Not only this, but we’ve won awards such as the RCA Gold Standard, an industry standard which crowds wanting a quality race day experience have adjudged.

Focused on Jump Racing Only

Startford doesn’t stage flat racing on our calendar. Every fixture is National Hunt, meaning hurdles, steeplechases and the occasional "bumper" to introduce young horses. The well-established fixture list runs from March to the end of October, and 20 fixtures are already confirmed for 2027, which, for a course of our size, is a full programme. Dates are always published well in advance, giving fans plenty of time to plan for the coming season.

Why Regulars Keep Coming Back

A small course like Stratford relies on returning customers, and the racecourse has made sure they feel welcome.

One of the key ways we’ve been able to do this is by having a membership programme. This annual membership gives holders access to over 40 other racecourses on nominated days, so a membership bought in Warwickshire works for days out across the country.

Then there’s the standard of the race day, which is backed by two awards. One is from the Racehorse Owners Association 2025 for Gold Standard results, where Stratford scored 86% in the independent assessment and 4.3 out of 5 in owner feedback.

The other was for the ground staff, who were named Jump winner at the Racecourse Association’s Groundstaff Awards recently. The quality of presentation of our track to the professionals in the sport is a key definition of our popularity. Without the confidence of owners and trainers, we wouldn't survive.

A Race Day Travels Well

Horse racing is a sport that reaches far beyond the horses, jockeys, and people at the course itself. ITV has broadcast British racing since 2017, Channel 4 for 20 years before that, and most people who enjoy the sport generally watch it from the comfort of their home.

Office sweepstakes have entered corporate life and usually follow the Grand National. Most people who participate have never set foot on a racecourse, yet still get involved with the sport of horse racing. It has even found its way into slot casino UK games. Providers like Pragmatic Play have developed their very own racing-based slots like Big Bass Day at the Races for users to enjoy.

Success for local trainers like our home-grown Warwickshire champion Dan Skelton also expose occasional visitors to a constant stream of racing news.

Next On The Calendar

This season's races are almost done for the year, as Stratford will be going into the 2026 winter break in November. We’ll then be back open in 2027 for next year's season.

Our fixture list is well-established, and doesn't change much. That allows our customers to set their diaries even without access to a racing diary. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel each year, as we have built events, systems, and strategies that have worked almost since 1755.

Don't think the work is done on November 10th however. We're already planning how to enhance the calendar for 2027 now, and tickets for March will go on sale in January.