Quality action on Beckford Stakes Day at Bath Racecourse

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

Our fixture on Thursday 9th October delivered another excellent afternoon of racing here at Bath, and proved to be one of the most competitive meetings of our autumn campaign.

Across the day we staged eight races, attracting a total of 85 runners, and thankfully the weather stayed dry, which can be something of a rarity on autumn race days.

The feature race of the afternoon was the Listed British EBF Beckford Stakes, and this year’s renewal was a particularly strong one, just as we’d hoped when we saw the initial entries.

Run over a mile and six furlongs for fillies and mares, the race drew 13 declared runners, including two Irish challengers – one from Johnny Murtagh’s yard and another trained by Henry de Bromhead, better known for his Cheltenham Festival winners.

Overseas runners are always welcome here, and they add even more interest to one of Bath’s most prestigious contests.

The race was won in gutsy fashion by Term Of Endearment, ridden by Tom Marquand and trained by William Haggas at Somerville Lodge in Newmarket.

Sent off the favourite, she battled back bravely to regain the lead after being headed by Fairy Glen in the closing stages.

The beautiful view at Bath Racecourse during an early-morning track walk this autumn | Photo © Ben Hicks

The Beckford Stakes continues to be a genuine highlight of our season, consistently attracting quality fields and showcasing future black-type performers, as well as proven talent such as this year’s winner.

We remain extremely grateful for the continued support of the British European Breeders’ Fund (EBF), whose sponsorship is vital in maintaining the race’s standing and appeal.

Following this meeting, our team swapped the flat turf of Bath for the jumps track at Chepstow, heading over the bridge for the Welsh Racing Festival.

The three-day fixture provided a great opportunity to catch up with colleagues from other racecourses within the group – Arena Racing Company – and to gain further hands-on experience moving hurdles, rail, and preparing a National Hunt track.

It was a busy few days, but everyone got stuck in, and it was fantastic to be part of what many consider the start of the jumps season.

Sunrise at Bath Racecourse – this kind of view makes getting up early really worthwhile | Photo © Ben Hicks

While the Beckford Stakes meeting was a major highlight, our work for the year is far from over.

We still have two fixtures remaining here at Bath to close out the season, which since our opening meeting on 4th April has featured some memorable performances, from consistent regulars to promising newcomers who could make their mark at a higher level in the future.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back for our final two fixtures of 2025, on Monday 20th October and Thursday 30th October, as we round off another successful season at Lansdown.