Horse racing is back at Southwell in Nottinghamshire with £100,000 BETUK Winter Derby being run at the track for the first time now sold out

Horse racing is back at Southwell in a limited capacity following extensive flooding in October.

The £100,000 Winter Derby will take place this Saturday (today) and the event is now sold out.

“With repairs to the extensive flood damage across the site continuing, we were able to offer access for up to 100 members of the public, alongside Racehorse Owners, Annual Members and Racing Staff at all fixtures from Saturday February 24.

“Further work on the public facilities continues, with the aim to return to full operation as soon as possible in the coming months.”

“It’s a proud day for Southwell Racecourse as we stage the winter Flat season’s most prestigious race, the £100,000 BetUK Winter Derby, for the first time.

“The Group 3 showpiece, which will be run over an extra furlong due to the configuration of the track, has been won by some classy horses since Philip Mitchell’s Running Stag took the inaugural race under top jockey Ray Cochrane.

“The Winter Derby will be complemented by the Listed Hever Sprint Stakes, which also switches from Lingfield where it was first run in 2003. The five-furlong dash has strong links with Southwell’s resident trainer Scott Dixon, whose father Paul’s No Time won it 20 years ago for that man Frankie Dettori.

In 2022, Scott trained One Night Stand to victory in the hands of Hollie Doyle, who also won therace in 2019 on Gorgeous Noora for Archie Watson.