Warwickshire trainer Dan Skelton is targeting a hat-trick when Warwick Racecourse’s new season gets underway.  

Skelton, based at Shelfield Green, has been the top trainer at Warwick for the last two years and landed eight winners at the track in 2016/17. He will start his bid for a treble at The Racing UK Grand Season Opener on Tuesday, September 26.

Seven races are on the card and Skelton - who already has more than 60 winners during the 2017/18 national jumps season - will officially open Warwick’s new Coronation Club ahead of the first race. 

Skelton, who is an ambassador of Warwick Racecourse, said: “I am delighted to have been leading trainer at our local racecourse for the last two seasons and I’m eager to continue that success over the coming season. 

“We have a lovely bunch of horses to look forward to following on from what has been a very successful summer period, and I can’t wait to really get going with them. 

“I’m honoured to be opening a great new facility in The Coronation Club at Warwick and look forward to meeting its members during the winter.” 

The Coronation Club has been created from space that was formerly a tote betting area, and will house Warwick Racecourse’s new premium members. 

Coronation Club Membership is limited to 35 people and benefits include access to the new lounge, stable tours, access to the owners and trainers viewing steps and half-price guests on selected race days.

A healthy crowd is expected for what will be the first post-summer jump racing fixture for the South-West Jockey Club racecourses.

Warwick Racecourse will host one extra fixture this season, with 18 featured meetings over the course of the season, which will run from September to May.

Andre Klein, General Manager at Warwick Racecourse, said: “We are hugely excited that the new season is now so close to getting underway.

“Warwick Racecourse has made huge strides in recent years, we’ve established the course as one of the best performing small jumps tracks in the country and that is reflected in the extra fixture we have been awarded this season. 

“We are committed to continuing to improve the race day experience for everyone visiting Warwick Racecourse. The launch of the new Coronation Club is the next stage of our vision and we thank Dan Skelton for agreeing to cut the tape. 

“Last season we attracted a lot of people to become repeat visitors to the racecourse and we have introduced new membership packages this year to make it even easier for people to enjoy the season.

“The whole team is looking forward to September 26 and another great season at Warwick Racecourse.”

The Jockey Club racecourse has also announced a further new membership package ahead of the upcoming season. Track Specialist membership costs £140 and includes entry to all 18 race meetings for 2017/18 – representing a £210 saving on paying at the turnstile. 

For membership and advanced tickets, which start from £12.50, go to www.warwickracecourse.co.uk. Gates open for the fixture on Tuesday, September 26 from 11.50am with the first race at 13.50pm. 

Warwick Racecourse fixture list for 2017/18:

Tuesday, September 26 

Thursday, October 5

Friday, November 10

Wednesday, November 22 

Thursday, December 14 

Sunday, December 31 

Saturday, January 13 

Thursday, January 25

Saturday, February 10 

Friday, February 23 

Sunday, March 11 

Wednesday, March 28

Thursday, April 5 

Thursday, April 26

Monday, May 7

Saturday, May 12

Tuesday, May 23

Wednesday, May 30

Notes to Editors

Warwick Racecourse is one of the oldest racecourses in the country and the first to stage a jump race as part of a racecard in 1831, effectively establishing the National Hunt sport. In 2014, it became an all-jumps track with a five-year plan to become one of the UK’s leading small jumps courses. Dan Skelton, one of the country’s brightest young National Hunt trainers, is its ambassador.

Attendances for 2016 (41,604) were up 28 per cent on the previous year – the biggest like for like percentage increase in attendances of any racecourse in the country.

Fixture highlights include the Grade 2 Leamington Novices’ Hurdle (Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle), Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices’ Chase and Grade 3 handicap Betfred Classic Chase.

High-quality racing takes place on weekdays and weekends, and afternoons and evenings, from September to May, with a range of meetings to appeal to racing regulars and newcomers alike.  More information is available at www.warwickracecourse.co.uk

Warwick Racecourse is part of The Jockey Club, which has been at the heart of British racing for more than 260 years.

Today the largest commercial group in the sport, The Jockey Club runs the leading racecourse group in the UK by turnover (2015: £174.2m), attendances (2015: 1.95m), total prize money (2015: £43.9m), contribution to prize money (2015: £19.9m) and quality racing (Group and Graded races); more than 3,000 acres of world-class training grounds in Newmarket, Lambourn and Epsom Downs; The National Stud breeding enterprise and education provider; and the charity for racing's people in need, Racing Welfare. More information is available at www.thejockeyclub.co.uk.

For further information, please contact:

Pete Squires, Advent Communications

T: 02476 633636 M: 07886774644

psquires@advent-communications.co.uk