Ascot is one of the most famous flat racing courses in the world, so you will still find plenty of people who are surprised to learn that it also hosts jump racing weekend. The November Meeting is one such example, although it isn’t the first that Ascot Racecourse has to offer. In fact, it isn’t even the first of the month, with the Fireworks Spectacular Family Race Day taking place around bonfire night and offering some decent jump racing action. The introduction of jump racing to Ascot isn’t anything new, but it is the perfect way of keeping people coming back throughout the year, which is obviously an ideal money-maker for the course.
When it comes to the racing that you can expect to see, there are a couple of Grade 2 events taking place over the two days of racing action. The 1965 Chase and the Ascot Hurdle are both mid-range trips that have a rich history of their own, seeing some of the sport’s biggest names get involved with them.
In 2019, for example, the 1965 Chase witnessed a brilliant duel between Cyrname and Altior that all present will remember. It is why the November Meeting is such a popular one with racegoers; you just never know which event is going to produce an all-time classic battle or introduce you to a future winner.
About the Weekend
In a general sense, Ascot Racecourse is used to seeing summer dresses, lightweight suits, big hats and plenty of sunglasses. That, of course, is a testament to the fact that the course is usually busy hosting flat racing events in the summer months, with even the likes of the Autumn Meeting often holding on to the last of the good weather. The same is obviously not true of the November Meeting, which sees the fashion change to encompass heavy coats, wellington boots and umbrellas. That is just the nature of a meeting that is held later in the year and, in fairness, is necessary for the safety of horses taking on jumps.
Though there are much better-known jump racing meetings held at the likes of Aintree Racecourse and Cheltenham Racecourse in April and March respectively, there is something about the November Meeting that helps it to stand out from the crowd. There are two high-quality weekends of jump racing that Ascot Racecourse holds towards the end of the year, offering the horses, trainers, jockeys and owners the chance to get back into the swing of jump racing after months of seeing the sport dominated by flat racing. It is also, obviously, a chance for racegoers to also remember what it’s like to watch and bet on jump races.
The course itself obviously isn’t as busy as it would be for the likes of Royal Ascot, so not all of the areas that are open for that famous week will be open for this one. That being said, it is still a good chance for people to experience a major meeting at the home of one of the best-known meetings in all of horse racing. The even better news is that you don’t need to kowtow to members of the Royal Family, if that isn’t really something that you think is appropriate to do. The racecourse won’t be in bloom in the same way as it is when the King is visiting, but there is still plenty to see in between the races themselves.
November Meeting Schedule
We have individual pages for both the Friday and the Saturday of the November Meeting, so we go into more detail about the two days there. Even so, it is worth giving you a sense of what you can expect from the two days here:
Friday
There is another jump racing meeting held at Ascot Racecourse before the end of the year in the form of the Christmas Racing Weekend, but the November Meeting is a great chance enjoy some jump racing in an environment that is more typically thought of as being where flat racing takes place. It is an opportunity to have a look at some of the jump racing stars of the future, thanks to the fact that there are a number of races aimed at novice hurdlers and chasers. That is especially the case on the Friday, given that the Saturday tends to play host to the two Grade 2 events of the weekend, so the Friday is arguably more interesting.
With horses like Many Clouds, Chantry House and Angels Breath having featured on the race card of the Friday of the November Meeting in the past, it is fair to say that this is an opportunity to spot a horse that you can then follow throughout their career. That is what makes it so interesting in comparison to the Saturday, which you might want to describe as more exciting. The Friday is perhaps a little bit more serious than the Saturday, purely because the weekend crowd isn’t at the course yet and there are far fewer children than you might see on the Saturday. There is still fun to be had, of course, but the racing is the focus.
Saturday
If you want to have fun whilst also seeing some top-class racing then the Saturday of the November Meeting is likely to be exactly what you’re looking for. The day features not one but two Grade 2 races in the form of the 1965 Chase and the Coral Hurdle. Both of the races are mid-range offerings that have been able to attract some of the biggest names in the sport over the years. The positioning of the meeting in calendar means that it is a perfect chance for National Hunt horses to get a bit of jump racing practice in as we head towards the end of the year. There are obviously bigger meetings to come in the season, but this is a good start.
With it being a Saturday, many see it as the perfect chance to introduce their little ones to the world of jump racing and the various foibles that it offers. The result of that is kids coming along with their parents to witness some excellent events across the course of the day. Of course, those that don’t have their kids with them, or don’t have kids at all, are liable to feel free and in the sort of good mood that means that they’re liable to be in the party spirit. Even the miserable weather that so often accompanies a November is unlikely to give them too much pause for thought, so expect an excitable atmosphere during the Saturday.
- 12:25 Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)
- 12:55 Mares' Handicap Hurdle
- 13:30 1965 Chase (GBB Race)
- 14:05 Handicap Chase (GBB Race)
- 14:40 Ascot Hurdle (GBB Race)
- 15:15 Hurst Park Handicap Chase (GBB Race)
- 15:45 Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)
Summary
When the shorter days and colder nights start to creep in, Ascot Racecourse plays host to a jump racing meeting that provides punters with an opportunity to learn about some of the younger horses that are making their way through the ranks. The November Meeting is one of the course’s more exciting jump racing meetings, with the Friday in particular having races that are aimed at novice hurdlers and chasers. Expect people to be wrapped up against the elements, but ready to watch the horses and jockeys take on the obstacles that Ascot can throw at them during the course of some excellent jump racing events.
If the Friday is a day for serious racegoers to have a look at some of the up and coming horses for the future, the Saturday is that mixed with a day for those who are keen to let lose for the weekend. It isn’t uncommon for the Saturday of the meeting to be awash with youngsters as their parents introduce them to the world of jump racing, possibly for the first time. The majority of people in attendance will be looking out for two races in particular on the Saturday, with the Grade 2 1965 Chase and the Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle both taking the headlines. The pair of races have a rich history, with some of the sport’s biggest names running in them.