Jump racing at Ascot.

By Simon Jackson.

Ascot is offering free admission to the grandstand enclosure for the Ascot Chase Raceday meeting on Saturday to celebrate 50 years of jump racing.

The Berkshire racetrack has hosted horse racing for over 300 years, but they only introduced jump racing in 1965 after the closure of Hurst Park.

The feature race on Saturday is the Grade 1 £150,000 Betfair Ascot Chase which in recent years has been won by top-class runners that include dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto Star (2008), Monet’s Garden (2007 & 2010), Voy Por Ustedes (2009), and Cue Card (2013).

Ascot clerk of the course, Chris Stickels, said “We are celebrating 50 years of jump racing on Saturday. There has been great interest in the free racing promotion and we are looking forward to welcoming a good crowd to Ascot.”

A maximum of four free tickets per booking can be secured at https://www.ascot.co.uk/2015ascotchasemeet/ascot-chase-free-raceday. Tickets will also be available at the gates on Saturday ahead of the seven race card that commences at 1.30pm.

Read ‘Horse Talk with Simon Jackson’ at London24 for the latest horse racing news.