The final jump racing meeting of the season, at least as Royal Ascot is concerned, is one that is as much about the family as it is about the racing taking place on the course. The card is best described as ‘varied’, with no particular standout race that you’ll be particularly keen to look out for.
Other jump race meetings held at the course, which is better known for flat racing and its association with the Royal Family, tend to be named after the main race of the day, such as the Clarence House Chase Race Day and the Ascot Chase Race Day. The same isn’t true here, however, which is why it is known as the Spring Family Race Day.
Tending to take place towards the end of March or the start of April, the meeting invites jockeys and trainers to get involved in races that tend to come after the Cheltenham Festival but before the Grand National meeting in Liverpool. The races all look to offer something a little different from one another, but the fun that can be had off the course is why most people attend. It is a chance to introduce little ones to the world of jump racing, with free themed activities opening to people of all ages. Children are given the chance to explore the racecourse in a safe environment, with most of the enclosures around the course open.
Spring Family Day Race Card
It isn’t outrageous to say that the races can change with little notice, such is the manner in which the Jockey Club tend to operate their racecourses. Even so, it is worth taking a look at what the races have been at some point in order get an idea of what you might end up watching:
Race 1 - Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) - 13:55
- Grade: Class 2 Hurdle
- Distance: 2m 3f 63y (3880m)
- Fences: 10
Run as the Ascot Racecourse Supports Horse Rangers Hampton in 2026, this race is a Class 2 offering (upgraded from class 3 in 2026) that is run over two miles, three furlongs and 63 yards. It is aimed at inexperienced hurdles that are aged four and over, with ten hurdles needing to be jumped during the course of the race.
This is a race that sees a very variable field each year depending on the state of the ground and the going. In 2024 the ground was soft and 13 ran. In 2025 and 2026 a period of dry weather meant the ground was firm and as a result only 4 ran each time.
When the Going is Good to Soft you'll see the leaders heading towards the finish line after the four minute and 40 second mark, all being well.
2026 Winner
- Horse - Gnomon (4/7)
- Jockey - Kevin Brogan
- Trainer - Toby Lawes (GB)
- Overall Prize Money - £25,000
- For The Winner - £13,203
Race 2 - Handicap Chase (GBB Race) - 14:30
- Grade: Class 4 Chase
- Distance: 2m 5f 13y (4236m)
- Fences: 17
The first handicap race of the day provides the handicapper with the chance to get involved by assigning weights to the participating horses. It is a steeplechase event that is aimed at horses aged five and over with a rating of between 0 and 120. The handicapper then assigns weight according to their ability, with the aim being to make the race as fair as possible.
The participating horses will be largely inexperienced over fences, with 17 of them to be jumped during the two miles, five furlongs and thirteen yards of the race.
The field tends to be decent, with a finishing time of around five and a half minutes if the Going is Good to Soft. With this being a Novices' race often around half of the horses do not finish the race, pulling up, falling or unseating riders along the way.
2026 Winner
- Horse - Sherborne (15/8)
- Jockey - Freddie Gingell
- Trainer - Joe Tizzard (GB)
- Overall Prize Money - £20,000
- For The Winner - £10,714
Race 3 - Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) - 15:05
- Grade: Class 2 Hurdle
- Distance: 1m 7f 157y (3161m)
- Fences: 8
This juvenile hurdle is, as the name suggests, aimed at young horses with only four-year-olds allowed to enter. The handicapper gets involved again by assigning the weights that the horses will have to carry based on their ability.
It is a popular race, so don't be surprised if it sees one of the biggest fields of the day taking part, last year ten ran. It is also a good one for picking an outsider, in 2023 the winner came in at 50/1.
Run over just shy of two miles at one mile, seven furlongs and 157 yards, there are eight hurdles for the competitors to get over if they hope to win the race. When the Going is Good to Soft it will take a little over three and a half minutes for the leaders to make it to the finish line, so use that as a guide. Being a hurdle race with only 8 to jump most horses usually finish.
2026 Winner
- Horse - King Al (10/1)
- Jockey - Tom Bellamy
- Trainer - Alan King (GB)
- Overall Prize Money - £40,000
- For The Winner - £20,812
Race 4 - Handicap Chase (GBB Race) - 15:40
- Grade: Class 3 Chase
- Distance: 2m 172y (3376m)
- Fences: 13
A Class 3 race, the Handicap Chase that is run on Spring Family Race Day at Royal Ascot tends to be named in honour of its sponsor. In 2026, for example, it was known as the Ascot Racecourse Supports Priors Court School Handicap Chase. It is for horses aged five and over with a handicap rating of between 0 and 140, which the handicapper then uses to give the horses a certain amount of weight to carry.
