FAKENHAM racecourse stages its richest ever race day on Bank Holiday Monday with prize money totalling £150,000 for the seven contests.

An excellent total of 111 entries has been received for the seven races on a card sponsored by the Chestnut Pub Group and, apart from racing the day provides entertainment for the whole family.

Norfolk Young Farmers are hoping to hold a tug-o-war in front of the stands at 1pm, there is a funfair in the centre of the course, a static tractor display and lambs for petting.

‘Lord Nelson’ will be in attendance and before the Norfolk National, off at 4.38pm, jockeys will congregate outside the weighing room for the National Anthem before being led into the parade ring by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, Fakenham’s Mayor and ‘Lord Nelson’.

The Chestnut Group Norfolk National is worth £25,000, with £13,000 to the winner, and has attracted 17 entries including Esperti, trained by David Rees. Champion jockey Sean Bowen is booked to ride the gelding who followed up a Fakenham victory with success at Ffos Las on April 21.

Rivals could include Neil King’s Enjoy d’Allen, a recent Plumpton runner-up, Gold Clermont, Andy Irvine’s recent Fontwell scorer, Stan’s The Man, Ella Pickard’s Sussex National second and the Paul Nicholls trained Wicked Thoughts, a Taunton winner earlier this month.

But it’s not just about the Norfolk National. Most valuable race of the day is the 5.13pm Chestnut Group Fakenham Grand Prix Handicap Hurdle. Its £50,000 prize money, including £26,000 to the winner, has attracted 24 entries, eight of them last time out winners.

Leading lights are Nicky Henderson’s Diamonds Galore, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Glynn Brae, Ollie Murphy’s Kentucky River, Faye Bramley’s No Ordinary Joe, Tom Ellis’ Secret Vino, a previous Fakenham winner, and Dan Skelton’s Tyson. All tasted victory in their most recent races.

The 4.03pm Norfolk Community Foundation David Keith Memorial Veterans’ Chase is worth £30,000, with £15,000 to the winner, and has 13 entries including old favourite Numitor. Heather Main’s 12-year-old grey gelding has won nine times over the bigger obstacles including at Hereford earlier this month.

Racing starts with the 2.18pm Each the Nook Novice Hurdle for which trainers Skelton and Christian Williams both have two entries among the 14 while there are nine entries for the 2.53pm Norfolk Wildlife Trust Centenary Mares’ Chase. They include Rialannah, a winner at the last Fakenham meeting, and Annie Nail, a Fakenham scorer over hurdles.

There are 18 entries for the 3.28pm Heritage House Mares’ Maiden Hurdle and a packed day of racing closes with the 5.48pm Break Mares’ Hurdle, in which Dartmouth Rose tries to win again at the Norfolk course for trainer Matt Crawley.

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Champion jockey Sean Bowen completed a magnificent hat-trick of winners to further boost his tally before officially retaining his title when the current National Hunt season ends at Sandown at the end of April.

Trainer Christian Williams sent horses on a 540-mile round trip from his stables in Wales and was rewarded when Bowen rode 7/4 favourite Fortunefavorsdbold to victory in the Weatherbys Mares’ Chase.

Ballygelly, the winner of the race last year, led until the closing stages when Bowen steered his mount clear and held off the challenge of Annie Nail, a winner at the course on Easter Monday.

“She has been placed so many times this season, I’m pleased she’s won this one,” said Bowen, certain to be champion jockey again, for the 2025/6 season.

Bowen then took the Woodfordes Supports Dereham Meeting Point Chase with 6/4 favourite Esperti for trainer David Rees.

Blackacre crashed out at the open ditch to leave three runners in contention over the three miles and five furlongs. The trio were closely packed until Bowen pressed the button on Esperti to steal the spoils.

“He stays well and jumps well. I rode him to get the trip last time so knew he would see it out,” said Bowen.

Bowen’s threesome was complete when Jamada lost his maiden tag by winning the Weatherbys Design and Print Maiden Hurdle. Bowen pushed the gelding clear down the back straight and held on to see the Olly Murphy trained six-year-old returned 4/6 favourite.

“Jamada took well to the course. He did it well and will be a nice chaser next season,” said Bowen, more than satisfied with his afternoon’s work in Norfolk.

