Racing 2024: Dates for your diary

The racing year has been rounded off in true style. On Boxing Day, Il Est Francais tore up the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase and Constitution Hill romped home in the Christmas Hurdle by 11 and nine-and-a-half lengths respectively.

In the King George VI Chase, Shishkin was making up for lost time and storming ahead when he stumbled just after two out, unseating Nico De Boinville. Although past winner Bravemansgame and favourite Allaho made valiant efforts, the whole field was surprised by Hewick coming from last to first. The eight year-old Oaksey Chase winner crossed the line one-and-a-half lengths ahead of his rivals to claim one of racing’s biggest prizes.

The following day, Editeur Du Gite allowed Niall Houlihan to ride out his claim in style by winning the Desert Orchid Chase. Meanwhile in Chepstow, Nassalam absolutely crushed the opposition with an astounding 34-length victory in the Welsh Grand National.

So when are we tuning in for the big races of 2024? Here’s my annual run-down of dates for your diary:

January:

6 January: Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle, Sandown
13 January: Silviniaco Conti Steeple Chase, Kempton
20 January: Champion Hurdle Trial, Haydock; Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle, Haydock; Peter Marsh Handicap Chase, Haydock; Clarence House Chase, Ascot
27 January: Cotswold Chase, Cheltenham; Cleeve Hurdle, Cheltenham; Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, Cheltenham

February:

3 February: Irish Gold Cup, Leopardstown
4 February: Irish Champion Hurdle, Leopardstown
10 February: Denman Chase, Newbury; Exchange Chase, Newbury; Betfair Hurdle, Newbury
17 February: Ascot Steeple Chase, Ascot; Grand National Trial, Haydock; Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle, Haydock
24 February: Winter Derby, Southwell

March:

2 March: Greatwood Gold Cup, Newbury
9 March: Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle, Sandown
12 March: Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Cheltenham; Arkle Challenge Trophy, Cheltenham; Festival Trophy Champion Chase, Cheltenham; National Hunt Chase, Cheltenham; Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham
13 March: Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, Cheltenham; RSA Chase, Cheltenham; Coral Cup, Cheltenham; Queen Mother Champion Chase, Cheltenham; Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, Cheltenham
14 March: JLT Novices’ Chase, Cheltenham; Ryanair Chase, Cheltenham; Stayers Hurdle, Cheltenham
15 March: Triumph Hurdle, Cheltenham; County Hurdle, Cheltenham; Cheltenham Gold Cup, Cheltenham; Foxhunter Chase, Cheltenham
16 March: Midlands Grand National, Uttoxeter
31 March: Ryanair Gold Cup, Fairyhouse

April:

1 April: Irish Grand National, Fairyhouse
11 April: Betway Bowl, Aintree; Aintree Hurdle, Aintree; Manifesto Novices’ Chase, Aintree
12 April: Topham Steeple Chase, Aintree; Mildmay Novices’ Chase, Aintree; Melling Chase, Aintree; Sefton Novices’ Hurdle, Aintree
13 April: Grand National, Aintree
17 April: Ballymore Silver Trophy Chase, Cheltenham
20 April: Scottish Champion Hurdle, Ayr; Scottish Grand National, Ayr
27 April: Oaksey Chase, Sandown; Gold Cup Handicap Chase, Sandown; Celebration Chase, Sandown
30 April: Champion Chase, Punchestown

May:

1 May: Punchestown Gold Cup, Punchestown
2 May: Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle, Punchestown
3 May: Champion Hurdle, Punchestown; Jockey Club Stakes, Newmarket
4 May: Mares Champion Hurdle, Punchestown; 2,000 Guineas, Newmarket; Palace House Stakes, Newmarket
5 May: 1,000 Guineas, Newmarket; Dahlia Stakes, Newmarket
8 May: Cheshire Oaks, Chester; Chester Vase, Chester
9 May: Ormonde Stakes, Chester
10 May: Chester Cup, Chester
11 May: Lingfield Oaks Trial, Lingfield; Lingfield Derby Trial, Lingfield
15 May: Dante Stakes, York
16 May: Yorkshire Cup, York
17 May: Lockinge Stakes, Newbury
25 May: Irish 2,000 Guineas, Curragh
26 May: Irish 1,000 Guineas, Curragh
31 May: Epsom Oaks, Epsom; Coronation Cup, Epsom

