Go Racing this December: there's a festive feast in store for racing fans and here are this month's best deals

December is all about the build-up to Christmas and for racing fans there is an advent calendar full of top-class races to take you towards the delights of the festive period.

The two-day King George meeting at Kempton is the star on top of the tree, while Ireland has its own major yuletide races, headed by the Savills Chase, taking place across four days at Leopardstown.

There are so many options for a trip to the races over the holiday season and here we arm you with all the information you need to make the most of your visit

December racing highlights in Britain and Ireland

England

North

BECHER CHASE, AINTREE: The last Grand National clues over the famous fences come in a race which has been won by the likes of National hero Amberleigh House and dual scorers Vieux Lion Rouge and Walk In The Mill. Saturday, December 6 (Tickets)

TOMMY WHITTLE CHASE, HAYDOCK: A pre-Christmas favourite in the north with the feature race often contested by popular staying handicappers in conditions not for the faint-hearted. Saturday, December 20 (Tickets)

FORMBY NOVICES' HURDLE, AINTREE: Fully settled into its new date and venue, the old Tolworth attracts the top novices from Britain and Ireland and adds further strength to racing's busiest day of the year. Friday, December 26 (Tickets)

ROWLAND MEYRICK CHASE, WETHERBY: This Boxing Day card is a hugely popular festive draw for racegoers in West Yorkshire and beyond, with the 3m premier handicap chase topping the bill. Friday, December 26 (Tickets)

Midlands

PETERBOROUGH CHASE, HUNTINGDON: The Cambridgeshire course stages its biggest day of the year. The Grade 2 Peterborough Chase is a key winter contest with an impressive cast of past winners including the likes of One Man, Edredon Bleu, Best Mate and Monet's Garden. Sunday, December 7 (Tickets)

South

TINGLE CREEK CHASE, SANDOWN: One of the highlights of the season as the best two-mile chasers soar over the Surrey track's Railway fences at lightning speed on a card with an additional Grade 1 in the form of the Henry VIII Novices' Chase. Saturday, December 6 (Tickets)

Tingle Creek: a proper winter highlightCredit: Alan Crowhurst

DECEMBER GOLD CUP, CHELTENHAM: The 2m4½f chase worth £125,000 is the highlight of the two-day meeting at the home of jump racing with old scores from the previous month's Paddy Power Gold Cup often settled. Saturday, December 13 (Tickets)

LONG WALK HURDLE, ASCOT: The Grade 1 for staying hurdlers tops the bill on the second day of the track's Christmas meeting, with the same card's £100,000 Silver Cup a valuable handicap for staying chasers. Saturday, December 20 (Tickets)

CHRISTMAS WARM-UP, LINGFIELD: The last Premier meeting before Christmas as the Surrey track stages a jumps fixture containing seven races. Sunday, December 21 (Tickets)

KING GEORGE VI CHASE, KEMPTON: For racing fans, Boxing Day is better known as King George day, with the staging of the second most prestigious steeplechase run in Britain alongside two other Grade 1s – the Christmas Hurdle and Kauto Star Novices' Chase. Friday, December 26 (Tickets)

DESERT ORCHID CHASE, KEMPTON: The big races continue into a second day at the Sunbury course with the two-mile showstopper joined on the card by another Grade 2 chase in the form of the Wayward Lad for novices. Saturday, December 27 (Tickets)

CHALLOW NOVICES' HURDLE, NEWBURY: The Grade 1, which was won by subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner The New Lion last year, is the focal point of an informative fixture, when the action on the track is supported by plenty of activities for younger racegoers. Monday, December 29 (Tickets)

Ireland

TOTE NOVICE HURDLE, NAVAN: The Grade 2 highlight tops the bill on a quality card featuring two Listed races, one of which is worth €100,000. Saturday, December 6 (Tickets)

HILLY WAY CHASE, CORK: A day of racing not to be missed at Mallow with the feature race contested by the cream of Ireland's two-mile crop and supported by the Grade 2 Mares' Novice Chase and Grade 3 Stayers' Novice Hurdle. Sunday, December 7 (Tickets)

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL, LIMERICK: A staple of the festive period with four quality day of racing featuring a glut of Graded action headlined by the Faugheen Novice Chase on the third day. Friday, December 26-Monday, December 29 (Tickets)