Former Fakenham winner Dartmouth Rose returned to score again. The recent Southwell winner, trained by Matt Crawley, led from the start under Jack Quinlan, to take the Woodfordes Mares’ Novice Hurdle, returned the 11/10 favourite.

When Bowen had to pull up Natus Vincere, Dartmouth Rose looked sure to win but had to battle hard to hold off Silver Gale.

Trainer Lucy Wadham seldom fails to have a winner at Fakenham and she notched another success when 2/1 chance Rialannah took the opening Racing TV Handicap Hurdle under Gavin Sheehan. Ridden patiently for the first two of three circuits of the track, Sheehan produced Rialannah to record the first success of the mare’s 16-race career.

The closing Sandcliff Cromer Maiden Hurdle Hunters’ Chase for the Turner Trophy produced the finish of the day with 7/4 chance On Lover’s Walk, under a terrific ride from Meisha Micklewright for trainer Kelly Morgan, defeating Mister Splash by a short head. It meant Mister Splash was the only favourite on the card not to land the spoils.

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CHAMPION jump jockey Sean Bowen, certain to retain his National Hunt title after winning it for the first time last season, has three outstanding chances to add to his tally at Fakenham on Monday.

Bowen, who had 225 winners before this weekend, 109 more than nearest rival Harry Skelton, could score twice for trainer Olly Murphy as well as for David Rees.

Bowen’s first chance is on the Murphy trained seven-year-old mare Natus Vincere in the 3.40pm Woodfordes Mares’ Novice Hurdle. The mare was runner-up at Market Rasen following an earlier success at Huntingdon.

Main rival could be Dartmouth Rose under Jack Quinlan for Matt Crawley, the former Fakenham winner also successful at Southwell last month while grey mare Silver Gale goes for Katy Price after finishing third at Warwick recently.

David Rees’ Esperti gets the Bowen treatment in the 4.10pm Woodfordes Supports Dereham Meeting Point Chase, looking to better last month’s second at Chepstow.

Likely market leader is Slaney Opera under Harry Reed. The gelding was second last time at Wetherby when running for trainer Ruth Jefferson although Monday will see his first outing for trainer Nick Scholfield.

Bowen’s mount in the 4.40pm Weatherbys Design and Print Maiden Hurdle, Jamada, looks set to go off favourite. Trained by Murphy, Jamada was third at Ffos Las in February after finishing second at Lingfield a month earlier.

Debutant Crackalackin for Dr Richard Newland, a Lingfield flat winner in November and former Chelmsford flat winner Sense of Reason for Charlie Fellows, look the main dangers.

The action gets under way at 2.40pm when eight go in the Racing TV Handicap Hurdle over three miles. Tropical Speed for trainer Andy Irvine, won at Lingfield in November and returns to action where chief rivals could be Raby Mere and Rialannah.

Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer saw Raby Mere win at Southwell last month while Rialaannah, from Lucy Wadham’s stable, is looking to come on for a recent fifth at Uttoxeter.

The 3.10pm Weatherbys Mares’ Chase has five runners with Fakenham winner and regular visitor Annie Nail going for trainer Tracey Leeson, the mare having won at the course over hurdles on Easter Monday.

Moviddy for Noel Williams, Fortunefavorsdbold for Christian Williams and Lilly Pinch’s mount Ballygelly also have high hopes.

The 5.10pm finale is the four-runner Sandcliff Cromer Maiden Hunters Chase for the Turner Trophy. Hot favourite is the Ed Turner trained Mister Splash, a winner of a recent point-to-point at Fakenham, with Paddy Barlow booked to ride.

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Freddie Gingell rode the winners of the first three races at Fakenham’s six-contest Aldiss Easter Monday race day.

The reigning champion conditional jockey was in unstoppable form, taking the opening three contests on Painted Wolf, Cotton Socks and Sonigino, to record a stunning Bank Holiday hat-trick and take his seasonal winners’ tally to 27.

“It’s been well worth the trip here,” said Gingell, after dismounting from his third winner, Sonigino, making his chasing debut.

That win, for trainer Paul Nicholls, in the feature Watch on Racing TV Chasing Excellence Novice Chase, was never in doubt, the 8/13 favourite ahead from start to finish.

“It was very straightforward. He jumped the last well and there was loads left in the tank. He can go on from here,” said Gingell.

Cotton Socks pulled the wool over the eyes of odds-on favourite Tralee Girl to take the £10,000 Aldiss Juvenile Maiden Hurdle for trainer Lucy Wadham.