June:

1 June: Epsom Derby, Epsom
18 June: St James’s Palace Stakes, Ascot; Queen Anne Stakes, Ascot; King’s Stand Stakes, Ascot
19 June: Prince of Wales’ Stakes, Ascot; Jersey Stakes, Ascot; Queen Mary Stakes, Ascot; Duke of Cambridge Stakes, Ascot
20 June: Ascot Gold Cup, Ascot; Hampton Court Stakes, Ascot
21 June: King Edward VII Stakes, Ascot; Coronation Stakes, Ascot; Commonwealth Cup, Ascot
22 June: Diamond Jubilee Stakes, Ascot; Hardwicke Stakes, Ascot
30 June: Irish Derby, Curragh

July:

6 July: Coral-Eclipse, Sandown; Lancashire Oaks, Haydock
13 July: Darley July Cup, Newmarket
14 July: Grand Prix de Paris, Longchamp
20 July: Irish Oaks, Curragh
27 July: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Ascot
30 July: Goodwood Cup, Goodwood
31 July: Sussex Stakes, Goodwood

August:

1 August: Nassau Stakes, Goodwood
2 August: King George Stakes, Goodwood
3 August: Lillie Langtry Stakes, Goodwood
21 August: International Stakes, York
22 August: Yorkshire Oaks, York
23 August: Nunthorpe Stakes, York
24 August: Ebor Stakes, York

September:

7 September: Sprint Cup, Haydock; September Stakes, Kempton
14 September: Irish Champion Stakes, Leopardstown
13 September: Doncaster Cup, Doncaster
14 September: St Leger, Doncaster
21 September: Ayr Gold Cup, Ayr

October:

6 October: Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp
11 October: Sun Chariot Stakes, Newmarket; Fillies’ Mile, Newmarket
12 October: Darley Dewhust Stakes, Newmarket; Coral Sprint Trophy, York
19 October: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Ascot; Sprint Stakes, Ascot; Long Distance Cup, Ascot; Champion Stakes, Ascot; Fillies’ and Mares’ Stakes, Ascot

November:

2 November: Gold Cup Handicap Steeple Chase, Ascot; Charlie Hall Chase, Wetherby; Breeders Cup, Santa Anita
5 November: Melbourne Cup, Melbourne
9 November: Badger Beers Trophy, Wincanton; Elite Hurdle Race, Wincanton
15 November: Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, Cheltenham
16 November: Gold Cup Steeple Chase, Cheltenham; Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle, Cheltenham
17 November: Greatwood Handicap Hurdle, Cheltenham; November Handicap Steeple Chase, Cheltenham
23 November: Coral Hurdle Race, Ascot; Betfair Steeple Chase, Haydock
30 November: Coral Gold Cup, Newbury; Fighting Fifth Hurdle, Newcastle

December:

7 December: Becher Handicap Steeple Chase, Aintree; Many Clouds Steeple Chase, Aintree; Tingle Creek, Sandown
14 December: Caspian Caviar Gold Cup, Cheltenham; International Hurdle, Cheltenham
21 December: Long Walk Hurdle, Ascot; Ascot Silver Cup, Ascot; Betfair Exchange Trophy, Ascot
26 December: Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, Kempton; Christmas Hurdle Race, Kempton; King George VI Steeple Chase, Kempton
27 December: Desert Orchid Steeple Chase, Kempton; Welsh Grand National, Chepstow

2023 has been a massive year for racing: Frodon retired and Frankie Dettori…didn’t; King Charles had his first Royal Ascot winner as monarch; and activists tried and failed to stop the runners, prompting the industry to hit back with everything that’s great about the sport. And personally, I got married. So, it was a pretty big year for us too.

Happy New Year, all: I wish everyone a healthy, happy 2024…filled with thrilling racing!