A critically acclaimed young pianist, Reed Tetzloff, will give an afternoon recital, The Romantic Piano, at St John’s Church, Tisbury, on Saturday 13th December at 3.30pm. The concert is raising funds for the church. Tetzloff came to international attention ten years ago at the XV Tchaikovsky Competition, where he was dubbed ‘the lyric hero of the competition.’ He is a regular performer at large venues around the world – the Tisbury concert will be a rather more intimate affair, and an opportunity for local music-lovers to enjoy South Bank quality piano playing and to meet and chat with the soloist.
Star pianist Reed Tetzloff coming to Tisbury
Reed Tetzloff, described by fellow pianist Richard Goode as ‘a musician of great authority,’ was praised by one reviewer for his ‘richly communicative’ performances, and has been delighting audiences worldwide since making his Lincoln Center (New York) concerto debut in 2012. He has appeared in major European venues, including the Berlin Philharmonie, the Allerheiligen Hofkirche at the Munich Residenz, Prague’s Rudolfinum, the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, Place Flagey in Brussels, the Théâtre d’Angoulême, and De Singel in Antwerp. His solo recitals in the United States have been heard from coast to coast. He has performed at many music festivals and in major venues in China and South Korea, and has collaborated as a chamber musician with many ensembles. His list of recordings is already impressive, including the start of a complete Beethoven concerto cycle, which is due to be issued as a box set before the Beethoven anniversary in 2027. In December 2025, his recording of the Schumann and Grieg piano concertos with the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner, will be released. Born in Minneapolis, Reed Tetzloff studied there with Dr Paul Wirth and went on to take bachelor’s and master’s degrees in New York. He has won prizes in several international piano competitions. There is no advance booking for the Tisbury concert – tickets £15 on the door.
With a third of Dorset residents now over 65, Jon Sloper argues ageing well is about connection, confidence and everyday kindnesses
There is an increasing focus on age in Dorset. Manchester’s average age is 31: Dorset’s is 51. Almost a third (30%) of our county’s residents are older than 65. I think it gives Dorset a unique opportunity to to lead the way in showing how communities can age well – together As we age, our needs change: the balance of our dependence on each other shifts. The years pass, and some things take more effort and we lean on others a little more. Instead of being the provider of support for others, we are increasingly in need of their support. Sometimes these are transitory changes, others are long-term.
One blunt and rather tired old story is that we become increasingly dependent as we age. Words like ‘frail’ and ‘elderly’ carry cultural connotations of weakness, deficit and incapacity. I don’t think this helps – and I don’t think it is true. At Help and Kindness, I work with people of all ages, including those in their 80s and 90s, and words like weakness and deficit are the last I would use to describe them. They are as bold, fearless, compassionate, self-reliant, kind, engaged and energetic as anyone I’ve met – of any age. They live an interdependence that is as vibrant and fulfilling as anyone could imagine. I ask them about it often: ‘What has made you who you are now?’ The answers are very human and ordinary: ‘I came from a large family, we had to learn to look after one another from a very young age.’ People often say that their values came from a grandparent or other significant adult who inspired them to look outwards, to serve others, when they were younger, and these values have lasted a lifetime. They are honest about how life changes, and the need to be happy to receive, as well as give, support while not giving up on things. Stoicism and gratitude feature highly. They are adults – grounded, wise and quietly practical. Being involved with other people is always mentioned: people from other walks of life and age groups. In their stories they also talk about little (and larger) things that make a difference. Some talk about the importance of their family, others talk about healthcare they’ve received, some reflect on their faith, others mention the home or community they live in. There are also things that help – from apps that make things easier to gadgets that help with hearing or mobility.