Harry Skelton raced into the lead on the 1/4 hotpot but after being stirred up by Gingell down the back straight, Cotton Socks, at 4/1, responded spectacularly to overtake Tralee Girl and land the honours by two lengths.

Earlier Painted Wolf, second at Fakenham less than a month ago, had made every yard to score in the opening Join Racing TV Now Handicap Hurdle.

Bitsnbuckles crashed out at the flight of hurdles in front of the stands but that failed to deter the Ben Case trained winner, ridden to maximum effect by Gingell.

The last flight had to be omitted due to that earlier incident, but 7/2 joint favourite Painted Wolf held on throughout the lengthy run to the line to beat Livano Bello by two lengths.

Former Fakenham winner Annie Nail returned to win again for trainer Tracey Leeson when taking the Cecil and Sheila Buttifant Memorial Mares’ Hurdle at 5/2 under Oscar Palmer.

Outsider Callmesusie led her four rivals throughout, but Palmer delivered Annie Nail four-wide around the final bend and she stayed on stoutly to claim the prize.

The Aldiss Handicap Chase featured four runners with the outsider of the quartet, Another Mystery, the only finisher. One by one his three rivals, including Fakenham hat-trick win seeker Brother Boris and Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer’s Cloudy Wednesday, pulled up, leaving Tabitha Worsley to triumph on the Sarah Humphrey trained 5/1 chance.

The closing Every Race Live on Racing TV Mares’ Flat Race went to 2/1 chance L’Amandine, who had been third on debut, who responded to a powerful ride by James Davies to pass Hidden Fortune to record another success for trainer Jamie Snowden.

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JOCKEY Freddie Gingell, one of the rising stars of National Hunt Racing, has several winning chances when Fakenham racecourse stages its six-race Aldiss Raceday on Easter Monday.

Gingell, the current champion conditional jockey, has notched 22 winners from 105 rides this season and has major chances in the first four races at Fakenham.

Two of his high hopes are on horses trained by regular Fakenham winner Lucy Wadham with Cotton Socks and Abbey Law while Painter Wolf and Sonigino are the young riders’ other mounts on a busy afternoon.

Gingell partners the Ben Case trained Painted Wolf in the opening 2.15pm Join Racing TV Novice Hurdle. The gelding was second at Fakenham’s last meeting so knows the course well. Favourite is likely to be Olly Murphy’s previous Southwell scorer Bitsnbuckles on whom Tom Hutsby claims 10 pounds, while Harry Skelton partners brother Dan’s Coolkatie, fourth last time at Exeter.

The Skeltons have favourite Tralee Girl in the 2.50pm Aldiss Juvenile Maiden Hurdle, the filly second in a listed contest at Newbury in the autumn, while Gingell rides Wadham’s Cotton Socks, third at Market Rasen last month.

The feature 3.25pm Aldiss Chasing Excellence Novice Chase worth £15,000, has just three runners, including Gingell’s mount, Sonigino for Paul Nicholls. The nine-year-old makes a chasing debut having been well beaten over hurdles at Musselburgh when last seen in February.

Kilaro, Jack Andrews for Tim Easterby, and Walking On Air, Kielan Woods riding for Faye Bramley, are the rivals, Kilaro also making a chasing debut.

Gingell and Wadham have former Fakenham winner Abbey Law in the 4pm Cecil and Sheila Buttifant Memorial Mares’ Hurdle although likely favourite will be Andrews and trainer Tom Ellis’s Four Decades.

Wadham has the market leader for the 4.35pm Watch on Racing TV Chase in Brother Boris, trying to make it a Fakenham hat-trick after winning in Norfolk at the course’s last two meetings. Cian Murphy takes the ride in a five-runner contest which includes Wymondham trainer Caroline Fryer’s former Fakenham winner Cloudy Wednesday and two from Tom Gretton’s yard, one of them Reforme, another former winner at the track.

The closing Every Race Live on Racing TV Mares’ Bumper sees three debutants, although those with experience top the market with Jamie Snowden’s L’Amandine likely favourite following a third-placed effort at Ludlow in January.

While the opening contest starts at 2.15pm there is action beginning at 1pm with the first of two Shetland pony races over two furlongs.

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DAN Skelton, who has already banked more than £4million in prizemoney as he bids to become this season’s champion National Hunt trainer, may be eyeing up more success at Fakenham’s Aldiss Easter Monday Raceday.

