Exeter Racing Odds Today: Racecards, Results and Fixtures

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Exeter Racing Odds Today

This page has today's Exeter race card, live Exeter racing results, the 2026 fixtures and our Exeter racing tips, along with a full guide to the Jockey Club's jumps track high on the Haldon Hills.

At about 850 feet above sea level, the course is the highest in Britain, and it's about six miles from the city at Kennford, overlooking the Devon countryside. Racing on Haldon Hill goes back to at least 1738.

It's a right-handed, galloping, two-mile oval, and it's regarded as one of the fairest jumps tracks in the country, so it's a favourite with West Country trainers for their young chasers. The highlight of the season is the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup in November.

Exeter Racecards for Today

The Exeter race card today shows every runner and rider, recent form, weights, the latest odds and race times. It updates from final declarations right up to the off, so non-runners, jockey changes and going updates appear as soon as they're announced. Tomorrow's Exeter race card is added once declarations close.

Exeter racing results are added as each race is settled, with winners, starting prices and payouts. Results from earlier meetings stay on the page.

Is Exeter Races On Today?

Exeter has no artificial watering system, so meetings can be lost to firm ground in a dry autumn, and winter meetings can be hit by frost or waterlogging. If there's an inspection, or Exeter races are cancelled or abandoned, the latest update appears here.

Exeter Races 2026 Fixtures

Exeter stages 17 jumps fixtures in 2026: ten from January to April and seven from mid-October to mid-December. Four of them have been abandoned, including the 2026/27 Season Opener on 15 October. Here are the Exeter races 2026 dates:

Why Was Exeter Races Cancelled?

The 2026/27 Season Opener, due on Thursday 15 October, has been cancelled. Exeter has only limited watering capacity, and with very little rain forecast after a dry summer, the course said the ground was unlikely to be safe for racing. General admission ticket holders are being refunded automatically.

Earlier in 2026, three winter meetings were lost: New Year's Day, 28 January and 8 February. Winter weather is the main threat to Exeter's fixtures from December to February. The next scheduled meeting is Best Mate Chase Day on Tuesday 20 October.

Exeter Racing Tips

If you're looking for Exeter racing tips for today, here are some general tips to keep in mind for the track:

• Back proven stayers: Exeter is hilly and galloping, and the half-mile home straight rises all the way to the finish. Horses that see out their trip well are favoured, especially on soft ground.
• Check the ground closely: With no artificial watering, the going can be very quick in dry spells and very testing in midwinter. Form on similar ground matters more here than at most tracks.
• Give novice chasers a chance: Mick Fitzgerald calls the fences very fair, and he says Exeter is a good place to take a novice chaser. Inexperienced chasers often run well here.
• Follow the West Country yards: Paul Nicholls (116 winners at 27%) and Philip Hobbs (113 winners) lead the all-time trainers. Jeremy Scott has won 12 of his 26 chase runners (46%) over the last three years.
• Back Harry Cobden: Harry Cobden has ridden 62 winners at Exeter, and over the last three years he leads in chases, hurdles and bumpers. Richard Johnson has the most winners overall, with 82.
• Trust favourites in non-handicap hurdles: Favourites have won 51% of non-handicap hurdles at Exeter. In handicaps, the figure drops to about 32%.

Exeter Race Course Guide

The Exeter race course is a right-handed, undulating oval of about two miles, with eleven fences per circuit, including two open ditches and a water jump.

The chase course runs outside the hurdles course, and the inside track is often used on the home turn. Its home straight is about half a mile long and rises all the way to the finish, with a short run-in of around 170 yards after the last fence.

The long circuit and the uphill finish make Exeter a thorough, galloping test. It's known as one of the fairest jumps tracks in the country, with no tricky bends or awkward fences.

Position and Going at Exeter

Because Exeter is galloping and fair, there's no strong bias towards front-runners or hold-up horses. The uphill straight, though, means horses that go too fast early often get caught, and strong finishers can make up ground late.

The going varies more than at most tracks. Without artificial watering, the ground can be firm in October and spring, and some early-season meetings are cancelled as a result. In midwinter, the course can be very testing, and frost can be a problem. Check the going report and any inspection news on the morning of racing.

The Haldon Gold Cup

The Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup is Exeter's most important race, a handicap chase over about two miles and a furlong, run in early November. Past winners include Viking Flagship, Edredon Bleu, Azertyuiop and Best Mate. Sadly, Best Mate died at the course during the race in 2005.

In 2025, the Haldon Gold Cup went to Thistle Ask (3/1) for Dan and Harry Skelton. The 2026 race is on Friday 6 November. Gates open at 10.40am, tickets start from £30, and there's live music during and after racing.

History of Exeter Racecourse

Racing on Haldon Hill is recorded from 1738, which makes Exeter one of the oldest racecourses in the country. Sir Lawrence Palk, later Lord Haldon, took over the course in 1823 and expanded the racing. Flat racing dominated until about 1900, when steeplechasing took over. In 1833, the last duel in Devon was fought at the racecourse.

For many years, the course was known as Devon and Exeter, and it was popular for summer jumping. It now races from October to May and is owned by the Jockey Club. The course has also hosted charity races for Clydesdale horses and Dartmoor ponies.

Top Trainers and Jockeys at Exeter

Here are the leading trainers at Exeter:

• Paul Nicholls: 116 winners from 417 runners (27%).
• Philip Hobbs: 113 winners at 16%.
• David Pipe: 68 winners at 11%.
• Colin Tizzard: 65 winners at 15%.
• Harry Fry: 55 winners at 28%.

Richard Johnson leads the jockeys with 82 winners, followed by Harry Cobden (62 at 22%), Tom Scudamore (49), Nick Scholfield (43) and Sam Twiston-Davies (42).

Visiting Exeter Racecourse

Exeter Racecourse is at Kennford, Exeter EX6 7XS, on top of the Haldon Hills just off the A38. On Haldon Gold Cup Day, pre-bookable buses run from Exeter St Davids, Exeter city centre and Newton Abbot.

Tickets for most 2026 meetings start from £18, and £30 for Haldon Gold Cup Day. 18 to 24-year-olds can save up to 50% with RacePass. Because the course is high up and exposed, it's worth dressing warmly and bringing waterproofs in winter. In summer, the Caravan and Motorhome Club runs a site on the grounds.

Watch Exeter Racing Live

Exeter racing is shown live on Racing TV. Most UK bookmakers also offer free live streaming of Exeter races to customers who have a funded account or have placed a bet on the race. Results and replays are available after each race.

Best Bookmakers for Exeter Racing

Exeter's handicap chases, especially the Haldon Gold Cup, attract competitive fields and plenty of betting interest. Best Odds Guaranteed means you get the starting price if it's bigger than the price you took. Extra place offers are worth looking for on the bigger handicaps. Compare the latest offers from UK bookmakers before you bet.

Exeter Races FAQs

Why was Exeter races cancelled?

The 15 October 2026 Season Opener was cancelled because the ground was too firm and the course has limited watering capacity. Winter meetings are more often lost to frost or waterlogging.

When is the next Exeter race meeting?

After the cancelled opener, the next meeting is Best Mate Chase Day on Tuesday 20 October 2026, followed by Haldon Gold Cup Day on Friday 6 November.

Is there racing at Exeter on New Year's Day?

Exeter held a New Year's Day meeting in 2026, but it was abandoned. Check the racecourse's website for the 2027 fixture list.

When is the Haldon Gold Cup?

The Haldon Gold Cup is run in early November. In 2026, it's on Friday 6 November.

Is there greyhound racing at Exeter Racecourse?

No. Exeter Racecourse stages National Hunt horse racing only.