The event is run over two miles and 172 yards, with 13 fences to be run during this entertaining steeplechase. You should expect the leaders to be making it home in around four minutes or so on occasions when the Going is Good to Soft. Last year this was one of the smallest field races of the day with just five running.
2026 Winner
- Horse - Haas Boy (16/5)
- Jockey - Tom Bellamy
- Trainer - Chester Williams (GB)
- Overall Prize Money - £35,000
- For The Winner - £18,484
Race 5 - Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) - 16:15
- Grade: Class 4 Hurdle
- Distance: 2m 7f 123y (4739m)
- Fences: 11
This race, run over two miles, seven furlongs and 123 yards, is yet another opportunity for the handicapper to earn their money for the day. The race is open to horses aged four and over with a rating of between 0 and 110, which is used by the handicapper to assign weight for the horses to carry to make the race as fair as possible.
There are 11 hurdles for the horses to get over, with novice jumpers being the ones who use events like this to get some experience.
In terms of what to expect from the race itself, there were 8 runners in 2026 and it took the winners just over 5 minutes 46 seconds to make it round the course in Going that was Good.
2026 Winner
- Horse - Kilworth (13/2)
- Jockey - Ben Jones
- Trainer - Emma Lavelle (GB)
- Overall Prize Money - £15,650
- For The Winner - £8,265
Race 6 - Veterans' Handicap Chase - 16:50
- Grade: Class 2 Chase
- Distance: 2m 7f 185y (4796m)
- Fences: 20
There is no feature race on Spring Family Race Day, but if there was to be one then this might well be it. It is a race aimed at much older horses, with those able to enter being aged nine and over and boasting a rating of between 0 and 150. The race is leg 4 of The Stayers' Veterans' Chase Series.
The horses are coming towards the end of their racing career, so they take on the 20 fences with aplomb, perhaps seeing how they got on ahead of the following month's Grand National if their owners fancy one final hurrah.
The event takes place over two miles, seven furlongs and 185 yards, with Good Going seeing them complete it is a little over six minutes in 2026. The field won't be the largest, just three running last year, but it might be the most beloved.
2026 Winner
- Horse - Hold Your Fort (11/4)
- Jockey - Callum Pritchard
- Trainer - Debra Hamer (GB)
- Overall Prize Money - £35,000
- For The Winner - £18,211
Race 7 - Colts And Fillies Handicap Hurdle - 17:25
- Grade: Class 3 Hurdle
- Distance: 2m 5f 146y (4358m)
- Fences: 11
The final race that we'll look to tell you about is another handicap hurdle, this time run over two miles, five furlongs and 146 yards. It is open to Colts And Fillies aged four and over with a rating of between 0 and 140. A Class 3 race, it features eleven hurdles for the horses to get over and often sees a decent field taking to the turf to compete in it.
It took a little under five minutes fifteen seconds for the winner to get round the course in 2026, which was when the Going was Good, so that should give you some sense of what to expect. Do bear in mind that the handicapper is responsible for assigning weights, so there might be some valuable to be found. A decent field to end the day, 9 running last time with 7 making it to the end.
2026 Winner
- Horse - Glynn Brae (9/2)
- Jockey - Toby McCain-Mitchell
- Trainer - Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies (GB)
- Overall Prize Money - £16,000
- For The Winner - £8,450
About Spring Family Day
The fact that the race day is typically held in spring means that the frost has usually all but dissipated and the sun is starting to shine. Obviously don’t hold us to that, make sure you check the weather before you go, but the chance to bring out some slightly less bulky clothes shouldn’t be resisted. You can throw on a slightly more summery dress, with the racecourse starting to look a lot more like the one that we all know and love from events such as Royal Ascot. That is because the flowers around the venue are starting to blossom, whilst the punters are more likely to be wearing sunglasses than their wellington boots.
It is the family nature of things that makes this meeting one of the most fun of all of the ones that are held at Ascot Racecourse. Kids get to take part in various activities that are designed to introduce them to the world of horse racing in general, but National Hunt racing even more specifically. It is the first family race day of the year, which is why all of the activities on offer are themed to allowing kids to enjoy themselves and parents to have some fun with them. It doesn’t mean that the racing isn’t worth watching, of course, but it would be untrue to say that it is at the same level as some of the other meetings held at Ascot Racecourse.