A stitch in time The people that I’ve spoken to don’t need to be wrapped in cotton wool, ‘put out to pasture’, or shut away from society. There is often a list of small things that they need in their lives that make a big difference – a bench half-way to the shops where you can stop to catch your breath. Accessible, clean and safe public toilets. Being able to pick up a neighbour to go into town together. Having large print instructions for things. Someone to sit with the person you care for so you can get to an appointment. Someone stopping to say hello. A phone line to call, or person to speak to, for advice, rather than being expected to find things online. They talk about needing things for a little while, not forever, and things that are a ‘stitch in time’ to help them get back on their feet. These relatively little things benefit us all and make a huge difference to everyone who finds things difficult from time to time. Whether our needs are associated with age, illness, mental health difficulties, disabilities or other challenges in life, it is the little things which can powerfully change our lives for the better. When we think about ageing, I think we uncover so many issues that affect us all – along with opportunities that can help us all. That park bench is a great place to socialise. That large print leaflet helps any of us with sight issues. Those ‘good toilets’ are essential to help many people feel confident about visiting places away from home. That phone line or the local library can be used by anyone who isn’t either confident or able to get online. We can see that interdependence is key. Need and support are not one-way streets. The older people I speak to are also providing support themselves, and are much needed by others – as much, if not more, than the support they receive. We recognised this when we set up Help and Kindness. Our strapline ‘Find help – give help – work together’ expresses this approach. With so many of us living longer, Dorset has a chance to show what ageing well really looks like – communities that look out for one another, small acts of kindness that keep us connected … and a shared understanding that we all need a little help sometimes. helpandkindness.co.uk
Everyone knows booksellers make the BEST book suggestions – so we asked our local indies what they thought was gift-worthy this year
Who better to help you pick a brilliant book than someone who lives and breathes them? Dorset’s independent bookshops are treasure troves, run by people who love nothing more than matching the right story to the right reader. We’re lucky to have a clutch of excellent indie bookshops in the county, each one full of passion, personality and proper recommendations – no algorithms required.
We asked five of them – from Shaftesbury to Sherborne to Wimborne – to choose a title they’d personally recommend for a gift this Christmas. Whether you’re shopping for a curious child, a history buff, a fiction fiend or just a really hard-to-buy-for uncle, there’s something in here for everyone.
And it’s a truth universally acknowledged that a person in possession of a free hour must be in want of a bookshop … but if you really can’t get there in person, many of these shops have websites, and are also part of Bookshop.org – the online store that supports local bookshops with every order.
It’s an easy way to shop online but remain secure in the knowledge that your money’s in the hands of real local booksellers, not billionaires.
Suggested by Amber: A special edition of this book has been released for indie bookshops, and has been one of the most talked about books this year. Raising Hare charts Chloe as she finds and cares for a leveret. Along the way she discovers more about hares, their role in folklore, and what special animals they are.
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan
Suggested by Karen: Described as A literary thriller and a love story, What We Can Know spans the past, present and future to ask some profound questions. It tells of a time where rising tides have reduced England to a series of archipelagos, while historians search for a poem created and read 100 years prior, and thought lost to history. (FOLDE has some signed indie edition copies)
Suggested by Wayne: Britain is lurching towards WW1 and the Prime Minister is distracted by an affair with a 26-year-old aristocrat with whom he shares national intelligence. Based on historical fact and the Prime Minister’s letters this is an immaculately researched novel about an event that changed political history.
The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson
Suggested by Hazel: This is a lovely novel that takes you by surprise as characters develop and the history kicks in. With a real Sunday night drama feel about it we get into the difficulties of life after the First World War ends: life isn’t necessarily automatically better for everyone. It’s witty, moving … and you may feel the need to get on a vintage motorbike!
Suggested by Claire: This is a not-so-well-known children’s classic – Kathleen Hale started writing the series of Orlando the Marmalade Cat stories in 1938. Apart from the charming storylines, her books are renowned for her bright and colourful lithographs. A great gift for all ages!
Suggested by Victoria: I’m in exalted company – in 1977 the TLS asked celebrated writers to name their most under-rated author, and both Philip Larkin and Lord David Cecil chose a 63-year-old spinster living in an Oxford village, leading to Barnara Pym’s rediscovery more than 20 years after her first published novel. Each of her nine books is a perfect blend of wit, gentle humour and bittersweet insight.
Pym does resonate more readily with women readers, so to redress the balance: Dear Lupin, Letters to a Wayward Son, by Roger and Charlie Mortimer. Sharing with Pym an affectionate portrait of a time gone by, it’s a hilarious but moving delight.
Suggested by Sarah: This has been my absolute standout favourite in the culinary memoir category this year: if you know someone who loves to read about food as much as they like to cook it, then this is the perfect stocking filler. Tiff grew up in the 70s and 80s at iconic recording studio Rockfield, where her mum was the chef. On any given day she might meet Freddie Mercury at the breakfast table, or Ozzy Osbourne in the garden. Buy this for anyone who grew up in that era – it’s a joyous, funny and touching tale of a very different childhood, surrounded by rockstars and culinary crises.
