Devendra Kumar
Arena Racing Company has announced a significant change to its winter fixture list, switching its two Winter Million jumps race events from Lingfield Park to Windsor Park starting from next season. Windsor Park, located in Berkshire, has a rich history in hosting National Hunt racing, having done so until as recently as 1998. The track also stepped in to host various fixtures when Ascot was undergoing redevelopment in 2005 and 2006. The decision to hold the Winter Million fixtures at Windsor is seen as a positive move, as it will allow the track to showcase its revamped facilities. Windsor Park has undergone significant changes in recent years, with the jumps course being reconfigured to create a continuous left-handed circuit.
The Berkshire Winter Million Weekend, set to take place in January next year, will be jointly presented by Windsor and Ascot. The event will feature a thrilling two-day schedule, with the highlight being the BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot on the Saturday. Windsor will host the Fitzdares Fleur De Lys Chase on the Sunday, marking its first jumps racing event of the season. According to Mark Spincer, managing director of ARC’s racing division, the move is a significant development for racing fans, who will now have the opportunity to enjoy highly competitive jumps racing at two prestigious tracks.
Felicity Barnard, commercial director and deputy CEO at Ascot, is confident that the Berkshire Winter Million Weekend will provide an exciting experience for racegoers. She expressed her hope that fans will take advantage of the opportunity to visit both tracks, while also being able to watch the event from the comfort of their own homes on Sky Sports Racing and ITV Racing. With the Winter Million fixtures relocating to Windsor Park, racing fans can now look forward to an action-packed season, with the added benefit of having two top-class tracks to visit.