Busy time at Lansdown, despite racing being three months away

In the latest instalment of his Clerk’s Column, Bath Racecourse clerk of the course Ben Hicks writes exclusively for the Bath Echo.

As we move on from the festive period, I hope everyone had a wonderful time, and that 2026 is a happy and healthy year for all.

Here at the racecourse, the team continues to remain busy with all the usual winter jobs across the site, working hard to keep everything in top condition during what can be a challenging time of year.

Winter ground conditions demand constant attention – and from daily maintenance to longer-term preparation, there is plenty of work going on behind the scenes.

One area that continues to move in the right direction is the weighing-room renovation.

It is always satisfying to see a major project progressing well, and this significant transformation will be providing such an important upgrade to our facilities.

The improvements will make a real difference for jockeys and officials on race days, and we are very much hoping to have everything completed by the end of February.

We can then focus on all the soft touches ready to welcome everyone back in April.

On the racing administration side, preparations for the season are moving forward well.

The first few fixtures now have their races confirmed, which is one of the major steps in the race planning process.

We always review what has worked well, and where slight changes can improve the competitiveness of each day.

Having those races agreed allows me to arrange race orders and add race titles as we approach each fixture.

If sponsoring a race sounds like something you would be interested in, where naming the race, presenting winning connections with a trophy and choosing the best-turned-out horse is all part of the package, please contact us whilst we have some remaining.

One of the advantages we have in terms of technology is the accurate data available to help guide our planning.

An interesting statistic from our weather station shows that during December 2025 we recorded 117mm of rainfall, compared to just 40mm in December 2024.

Those figures highlight just how different one year can be from the next, and they play a key role in how we approach track maintenance.

With last spring being notably dry in the months prior to racing, this information allows us to plan, manage the fertiliser programme and put ourselves in the best possible position.

This weekend sees a busy and exciting few days for the grounds team as we head to Royal Windsor to assist with the Berkshire Winter Million Festival.

Racing takes place on Friday 16th January and Sunday 18th January, with Ascot hosting Saturday 17th January’s action.

It is a fantastic festival for National Hunt racing and one that always produces high-quality competition and a great atmosphere.

While racing is at Ascot on Saturday, the team at Windsor will still be hard at work on the track.

They will be moving hurdles and adjusting running lines in preparation for Sunday’s race day, ensuring everything is perfectly set for the final day of the festival.

Sunday’s card is a strong one and features the Fleur de Lys Chase, a race that regularly attracts some of the sport’s top steeplechasers.

As we head towards my fifth season here, it is always amazing how quickly spring arrives once Christmas has been and gone.

No matter how far away April might feel in mid-winter, previous seasons tells me it will be upon us before we know it.