Suggested by Beth: A classic enemies to lovers read by one of the best authors of this genre: one of my 2025 favourites!
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen
Suggested by Jane: A word-of-mouth bestseller that still isn’t as huge as I think it deserves to be. It will rip your heart out and gently put it back again. One of the most moving books I’ve ever read.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Suggested by Malcolm: I read it every year, without fail. Who wouldn’t love to receive it?
Winter by Val McDermid
Suggested by Anne: An evocative cosy read – it made me nostalgic for Christmases of the past. Can I also make a special mention for The Jolly Christmas Postman? It needs to be on the shelf of every child.
As winter rain returns, Andrew Livingston looks to Dorset’s real flood defences – the fields and hedges doing the work concrete can’t
Stick your hand out the window and you’ll probably notice it’s started raining. Those hot dry summer days are a distant memory, and all we’re left with is the constant reminder to take a coat with us. Wet winters aren’t a new phenomenon (in fact, in the south west they’re quite the norm!), but the day this publishes, 5th December, is the ten-year anniversary of Storm Dennis, which drenched the north of England and flooded more than 5,200 homes, wracking up a whopping bill of more than a billion pounds for the storm damage. It’s almost become a yearly tradition: somewhere across the country, that one local yokel kayaking to the shop for a pint of milk. Funny when it’s not your community – heartbreaking when it’s your own cherished belongings floating around on the television news.
Flooding of the Stour valley. Image: George Hosford
Nature’s reservoir Yet every time it happens, we act surprised. Out roll the sandbags, up go the emergency alerts, and down goes morale. The weather seemingly worsens each year: maybe the real question isn’t how to mop up the mess, but how to stop it ever getting that far. And here’s the funny thing: the best flood defence strategy isn’t a multimillion-pound wall or a concrete-lined river channel. It’s something far simpler, far older, and far more Dorset: it’s slowing the water down before it even reaches the towns. Farmers have been whispering this for years. Nature has been shouting it. And now, finally, policymakers are catching on that the landscape itself can do half the work – if we let it. Across the county, you can already see the beginnings of a quiet revolution. Fallen timber is being turned into leaky dams that hold water back just enough to calm a river’s temper. Wetlands that were drained decades ago are being welcomed back, allowed to store winter rain (almost like they’re nature’s own reservoir …). Big chunky hedges are being replanted to slow runoff from sloping fields. And farmers are focusing more on improving soil structure so fields can stop acting like tiled bathrooms and start behaving like the giant sponges they are, again.
chocolate brown of stour in flood at sturminster newton
It’s already out there Our constant battle with flooding can no longer be seen as a rural headache or a ‘farmers’ problem.’ In reality, upstream fields and downstream shopfronts share the same raincloud. What happens on the hills decides what happens on the high street. I’m not suggesting that farmers set up a Godfather-style racketeering scheme (“Give us money or we’ll flood your business …” shakes fist threateningly). But maybe it’s time we invested in solving flooding rather than diverting it. Dorset’s best flood defence won’t be found behind a council desk or in a contractor’s warehouse. It’s already out there, upstream, waiting patiently in fields, hedges, wetlands, and those famously meandering rivers. It’s often said that farmers are simply custodians of the land – but we are also tarnished as abusers of the environment, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. The land under farmers’ wellies is their livelihood – they must protect it so it remains viable for the next generation trying to scrape a living from it. In other words, if we look after the land, the land will look after us. And with storms getting punchier and puddles getting bigger, that might just be Dorset’s most important business investment of the next decade.
With Christmas almost upon us, we’re all thinking about gifts for friends and family – and some of the most practical and thoughtful options come straight from our local farming community. As many farmers diversify with creative new income streams to offset the soaring cost of animal feed (which has more than trebled), there’s never been a better time to support them. From homegrown produce to handmade goods, check out our tips for wonderful Dorset-made gifts that give back to the land they came from.
