The Racing Horse has been associated and proudly shared, a deep connection with Chepstow Racecourse in some form since 1971. We are thrilled to continue that legacy by offering racegoers our FREE Chepstow Racecourse Templates! These templates are packed with the most fabulous, interesting and profitable information and should not be missed. This free service is only offered to the patrons of Chepstow Racecourse.

So what is a Racecourse Template? The Racecourse Template is a shaped piece though not rigid. Its structure is organic and specifically designed to be of value, relevance, context, but most importantly 100% pertinent to the day's racing. Critically, the resultant math-based aggregation automatically excludes media noise, bias, hype and punditry, leaving an easy-to-read blueprint. From here, members can easily scan, before exercising their own prudence! Read more...

There is excellent news coming out of Chepstow Racecourse. More than half-a-million pounds will be up for grabs at this year's ambitious new Welsh Racing Festival scheduled for October, meaning record prize levels will be on offer when Chepstow stages the three-day meeting from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 October. The meeting typically acts as the launchpad for the winter jumps programme and course bosses hope the money on offer will help attract talent from the top stables in Britain and Ireland.

The meeting also sees a return to the track of the prestigious Welsh Champion Hurdle. The race has been won by some of the great names in National Hunt racing since its inception in 1969, but has been held at Ffos Las since 2010. My first visit to Chepstow was to witness Bula winning the Welsh Champion Hurdle in 1971. He was one of the greatest hurdlers of his era, trained by Fred Winter and ridden by Paul Kelleway. That year, Bula also won the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, making 1971 a standout season in his career.

Last year, the race was won by Lump Sum, trained by Sam Thomas and ridden by Dylan Johnston. He was owned by Dai Walters, a huge figure in Welsh racing, not only as an owner but also the founder of Ffos Las Racecourse. 

Other feature races include the Persian War Novices' Hurdle, which last year was worth £50,000, and the even more valuable Silver Trophy, making it a fabulous Welsh Racing Festival! Leading Welsh bookmaker Dragonbet, replaces the two-day Jumps Season Opener which has been held at Chepstow for several seasons.

Organisers hope to attract thousands of racegoers across the three days. Its aim is not to replicate the Cheltenham Festival, the four-day extravaganza that brings large parts of Gloucestershire to a standstill every March, but to create a more intimate atmosphere while still staging top-quality action.

Chepstow general manager Luke Admans said: "This festival builds on everything that made the Jump Season Opener such a highlight of the calendar. By transforming it into the Dragonbet Welsh Racing Festival, and bringing home the Welsh Champion Hurdle, we’re creating a sporting and cultural event that celebrates the very best of Wales."

Dragonbet boss James Lovell said: "We’re incredibly proud to be the headline sponsors of the newly-formed Welsh Racing Festival, especially with our family’s long-standing connection to Chepstow racecourse since the late 1960s. Partnering with the Welsh Racing Festival is a significant milestone for us as a company, and a fantastic opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come. It also allows us to celebrate racing in Wales."

The Racing Horse has already booked a hotel room and advises members and readers who are interested to do likewise now!

If you have any questions about any of the above please contact us and we will do our best to explain.

CHEPSTOW RACECOURSE - WHAT'S ON