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL DAY ONE, LEOPARDSTOWN: Four fabulous days in Dublin kicks off with the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase and Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle. Friday, December 26 (Tickets)

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL DAY TWO, LEOPARDSTOWN: Two Grade 1s on day two with the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase and Future Champions Novice Hurdle leading the top-class action. Saturday, December 27 (Tickets)

Galopin Des Champs on his way to winning the Savills Chase at Leopardstown in 2023Credit: Alan Crowhurst

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL DAY THREE, LEOPARDSTOWN: The main course in Ireland's festive feast with the Savills Chase, a top-class contest over three miles and proven Cheltenham Gold Cup pointer, joined by the Christmas Hurdle. Sunday, December 28 (Tickets)

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL DAY FOUR, LEOPARDSTOWN: The stellar meeting concludes with yet another Grade 1 – the December Hurdle – and a Grade 3 mares' hurdle. Monday, December 29 (Tickets)

Scotland

SCOTTISH BORDERS NATIONAL, KELSO: The feature chase is always a race to savour with stamina and bravery a prerequisite and it is ably supported on a £200,000 card by a £75,000 2m1f handicap chase aimed at quality horses in the north. Sunday, December 7 (Tickets)

Wales

WELSH GRAND NATIONAL, CHEPSTOW: The winter virtues of resolution and durability will be on display in Wales's biggest race, which is always one of the highlights of the festive period, on a card also featuring the Grade 2 Finale Juvenile Hurdle. Saturday, December 27 (Tickets)

December racing fixtures in Britain and Ireland

Bargain hunt: this month's best offers for racing tickets

* Clonmel is selling annual badges for 2026 for a value-for-money price of €100, entitling the holder to admission and racecard for the track's 12 fixtures with complimentary tea and coffee all day in the members' room and light refreshments after the fourth race. The badge also comes with over 15 reciprocal (free admission) days at other tracks including festival days at Tramore and Limerick and the Cork National at Mallow. They may be purchased online at clonmelraces.ie or by ringing the office on 052 6188508.

Clonmel: annual badges available for next year Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

* Catterick has launched a new ticket for the jumps season called the Horseshoe Package. For £25 on standard racedays or £27 on feature days, the offer includes grandstand and paddock admission, racecard and voucher for the dish of the day in the new Horseshoe Cafe.

* Early birds at Doncaster's two-day meeting on December 12-13 can enjoy a drinks offer with 50 per cent off draught drinks, including soft drinks, lager, cider, bitter and Guinness, and £10 off any bottle of house wine, prosecco, champagne or jug of Pimm's for the first hour after gates open.

* Naas has a special package for its Christmas Party raceday on December 15, priced at €65 per person for a three-course meal and reserved table in the Panoramic Restaurant overlooking the track. General admission costs €15.

* If you fancy admission to three jumps meetings in Yorkshire in January on consecutive days for a one-off price of £36, then head to the Go Racing in Yorkshire website. The Triple Jump Pass includes the fixtures at Catterick (21st), Wetherby (22nd) and Doncaster (23rd).

Racecourses with special ticket offers and themed racedays in January can send details to goracing@racingpost.com

Out of the ordinary: four eye-catching events

ELF RACEDAY: Get into the seasonal swing at a charity event dedicated to raising vital funds and awareness for the Exeter Leukaemia Fund.

A free drink will be given to racegoers wearing something festive, with music throughout the first half of the day from Aston Dobson to get everybody rocking. Exeter, December 5 (Tickets)

FESTIVE BEER FESTIVAL: Stamina will be needed in abundance with a morning start for Wetherby's beer festival raceday, featuring ales from Yorkshire breweries Theakstons, Brew York and locally based Bosun’s Brewery.

Live music will be staged throughout the day in the Bramham Hall and dress to impress for the Christmas jumper competition. Wetherby, December 6 (Tickets)

Beers and cheers: racegoers are in for a treat at WetherbyCredit: Getty Images

WINTER FAMILY FUN DAY: Gather all the family together for a day at the races at Doncaster over the festive period, featuring plenty of activities to support the action on the track.

You'll be a big hit with the kids as there is a children's disco, arts and crafts and an on-site treasure hunt, with other seasonal treats for all ages. Doncaster, December 29 (Tickets)

FESTIVE FINAL FLING: Get ready for the Hogmanay celebrations north of the border with a fun raceday featuring an after-party, where you can dance to your favourite festive hits in the Belhaven village marquee.