Skelton has two of the 14 entries for the opening 2.15pm Join Racing TV Now Handicap Hurdle in Brookside La, third at Haydock in January after a victory at Wetherby the previous month, and Coolkatie, both six-year-olds.

However, two former Fakenham winners are also among the entries. Morning Mayhem, representing Nick Scholfield, won at Fakenham in both February and March and was recently third at Stratford, while Lucy Wadham also has Abbey Law entered. The mare was fourth at Fakenham in March although she did win in Norfolk last April.

Skelton looks set to run Delgany Deadline, a recent Leicester winner, in the 4.35pm Watch on Racing TV Handicap Chase. The six-year-old was also a runner-up at Sedgefield in January.

Wadham could again provide a real rival though. Her Brother Boris, a seven-year-old gelding, won at Fakenham’s last two meetings, in February and March, and clearly has eyes firmly set on completing a hat-trick.

Wymondham-based trainer Caroline Fryer provides some local interest with her Cloudy Wednesday, a former Fakenham winner victorious in five of his 25 career chase starts. The gelding was third at Huntingdon last time out.

Skelton’s third big chance is in the closing 5.10pm Every Race Live on Racing TV Mares’ Open NH Flat Race with Hidden Fortune. The five-year-old was a Market Rasen runner-up in November. Rivals could be Jamie Snowden’s filly L’Amandine, Toby Bulgin’s Crystal Jet and James Owen’s Plumpton fourth, Blue’s Secret Gem.

Feature race is the 3.25pm £15,000 Aldiss Chasing Excellence Novice Chase. The contest has attracted the interest of top trainers Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson. The former has Ludlow winner Bond Broker while Henderson’s Calimystic bids for a three-timer after victories at Sandown in March and Newbury in December.

Former point-to-point winner Kilaro makes a chasing debut for Tim Easterby while also making a chasing debut is another Nicholls’ horse, Sonigino.

Earlier, at 2.50pm the Aldiss Juvenile Maiden Hurdle could be the most competitive contest of the day. Wadham has Cotton Socks, third at Market Rasen on hurdling debut, Henderson has ex Roger Varian gelding Ettore, recently third at Taunton, and Toby Lawes has Kempton third Flash Man all in the line-up.

While Wadham has Abbey Law entered in the opener, she has the same horse also entered for the 4pm Cecil and Shiela Buttifant Memorial Mares’ Hurdle. Two former Fakenham winners Annie Nail and Gold Clermont are also among the entries.

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Stand in the parade ring at Fakenham on a cold January afternoon and you will see plenty that would be familiar to your father. Bookmakers chalking boards albeit they are now digital, punters studying form in the Racing Post, conversations about going and trainers that have been happening in exactly the same way for fifty years.

What has changed, though nobody much likes admitting it, is the phones. Half the crowd seems to have one out between races, tapping away at something or other. Betting has gone digital whether traditional racing folk approve or not.

The Old Ways Endure

Thank goodness on-course bookmakers still operate at proper jump racing courses. The skill of watching them work, adjusting prices as money comes in, the theatre of it all, remains central to race day atmosphere. Regulars know which bookies to trust, which offer fair prices, which settle up promptly. But the ring is a shadow of its former self, even if events like next week’s Festival will see good business transacted through the ring.

A combination of factors have conspired against on-course layers. Racecourses have driven turnover toward their own totes, where a revenue share model gives a better return; the manipulation of prices by the off-course major firms prevents any on-course layer from taking a view on pricing a horse; the next generation of bookmakers is more likely to create their own app than trudge to draughty racecourses; whilst the reduction in use of cash has also played its part.

The social side matters just as much. Groups meeting in the bar before racing, discussing form over a pint, arguing the merits of different trainers and horses. These are rituals that technology cannot replicate, nor should it try.

Phones at the Races

The reality, uncomfortable as some find it, is that younger racegoers treat betting apps as normal. They will back a horse with an on-course bookie for the tradition of it, then check their phone to compare odds elsewhere or place accumulators across multiple meetings. Racing coverage online means they can bet on Fakenham while watching Cheltenham, something impossible even twenty years ago.

Older members may find this rather improper, being at one course while betting on another. But it happens regardless, and courses must accept it or risk losing the younger generation entirely. Away betting has become significant.