Meet the Hairy Coos in the Piddle valley. Images: Rachael Rowe
Meet the Hairy Coos Give an encounter with a hairy coo – who could resist? The hair, the horns, those doleful eyes … Cameron Farquarson’s Highland cattle in Piddletrenthide are a joy to meet (and the breed is generally very docile). Your recipient will not only get to spend time with the highly photogenic coos, but stroke them, cuddle the smaller ones and even brush them. However, you’ll also learn about this heritage breed, why they are known as a fold and not a herd, and their connections to Robert the Bruce. Cameron also talks about why cows behave in the way they do – and like most people, once you have met the coos you won’t want to leave. All visits must be booked. Details for gift vouchers for the Highland Cow Experience (£30) are on the website. redlandscoppice.co.uk
Never say no to cheese Cheese is always welcome during the festive season, and unusual varieties are in demand on cheese boards. It’s easy to stock up in person on Dorset Blue Vinny from their vending machine on Woodbridge Farm near Sturminster Newton, but head to the website to find some very tempting cheese boxes and hampers too. Book and Bucket Cheese, from Cranborne Chase, has cheese hampers which make perfect gifts – we can personally recommend ‘The Present’ selection! Dorset Blue Vinny Book and Bucket Cheese Company
The Beanie kit from Gutchpool Farm
Get knitting with Dorset Down Wool Winter nights are perfect for a bit of knitting beside the fire. Gutchpool Farm near Gillingham makes the most of the 70-strong flock of Dorset Down sheep, offering a range of knitting kits and wool. Choose from a handwarmer, beanie or child’s gansey (fisherman’s sweater) kit as a gift, or simply select some of the balls of wool for a knitter’s dream gift. You can buy online or pop into the farm shop, where you’ll also find sheepskins. There are also gift vouchers. Balls of wool are £9.50 and a beanie kit is £39. gutchpool.com
The Dorset Luxury Steak Box from the Dorset Meat Co
Send a meat box Many people are concerned about the price of food, so a meat box can be a real treat or simply practical help. A meat gift voucher is also a great gift that will enable a student or relative to choose what they want to fill a space in the freezer. Buy from the Dorset Meat Company and you’ll be supporting local farmers and growers. The online company also carries a range of appetising deli items so the recipient will have fun choosing treats. thedorsetmeatcompany.co.uk
How about a shot of … milk vodka Dorset-based Black Cow is the world’s first pure milk vodka. The famous alcoholic drink is made in West Dorset with what’s left over from grass-grazed cows’ milk after the curds are used for cheesemaking. A bottle of vodka is a great gift for a friend or relative, and an interesting addition to the drinks cabinet. Stick with the smooth classic Black Cow, try the English strawberry version or, for something seasonal, a bottle of Black Cow Christmas Spirit. All are delicious neat, and all work beautifully in a cocktail. Prices starts at £26.50. blackcow.co.uk
Send a little love for British bees We all know that bees are critical for life – and currently in desperate need of all the help they can get. Filberts, based in West Dorset, has grown from three generations of farmers and promotes the protection of British bees. On their website, you will find a range of gifts and stocking fillers from balms (£5.30) and hand cream to beeswax candles and craft kits (from £12.50). There’s also a beekeeping course – and of course they also sell honey. filbertsofdorset.co.uk
You can never have enough socks Socks are always welcome, especially at Christmas. Keep your loved ones’ feet toasty warm with some alpaca socks (from £22.50 – we highly recommend the best-selling cushioned sole walking socks) from South Paddocks Farm in Winterborne Houghton. Or try the alpaca sock range at Bride Valley Alpaca Farm in Kingston Russell (from £20 – ‘as strong as silk, as soft as cashmere’). A little further afield is Corrymoor in the Cotswolds with a gorgeous range of mohair and angora socks. southpaddocks.co.uk bridevalleyalpacas.com
Filberts of Dorset gift tin
Give a farm shop voucher Farm shops are always jam-packed with local crafts, cakes, food specialities and treats, so a gift voucher will always be welcome. Good farm shops offering gift vouchers and treats include Washingpool Farm Shop near Bridport and Home Farm Shop at Tarrant Gunville. Many also offer cream teas, a perfect excuse for a day out. Otterton Mill on the Dorset-Devon border is perhaps worth a day trip. It mills grain from farmers all along the Jurassic Coast. Despite a devastating fire in June, they are still working, full of inspiring gift ideas – and they do a great cream tea in the new restaurant. There are good farm shops all over rural Dorset – they don’t all have a cafe and serve delicious cream teas, but a simple Google search for ‘Farm shop near me’ will show you your nearest.
