Warwick Racecourse’s signature racing carnival is set to return this year with attendances more than doubling since it began.

The May Racing Carnival attracted more than 15,000 racegoers across its four fixtures last year.

Qatar Airways, which operates out of Birmingham Airport with a daily service to Doha, will be the headline sponsor of the May Racing Carnival for a second successive year.

This year will mark the fourth advent of the carnival and prize money is set to total around £250,000 – attracting trainers and owners from across the country to compete throughout May.

Andre Klein, General Manager at Warwick Racecourse, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to welcome back Qatar Airways as the sponsor of these four important race meetings.

“Their support and investment in our event really has been vital to its success. To be associated with such a strong brand has been instrumental to the development of the May Racing Carnival.

“We have seen incremental growth in attendances since we introduced the May Racing Carnival in 2016 and it has proved a real hit with racing fans across the region.”

Gary Kershaw, Country Manager (UK & Ireland) at Qatar Airways, added: “Qatar Airways is committed to being involved in the communities in which we operate, and the May Carnival at Warwick Racecourse is an event we are proud to be associated with.

“Qatar Airways is approaching its third anniversary at Birmingham Airport and offers daily flights to Doha with worldwide onward connections.  Over the past 3 years, Qatar Airways has operated over 1,000 flights from Birmingham Airport, supporting our customers in the West Midlands to enjoy business and leisure travel to destinations across the world.”

The Qatar Airways May Racing Carnival will begin on Bank Holiday Monday, May 6 with the popular Kids Carnival Day. The carnival opener attracted 6,686 racegoers last year and marked the biggest crowd at the racecourse in more than 20 years.

The second instalment will see the return of Ladies Night, and the Fashions-on-the-Field contest on Saturday, May 11.

The Fashions-on-the-Field competition will again be hosted by Karl Ude-Martinez, with prizes including return flights from Birmingham to Doha.

Proudly Warwick Raceday on Wednesday, May 22 is the racing highlight of the carnival and will feature The £30,000 Wigley Group Carnival Chase and The £25,000 Feldon Dunsmore Carnival Hurdle.

The carnival will come to a close with Celebration Race Night on Wednesday, May 29 – also marking the final meeting of the season at Warwick Racecourse.

For more information about the Qatar Airways May Racing Carnival and tickets go to www.warwickracecourse.co.uk or call 01926 505 560.