kempton is the Christmas Hurdle, run over 2 miles with the excellent Constitution behind and currently second favourite, currently behind Lossiemouth. Gray Dawning and Corbett’s cross are both worth a look in the betting market in what has been a very competitive year.

Some interesting bets of the day could be the First Street in the first race at Kempton. It is on the danger mark and the distance from the ground should be suitable for it. Miami Magic is also worth watching in the 13.05 race at Aintree. Another one worth watching might be Ahoy Senor at Wetherby in the 13.35.

We are definitely set for a great day’s entertainment with races from all over the UK and beyond. We know the big events of the day but hopefully we can all find an interesting and successful horse somewhere, be it in the King George or at one of the tracks, to provide some joy of boxing day

Last updated: 23.12.2025