The much-anticipated Hunter Chase evening meeting will take place at Warwick Racecourse on Friday 1 May with a parade of hounds taking place before racing commences.
The fixture, long valued by the hunting and point-to-point community, has been moved from Cheltenham this year to allow for an upgrade of its drainage systems on the home straight.
Hounds will be parading at 4pm, so we encourage you to arrive early and show your support at a time when the future of trail hunting is in jeopardy. There will also be reminders to all racegoers to sign the Future for Hunting e-lobby and send a direct message to the government to oppose a ban on trail hunting.
Polly Portwin, Director of the Campaign for Hunting at the Countryside Alliance, said:
“The Hunter Chase evening meeting is an incredibly important annual fixture – it brings together the very best of grassroots racing while reminding us of the deep-rooted connection between hunting and National Hunt racing. Seeing hounds parade on a racecourse is always a powerful reflection of that shared heritage, so it remains important that we continue to support one another and make our collective voice heard at a time when the future of hunts, hounds and the wider community is under threat.”
Gates open at 2.30pm with the first of the seven hunter chases taking place at 4.30pm on what is sure to be an evening with very competitive racing and a lively social atmosphere, offering the perfect way to kick off the weekend.
The hounds and racing may be the main features of the day for many, but the social side of the evening is not to be overlooked either. Thom Kirkpatrick will bring his lively one-man-band performance to Warwick, using live looping across guitar, keys and percussion to create layered versions of well-known favourites. Performing between the final races and for 45 minutes afterwards, he provides a fitting close to what promises to be a memorable evening.
Tickets can be purchased HERE.
Cheltenham’s annual members can enjoy free admission with their membership badges and passes.