Go on a Sheep Walk Many of us enjoy walking the dog and alpaca treks have been popular for years, but now you can take a sheep for a walk around a beautiful Somerselt farm – and learn about the breed at the same time.On this 90 minute experience you’ll meet the flock, pick your personal sheep companion and head out for a trek. Lambing experiences are also available at specific times of the year. Based near Taunton, the farm offers gift vouchers, the perfect gift for animal lovers. somersetsheeptrekking.co.uk
North Dorset Children’s Services are appealing for donations of new, unwrapped toys and game to support families in need this festive season. Gifts for children of all ages are welcome and will be distributed to local families, helping to ensure no child feels forgotten at Christmas.
The donations will be given to parents, who will then wrap and label them before gifting them to their children. Sturfit, Sturminster Newton’s leisure centre, is collecting donations on behalf of Children’s Services – simply drop your gift off at the centre during opening hours. Every contribution will make a meaningful difference to a child’s Christmas. For any questions, please contact centre manager Roger at [email protected]
A good month for the Tizzard team, says Chris Wald, with Cheltenham clean sweeps, Ascot perfection and a yard at full stride ahead of Christmas fixtures
Eldorado Allen storms home to win the Unibet Racing Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase in style at Cheltenham
November was the month the Tizzard yard properly hit its stride for the season, says Chris Wald: ‘We had a really good month,’ Chris Wald says. ‘We had three runners at Cheltenham and they all won – and then at Ascot the following weekend we sent four and they all won as well.’ It started closer to home on West Country Weekend – Haldon Gold Cup day at Exeter, followed by Wincanton on the Sunday. Lisbon Park got the ball rolling at Exeter, before Sweet Caryline and No Way Jay both won at Wincanton. ‘That was a good weekend,’ Chris says. Three days at Cheltenham followed, and the team sent three horses to the meeting, one each day. All three won. Eldorado Allen took the veterans’ chase, a popular result for a horse who has been a flagbearer for the yard. ‘He’s been a really good horse for us, but hadn’t won a race in a couple of years,’ Chris says. ‘It was nice to see him back in the winner’s enclosure, especially at a track like Cheltenham.’ Triple Trade landed a competitive handicap chase, before Alexei capped the meeting with victory in the Greatwood Hurdle – one of the biggest early-season two-mile handicap hurdles on the calendar. ‘He’s a nice five-year-old who just seems to be progressing all the time,’ Chris says of Alexei. ‘He’s looking like he’ll be at least a top-level handicapper, and he may even end up with a bit of an each-way chance in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival if everything goes well between now and then.’
Looking to Aintree That same Cheltenham weekend brought more success on the road – a win for Blacksamssenorita at Uttoxeter and Mask of Zorro at Fontwell. ‘So from Friday to Sunday we had five runners and they all won,’ Chris says. ‘That was another pretty nice weekend!’ Remarkably, the following weekend produced something similar. ‘There were two days at Ascot, Friday and Saturday,’ he says. ‘We had two runners on Friday and two on Saturday – and they all won as well.’ Kripticjim won a novice hurdle on the Friday, and then The Walk made his debut in a bumper and won quite impressively, Chris says. ‘He’s a nice four year old out of the half-sister to Native River, who won the Gold Cup for us in 2018,’ Chris says. ‘So he’s quite exciting.’ Saturday brought another novice hurdle success with Etna Bianco, and Rock My Way rounded off the meeting by winning the Berkshire National handicap chase. ‘He’s such a good staying chaser,’ Chris says. ‘He’ll go on to the Welsh National at Chepstow on the 27th of December next, and if he keeps going the right way he could end up in the Grand National at Aintree next April.’