There is no additional charge for the post-racing entertainment at 'Britain's friendliest racecourse' with admission granted via a raceday ticket. Kelso, December 29 (Tickets)

Making a day of it: Uttoxeter

Uttoxeter is one of those tracks strongly supported by the surrounding area and there is no better time to experience the local passion for racing than in December. 

The Staffordshire course is particularly atmospheric at this time of year with the three fixtures this month made up of Christmas jumper raceday (December 9), Christmas party raceday (December 19) and New Year's Eve raceday (December 31).

Get into the festive spirit and raise a glass close to the brewing capital of Britain, Burton upon Trent. Half an hour drive away from the track, Burton is home to the National Brewery Centre and provides a great base for those serious about beer.   

Other local attractions for those making more than a day trip include Alton Towers, Britain's largest theme park featuring more than 40 rides across a 55-acre site. 

Thrill-seekers will be blown away by famous rollercoasters such as Wicker Man, Oblivion and The Smiler, while younger children are well catered for with CBeebies Land. The popular resort also includes a waterpark and themed hotels.

Uttoxeter: crowds flock in their numbers to the Staffordshire courseCredit: John Grossick

The area is also a hot-bed for football with the English FA's national football centre at St George's Park. The home to all of England’s national men's, women's and para football teams is set within 330 acres of countryside and you can see where the likes of Harry Kane and Leah Williamson prepare for international matches.

There is a 228-bedroom Hilton hotel on site with state-of-the-art facilities, making it a great accommodation option too.

At the racecourse you will be spoilt for choice with a wide range of reasonably priced food and drinks, while those looking to upgrade their experience to hospitality can do so in the modern 1907 restaurant, which with floor-to-ceiling windows offers excellent viewing of the action.

Getting there is a breeze with Uttoxeter station right next to the course and the A50 close by for those travelling by car.

Advance tickets start from £12.50-£14.50 and the winter warmer package – including one glass of prosecco, premium draught beer, glass of wine or a soft drink, plus a racecard – is available at certain meetings priced at £23.50-£34.

The majority of Uttoxeter's meetings attract a large and vocal crowd and the fixtures during party season make for an extra special occasion.

Pack the passport: White Turf in St Moritz

Snow and horseracing might not go together over here, but there is a place where they are a match made in heaven.

The exclusive Swiss ski resort of St Moritz has been staging horse races since 1907 on a frozen lake at the foot of the 3,123-metre high Piz Rosatsch mountain.

The unique spectacle takes place annually on three Sundays in February – this year the 8th, 15th and 22nd.

Although the winter wonderland setting might be serene and calming, the races can be anything but with a fearsome kickback composed of snowballs and ice making a mud-splattered face seem a pleasure.

The contests are split into three separate types, with thoroughbred racing as we know it joined by trotting and skijoring, in which the brave souls doing the steering are on skis a metre behind their horses. 

The feature race of the festival is the Grosser Preis von St Moritz at the final fixture, which was brought back to Britain by Wargrave (George Baker) in 2020 and lake legend Berrahri (John Best) the previous year. 

Not a trace of green as the field head for home on the White Turf in St MoritzCredit: Julian Finney

Tickets, which include a programme booklet and betting voucher, can be purchased on the White Turf website, with standing places starting from £27.50 (under 16s free) and a seat in the grandstand from £52. VIP packages are also available.

The most straightforward way of getting to St Moritz is by flying to Zurich and getting the train up to the mountains, which is a stunning journey in itself. 

St Moritz offers a wide range of accommodation from the leading five-star hotels to the more mainstream chains, where rooms start from around £150 per night. 

The town is divided into two parts. St Moritz Dorf is the glamorous, historic upper part with shops and restaurants, while St Moritz Bad is the lower, lakeside part, where accommodation options are cheaper.

As well as skiing and snowboarding – the resort is generally regarded as in the top three in Switzerland – there are plenty of other things to keep you entertained, including bobsleighing, snow golf and ice cricket. 

Alternatively, you can spend an afternoon on the lake in the winter sunshine at one of the pop-up restaurants and bars, which have music on every day.

One key recommendation for anyone taking children is to attend the designated family days on the lake on the Saturdays before the racedays, where there are all manner of winter activities to try out – even skijoring.

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