What Horse Racing Fixtures Is Virgin Bet Sponsoring in the 2025 Season at UK Racecourses?

Virgin Bet is returning as the main backer-or title sponsor-for a whole bunch of brilliant racing fixtures throughout the 2025 season. This means that fans visiting some of the best UK racecourses, from Doncaster to Musselburgh, are in for a treat with a packed schedule of top-tier events. The partnership is set to bring a fantastic atmosphere to tracks across the country, ensuring the betting experience is second to none for everyone involved.

So, what's happening and where?

Basically, when a company is a title sponsor, it means they are the main financial supporter of an event. You'll see their name everywhere, from the event title to banners around the course. Virgin Bet is stepping up again to headline some of the most popular dates in the racing calendar. After a successful run last year, they're bringing their energy to five fantastic racecourses: Chester, Doncaster, Bangor-on-Dee, Musselburgh, and Newcastle. This is big news for anyone who loves a day at the races. The action has already kicked off, and the schedule looks absolutely packed with unmissable days out. The entire collaboration was announced by the sports agency MatchFit, which confirmed the details of this continued partnership.

Your guide to the big race days

Right, let's get down to the dates so you can start planning. The fun is spread right across the year, with something for everyone, whether you fancy a festive day out or a classic spring meeting. It all started with Chester Ladies Day, and next up is the Autumn Festival. But that's just the beginning. The plan is to create a top-quality betting experience for customers all season long. Here's a look at what's coming up:

• The Virgin Bet Autumn Festival: Get yourself to Chester for this one on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th September.
• The Virgin Bet November Handicap: A classic fixture at the famous Doncaster racecourse later in the year.
• The Virgin Bet Christmas Meeting: Head over to Bangor-on-Dee on Friday 12th December for some festive fun.
• The Virgin Bet Christmas Jumper Raceday: Dig out your best (or worst!) Christmas jumper for this event at Musselburgh.
• New Year's Day Raceday 2026: Start the new year with a bang at Musselburgh, also in partnership with Virgin Bet.

Action into 2026

And the excitement doesn't stop when the calendar flips over. The 2025 season extends well into 2026 with some seriously major events. These are the kinds of races that get everyone talking, and Virgin Bet will be right there at the heart of the action. An account executive familiar with the deal highlighted these events as key moments in the UK racing calendar. From thrilling chases at Doncaster to stamina tests in Newcastle, there's plenty to look forward to.

The schedule for early 2026 includes:

• Virgin Bet Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase: A huge day at Doncaster. A handicap chase is a race where better horses have to carry extra weight to give the others a chance, making for a really unpredictable and exciting finish.
• Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Chase Meeting: Another massive day out at Doncaster.
• Virgin Bet Eider Chase Meeting: This one's at Newcastle and is known for being a real test of a horse's staying power over a long distance.
• Gold Cup Friday: Back to Doncaster for one of the season's premier events.
• The Virgin Bet Premier Hurdle Raceday: Bangor-on-Dee hosts this exciting hurdle race.
• Musselburgh's Virgin Bet Easter Saturday fixture: A perfect way to spend the Easter weekend with some top-class racing.

More than just the races with WalkSafe

Here's something a bit different and really important. Alongside all the thrilling racing fixtures, Virgin Bet is also focusing on making sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable day out. They've teamed up with WalkSafe, a personal safety app, to help racegoers feel more secure. The WalkSafe app is pretty clever; it was created to give people information about their surroundings so they can plan the safest route, which is especially handy when heading home after an event.

At the Virgin-Bet-sponsored meets, people will be able to find out more about this free app. It's a great idea that shows the partnership is about more than just the sport; it's about the whole experience from start to finish. This focus on safety through the WalkSafe partnership is a fantastic touch for all the UK racecourses involved.

What the boss says

It's always good to hear from the people making it happen. Dominic Vye, who is the Marketing Director at Virgin Bet, shared his thoughts on the continued partnership. His comments give a great sense of why the brand is so involved in horse racing.

Dominic Vye said:

"We are thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership with multiple racecourses for the season and headlining key events such as Chester Autumn Festival, Great Yorkshire Chase and Gold Cup Friday. Supporting these key events in the racing calendar aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering an unparalleled sports betting experience."