Between Seasons

The summer months pose particular challenges for dedicated jump racing followers. Flat racing simply does not appeal to everyone. Some follow horses to point-to-points or travel to summer jumps courses, where the racing may be competitive, but is not of any great quality. Others, particularly those comfortable with technology, explore most popular UK casinos as alternative entertainment during the quiet months. The analytical approach racing people apply to form study translates reasonably well to card games and similar pursuits. It keeps betting skills sharp without requiring devotion to sports one cares nothing about. Whether this represents progress or decline depends entirely on whom you ask.

Bookmakers Must Adapt

Traditional bookmakers face genuine pressure from technology but the good ones have adapted sensibly. Several on-course bookies now run apps alongside their pitch operations, allowing regular customers to bet with them remotely during the week. Others focus on personal service and fair dealing, qualities apps cannot replicate.

And of course smaller operators can choose to take a bet where the shops would cap their exposure. If you’ve ever tried to stake more than £100 in a betting shop, you’ll understand these levels are already quite low.

Those bookies who simply complain about change will not survive. Those who embrace what technology offers while maintaining standards of the old ways manage quite well.

What Fakenham Represents

Grass roots courses like Fakenham matter enormously to British jump racing. They represent tradition, community, and the sport in its purest form. Technology changes how people bet but cannot change what makes these courses special. The challenge is accommodating modern behaviour without sacrificing atmosphere and heritage.

Proper racing people understand this instinctively. Technology serves the sport, not the reverse, an objective that those introducing AI would do well to understand.

Race day betting at British jump racing courses will continue evolving whether we like it or not. The phones are not going away, nor are the apps. What matters is preserving the elements that make racing special while accepting changes that genuinely improve access and convenience.

Fakenham in 2026 blends old and new in ways that would have seemed impossible thirty years ago. With care and good sense, it will continue doing so for another thirty.

Content provided by Peter McNeile

The close of the jump racing season in late May brings a peculiar melancholy to enthusiasts. After months of following form, studying going reports, and planning trips to country courses like Fakenham, the summer flat racing period feels like an entirely different sport. For those whose hearts belong to the jumps, the months between provide a genuine void.

How do dedicated jump racing followers occupy themselves during these quieter months? We spoke to regulars and found some fascinating patterns in how the community stays engaged with the sport they love.

Revisit Classic Races

The summer months provide perfect opportunities to revisit historic jump racing footage. YouTube and racing archives have made legendary performances accessible in ways previous generations could never have imagined. Desert Orchid’s King George victories, Best Mate’s Cheltenham dominance, and Kauto Star’s breathtaking comebacks become summer evening viewing for enthusiasts craving their jump racing fix.

Local racing clubs and societies organize video evenings throughout the summer, gathering at pubs to watch classic festivals. These social occasions keep communities connected even when the jumps are dormant.

Go Summer Jumping

Of course, the time when Jump jockeys could put on weight and their carpet slippers for a few months are long gone. There was a time when the season launched amid little fanfare in the West Country, where a few rides could be combined with a seaside holiday.

Now the seven courses that offer a summer jumps programme allow owners, trainers and riders to run fast ground horses all year round. Perth, Stratford, Worcester, Newton Abbot, Market Rasen, Cartmel, Bangor, Uttoxeter and Fontwell are the leading proponents.

Plan the Next Season

Summer is when serious jump racing followers begin mapping out the upcoming season. Course calendars get scrutinized, accommodation gets booked for major festivals, and travel plans take shape. Fakenham regulars will already be marking January and February fixtures in their diaries.

British racing fixture lists typically publish in summer, allowing enthusiasts to plan entire seasons around the courses they most value.

Follow Horses in Training

The summer months are when jump horses undergo their preparation for the coming season. Social media has transformed how enthusiasts can follow their favorites during this period. Trainers post videos of schooling sessions, horses returning from summer breaks, and early morning exercise routines.

Yard visits and open days become popular summer activities. Many trainers welcome genuine enthusiasts to see facilities and meet horses destined for winter campaigns. These visits deepen connections between fans and the sport.

Diversify Betting Interests

Jump racing punters approach betting with particular skill sets: understanding form, interpreting going conditions, and recognizing when trainers have horses ready. During the summer gap, many apply these analytical abilities to other betting interests while maintaining their core focus on the jumps.

