Towcester set for racing return under Betway
National Hunt racing will return to Towcester Racecourse for the 2027/28 jumps season after bookmaker Betway signed a landmark partnership with racecourse owner Orchestrate, ending a near decade-long absence of horse racing from the historic Northamptonshire venue.
Under the agreement, the Super Group-owned operator will become the venue’s principal strategic partner, with the track to be renamed Betway Towcester Racecourse. Betway will also become the exclusive betting partner across all race meetings, in what the company described as a first for UK horse racing.
The announcement marks a significant milestone in Towcester’s revival, with more than £2 million already being invested in refurbishing the course and its facilities ahead of racing’s planned return in Autumn 2027.
Although horse racing has been absent since the track staged its final fixture in May 2018, Towcester has remained one of Britain’s premier greyhound venues and continues to host the prestigious Greyhound Derby.
The revived racecourse is expected to stage point-to-point meetings before the return of official National Hunt racing, with Orchestrate working alongside the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to secure the necessary operating licence and finalise an initial six-race fixture list.
The redevelopment will also be documented in a fly-on-the-wall television series due for release in 2027.
Seven-time Irish champion National Hunt jockey and Betway ambassador Paul Townend will also be involved in the project, advising on jockey welfare, including course design and weighing room facilities.
Betway PR manager Lewis Knowles said the bookmaker was excited to help restore one of British racing’s most recognisable venues.
“Towcester has such a rich history within British racing, and we’re delighted to be partnering with the team there to bring horse racing back to what is such an iconic racecourse,” Knowles said.
“As principal strategic partners, we plan to offer a truly unique experience for racegoers, owners, trainers and jockeys at Betway Towcester Racecourse. The hard work is already well underway as the team prepare the track and facilities for racing’s return.”
Orchestrate chairman Mike Davis said restoring racing to Towcester had always been the company’s ambition.
“We are thrilled to welcome Betway (Betway review) as principal strategic partner of the refurbished racecourse,” Davis said.
“It has always been our ambition to bring horse racing back to Towcester for the local community and fans of the sport. This partnership turns that vision into a reality.
“We are now working with the BHA to secure the necessary racecourse licences to enable us to race in the autumn of 2027. Positive conversations are also under way to finalise fixtures for that period, and it is amazing to see the racing community all working together to promote the sport.”
The British Horseracing Authority confirmed discussions had begun with the new ownership group but said a formal licence application was still required before racing could resume.
“We have had some initial conversations with the group involved at Towcester and await a licence application to be submitted,” a BHA spokesperson said.
Towcester, which famously hosted AP McCoy’s 4,000th career winner in 2013, is expected to officially return to the National Hunt calendar at the start of the 2027/28 jumps season.
