Badger Beer Chase Day Wincanton 2026: Full Preview
Badger Beer Chase Day is one of the best-known fixtures on Wincanton Racecourse’s National Hunt calendar. Traditionally held in November, the meeting attracts racing fans from across the country for a competitive programme of jump racing, including the prestigious Badger Beers Handicap Chase.
The 2026 fixture was scheduled for Saturday, 7 November, as part of the West Country Weekend, alongside Exeter’s Haldon Gold Cup meeting. However, the Jockey Club has announced that racing at Wincanton will not go ahead as planned because of unsuitable ground conditions.
Following an exceptionally dry summer and limited rainfall, the ground remained predominantly firm, meaning safe conditions for jump racing could not be guaranteed. The feature races from the cancelled West Country Weekend fixtures have instead been transferred to Aintree for a two-day meeting on 6 and 7 November.
Here is everything you need to know about the planned 2026 fixture, its cancellation, the venue and the races affected.
Where Is The Badger Beer Chase Day Wincanton Held?
Badger Beer Chase Day is traditionally held at Wincanton Racecourse, located in Wincanton, Somerset, with the postcode BA9 8BJ. Situated on the edge of the Blackmore Vale, the racecourse offers a picturesque countryside setting and is an established venue on the British National Hunt racing circuit.
Wincanton is a right-handed racecourse known for its undulating track and demanding jumping tests. Its layout provides a challenging examination for horses and jockeys, particularly in longer-distance chase events. Conditions underfoot can also play an important role in determining the outcome of races, making the going report an important consideration for trainers, jockeys and punters.
The racecourse is accessible by road, with connections to the A303 providing access for visitors travelling from different parts of Somerset and the surrounding counties. Wincanton town also offers local pubs, cafés and accommodation options for those planning a visit.
Although the 2026 Badger Beer meeting will not take place at the venue, Wincanton remains an important destination for jump racing, with other fixtures scheduled throughout the 2026/27 season.
When Is The Badger Beer Chase Day Wincanton?
Badger Beer Chase Day 2026 was scheduled for Saturday, 7 November, as part of the West Country Weekend. The event was originally advertised as Badger Beer Ladies Day, featuring seven National Hunt races and the 65th running of the Badger Beers Handicap Chase.
However, the Jockey Club announced on 27 October 2026 that the Wincanton fixture had been cancelled. The decision followed an exceptionally dry summer and insufficient rainfall, which left the racecourse with predominantly firm ground. As safe conditions for jump racing could not be guaranteed, the meeting was unable to proceed.
The feature races from the cancelled Wincanton and Exeter meetings have been transferred to Aintree. This includes the Badger Beers Handicap Chase and other important contests that were originally scheduled as part of the West Country Weekend.
The cancellation means there will be no Badger Beer Chase Day at Wincanton on 7 November 2026. Visitors should consult the official racecourse website for information about refunds and alternative fixtures.
What Time Does The Badger Beer Chase Day Wincanton Start?
The planned 2026 meeting was scheduled to begin at 12:35pm, with the first race followed by six further contests throughout the afternoon. The feature Badger Beers Handicap Chase was originally scheduled for 3:35pm.
The feature races have been transferred to Aintree, where the revised meeting will take place on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 November. Anyone wishing to follow the racing should check the official Aintree racecard for the updated arrangements.
It is also worth checking the latest announcements from the racecourse and relevant racing authorities for any further changes.
How Many Days Is The Badger Beer Chase Day Wincanton?
Badger Beer Chase Day at Wincanton is traditionally a one-day meeting. For 2026, it was scheduled for Saturday, 7 November, as the second day of the wider West Country Weekend, which also included the Haldon Gold Cup meeting at Exeter on Friday, 6 November.
The cancellation of both West Country fixtures means that neither meeting will take place at its original venue. Instead, Aintree will host a replacement two-day meeting on the same dates, bringing together the feature races from Exeter and Wincanton.
The revised arrangement allows several of the anticipated contests to go ahead despite the unsuitable ground conditions in the West Country. Racing fans can therefore still follow the transferred feature events, although the venue and meeting arrangements have changed.
For anyone planning to attend, it is important to distinguish between the original Wincanton fixture and the replacement Aintree meeting when checking tickets, travel arrangements and race times.
How Many Races Are at The Badger Beer Chase Day Wincanton?
The original 2026 Badger Beer Ladies Day programme was scheduled to feature seven races, offering a mixture of novice hurdles, handicap hurdles, a Grade 2 novice chase and the prestigious Badger Beers Handicap Chase.
The other planned races included two additional handicap hurdles and a mares’ National Hunt Flat race, completing the seven-race programme.
Following the cancellation, the feature contests have been transferred to Aintree. The 65th Badger Beers Handicap Chase remains one of the major attractions of the replacement meeting, alongside the Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase and other transferred races.
Although the original Wincanton card will not take place, the revised arrangements mean racing fans can still follow several of the contests that were expected to headline the West Country Weekend.
Bet on the Badger Beer Chase Day Wincanton at Bet442
Although Badger Beer Chase Day 2026 will not take place at Wincanton, the transferred races at Aintree provide another opportunity for horse racing fans to follow some of the meeting’s anticipated contests.
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