Some follow the summer jumpers at Perth, Newton Abbot, and Market Rasen, though these fixtures feel like appetizers rather than main courses. Others explore flat racing, though many jump enthusiasts never fully embrace the flat.

A portion of the community explores alternative entertainment during racing’s quieter months. TalkSport’s comprehensive analysis of top new casino sites launching in 2026 reveals platforms that appeal to strategically-minded bettors.

Betfair, Paddy Power and BetMGM combine sports and casino under single apps, letting racing enthusiasts maintain their betting accounts year-round. The review highlights that newer operators like Betrino, Quickbet, and HotWinsCasino focus heavily on live dealer blackjack and roulette, games requiring the same probability assessment and pattern recognition that serve jump racing punters well.

The analytical thinking racing enthusiasts apply to form study transfers naturally to card games and table gaming during summer months, keeping betting skills sharp without replacing the genuine passion for jump racing that defines these enthusiasts.

Reading and Research

Summer reading lists for jump racing enthusiasts run deep. Biographies of legendary jockeys, trainer memoirs, and racing histories provide both entertainment and education. Works covering Red Rum, Arkle, and Golden Miller remain perennial favorites.

Form study also continues year-round for serious punters. Analyzing previous seasons, identifying patterns in trainer and jockey combinations, and studying course characteristics for upcoming campaigns keeps skills sharp.

Content provided by Peter McNeile

Everyone enjoys a day at the races, with the thundering excitement of the on track action, plus plenty of food, drink, and other entertainment in the spectators area. But it’s fair to say that many racecourses are pricing grassroots punters out somewhat, with larger ticket prices and no access to some of the more VIP sections. Luckily there are some racecourses keeping it real, and, ranked as the 8^th most value-for-money course in the UK, Fakenham in East Anglia is one of those. Not only do they offer great value for a grand day out for established horse racing afficionados, they are also attracting new audiences to the Sport of Kings.

Great Value Racing

While some larger racecourses are charging higher admission fees for premium events, smaller tracks like Fakenham are deliberately keeping costs down in order to retain their  crowds and add to the thrill of the event. It’s a winning formula, with gate receipts holding up, and more palpable excitement when it comes to the racing itself. The course was ranked at the 8^th best overall value racecourse by the Racing Post back in October, and compared to more expensive courses such as Ascot and Epsom, it appeals to a more grassroots crowd, as well as drawing in fresh punters to the exciting world of horse racing.

Value for money extends not just to admission to Fakenham. Enjoying a pint or a bottle of bubbly here won’t require a remortgage.

New Demographics

So, who are these new racing enthusiasts, and where have they come from? Well, there are plenty of new ways to enjoy racing without actually visiting a track, particularly through digital channels. Part of this includes digital races, with random outcomes that can be enjoyed via desktop computer and mobile, but there are also plenty of other types of games that are drawing new audiences towards the sport. Online slots are a good example, as the simple premise of the game allows for developers to produce ever more sophisticated video slots, with differing themes to suit fans of, well, just about anything, racing included. Titles such as Big Horsey Fortune and Gold Horsey Winner have captured the imaginations of punters, and the gamification of racing may well be a driving factor in increased gate takings at smaller courses such as Fakenham, a subject well aired at last week’s Asian Racing Conference in Riyadh.

Fantasy games and TV series like Champions: Full Gallop do much to stimulate interest in the winter sport. But there’s simply no substitute for the real thing, and the knowledgeable Fakenham crowd appreciates this too. This is a crowd that knows its racing well.

What Else Does Fakenham Offer?

Like many a racecourse, Fakenham offers the chance for local businesses to entertain guests in their VIP areas, and for corporate events to promote their products and services and get to know their clientele. The venue also serves as a great place for events such as wedding receptions, parties and corporate events. On race day there are a variety of dining options available, with fine dining using seasonal ingredients and afternoon tea on offer, as well as a wide variety of food trucks offering everything from hog roasts and fish and chips to Thai food and pizza. You won’t go hungry at Fakenham, that’s for sure. After all, Norfolk is the home county of the late Bernard Matthews, king of the turkeyburger.

Smaller racecourses such as Fakenham are boosting racing’s appeal by making a grand day out at the races more affordable. And with new digital channels bringing in a variety of new punters from all walks of life, it stands the future of horse racing in good stead to retain popular appeal across the broadest spectrum of society.

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