Racing is back! Exeter Racecourse opens 2025 jump season on Haldon Hill

Racing returns to Exeter Racecourse on Thursday 9 October, marking the start of the 2025 jump season with seven races across the day. 

The season opener offers local racegoers a deal too, with anyone holding a ticket from a 2025 Newton Abbot fixture able to get entry for just £10.

Exeter’s mascot horse, Dexter, will also be making appearances across Devon, handing out giveaways and free tickets to help get fans into the racing spirit.

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Perched 850 feet above sea level, Exeter Racecourse is one of the oldest in the country, hosting horse racing since the mid-17th century. 

The course has seen legendary horses including Desert Orchid, Best Mate and Denman, and even the last duel in Devon in 1833.

Local residents are looking forward to the start of the jump season, with many eager to return to Haldon Hill for the action. 

Exeter racegoer, Helen Marsh, said: “I’ve been coming to Exeter for years. There’s something special about watching the horses on Haldon Hill, the atmosphere is unbeatable.” 

Jack Parkinson, Exeter’s general manager, said the team was looking forward to welcoming both regular racegoers and newcomers. 

“We’re really excited to launch the new season,” he said. “Dexter’s Devon tour is a fun way to bring racing to people and invite everyone to enjoy the spectacle.” Clerk of the course Jason Loosemoore added that the track was in excellent condition and ready for the season.

Local jockeys and trainers spoke about the importance of Exeter as a training and racing venue. 

Grand National-winning jockey Jimmy Frost, raised on Dartmoor, said the track was ideal for teaching young horses to jump, with plenty of space between fences and a galloping track that helps them settle. 

Trainer Joe Tizzard, whose horse JPR One won last year’s Haldon Gold Cup, said Exeter was a course where they often found success. 

Trainer Chris Honour described it as one of the best tracks in the country for giving horses a first run, while Warren Greatrex, who grew up visiting the course, said Exeter was fair and reliable, with a strong local atmosphere even in poor weather.

The gates open at 12.30pm, with the first race set for 1.57pm. 

Racing enthusiasts can expect a day of competitive racing, a celebration of Exeter’s long history on Haldon Hill, and a chance to enjoy the traditions and thrills of jump racing. 

Tickets are available through the Exeter Racecourse website.