This Christmas, Racecourses across the Midlands (Southwell, Market Rasen, Wolverhampton, Leicester and Uttoxeter) are offering a range of festive and fun-filled family days out, with under 18s going completely free of charge, in a campaign fronted by TV personality and author, David Walliams.

Great British Racing’s Under 18s Race Free campaign has been created to highlight the fact that young people can go racing for free at almost every single British racecourse, on almost every single day of the year. Many of the racecourses will also put on a huge variety of free additional family-friendly activities and entertainment, including visits from Father Christmas and his reindeer, story-telling, funfair rides, carol singing and even ice-skating, all of which takes place alongside a brilliant backdrop of horseracing resulting in a day that is both unique and affordable.

Fixtures taking place across the Midlands during the Christmas Holidays include:

  • Thursday 20th December, Southwell Racecourse: Tickets from £11 (online price), accompanied under 18s go free
  • Wednesday 26th December, Market Rasen Racecourse: Tickets from £11.70 (advance price), accompanied under 18s go free
  • Wednesday 26th December, Wolverhampton Racecourse: Tickets from £16 (online price), accompanied under 18s go free
  • Thursday 27th December, Wolverhampton Racecourse: Tickets from £9 (online price), accompanied under 18s go free
  • Friday 28th December, Leicester Racecourse: Tickets are £25, accompanied under 18s go free (includes free music from the world’s No1 Take That tribute band after racing)
  • Saturday 29th December, Southwell Racecourse: Tickets from £15 (online price), accompanied under 18s go free
  • Monday 31st December, Uttoxeter Racecourse: Tickets from £12 (online price), accompanied under 18s go free
  • Tuesday 1st January, Southwell Racecourse: Tickets from £15 (online price), accompanied under 18s go free
  • Wednesday 2nd January, Wolverhampton Racecourse: Information TBC
  • Thursday 3rd January, Southwell Racecourse: Information TBC
David Walliams, a Britain’s Got Talent judge and star of hit TV show Little Britain, teamed up with Great British Racing to create a series of comedy sketches that promote the fact that under 18s race free. The series, entitled ‘Horsing Around’ and written by Walliams, also stars The Crown actor, Billy Jenkins. Keen to teach his father (Walliams) about a day at the races, Billy has to endure his father’s bumbling character in a series of scenes, including an awkward encounter with former champion jockey Ryan Moore, meeting a racehorse, experiencing the excitement of the parade ring as well as watching a race by the rails.

David Walliams said: “I had a ball filming Horsing Around and really enjoyed my time at the track. It’s clear that there’s loads for families to enjoy at their local racecourse. The Under 18s Race Free initiative is a brilliant concept that I hope more families will take advantage of.”