A busy Christmas By the end of the month Tizzard’s yard had climbed to fifth in the British Jump Trainers’ Championship. ‘It’s been exciting,’ Chris says. ‘It’s kick-started the season – hopefully we can keep it going.’ Attention now turns to a busy December and the season’s key Christmas fixtures. Alexei, the Greatwood winner, is one to watch. ‘He’ll either go for another handicap hurdle at Ascot on the 20th, or he may go for the Christmas Hurdle, a Grade 1 at Kempton on Boxing Day,’ Chris says. Rock My Way’s Welsh National is firmly on the board for 27th December, but the yard will be busy across all the big post-Christmas meetings. ‘It’s always a busy time for us,’ Chris says. ‘Boxing Day, New Year’s Day – they’re big racing days, we’ll have plenty of runners.’
Alexei winning the Greatwood at Cheltenham
Life at the yard doesn’t stop for the holidays, but the team do try to carve out some breathing space for staff. ‘We probably don’t get as much time off as people working in ‘normal’ jobs,’ Chris says, ‘but we try and balance it so everyone gets a bit. We split the staff between working Christmas and New Year – some people want to spend Christmas with their families, and some of the younger ones would rather go out on New Year’s Eve and have New Year’s Day off. It’s a busy time, so it’s hard to balance, but we try and give everyone a fair amount of time off as well.’ Results like November’s make the long winter mornings feel worthwhile. A perfect five-from-five at Cheltenham and beyond, followed by a four-from-four clean sweep at Ascot, have launched the season in style. Now the challenge is to carry that momentum into the Christmas period – and, if all goes to plan, on towards Chepstow, Kempton and, in time, back to Cheltenham in March … and maybe Aintree for the Grand National.
‘This traditional Spanish recipe allows you to recreate these delicious ‘cakes’ that are a specialty of Jaén, Andalusia, using dried figs. A classic recipe, perfect for gifting at Christmas, Pan di Higo is traditionally served in slices on a cheeseboard with Manchego. However, in beautiful Dorset, we are spoilt for choice with local cheeses. The Book & Bucket Cheese Company’s Wordsworth makes a fantastic substitute.’ – Lizzie
Remove the stems from the figs, cut in half and put in a food processor. Add the nuts, spices, sugar and zest and process until combined.
Add the dark chocolate and brandy, and blitz until the mixture comes together.
Cut the mix into four pieces and, with damp hands, form the pieces into logs. Cover loosely with parchment and leave to rest in a cool dry place for 24 hours.
Wrap the logs and tie up with ribbon.
Buen apetito!
Lizzie Crow is a familiar face at just about every food event in the county, better known to most as Lizzie Baking Bird. From her tiny bakery in west Dorset, Lizzie creates an impressive range of sweet and savoury bakes, which you’ll find at Poundbury and Wimborne Farmers’ Markets, Bridport Market, and across the county’s food festivals and agricultural shows. Passionate about supporting local producers, she sources ingredients as close to home as possible. A member of the Guild of Food Writers, Lizzie has won numerous Great Taste Awards for her exceptional bakes. Find her on lizziebakingbird.co.uk
As the jumps season gets into full swing, Wincanton Racecourse is preparing to welcome racegoers to a trio of festive fixtures that have become firm favourites in Somerset’s winter calendar. First up is the hugely popular Christmas Jumper Raceday on Tuesday 16th December. Widely regarded as one of the county’s best-loved festive outings, the day offers a perfect excuse to escape the pre-Christmas bustle and enjoy a lively afternoon of quality racing in a relaxed and celebratory atmosphere. As the name suggests, festive attire is very much encouraged – the more flamboyant the better – with spot prizes awarded for the best Christmas jumpers and seasonal outfits. It’s a fun, family-friendly occasion that brings together seasoned punters and casual visitors alike, all drawn in by the warmth and cheer of this joyful raceday.
Hot on its heels comes the traditional Boxing Day Raceday on Friday 26th December, one of the biggest fixtures in Wincanton’s calendar. Last year’s meeting drew a bumper crowd and delivered an electric atmosphere, with an added buzz from the surprise appearance of Champion Flat jockey Oisin Murphy, who made his hurdling debut aboard Ike Sport. This year’s event, falling on a Friday, promises to keep the holiday cheer rolling into the weekend, offering the perfect festive day out for families, friends, and racing fans. With competitive racing, seasonal food and drink, and a chance to soak up the post-Christmas buzz, it’s a day not to be missed. Looking slightly further ahead, Saver Saturday Raceday returns on Saturday 3rd January 2026, offering superb value at just £10 per ticket. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy a day at the races without breaking the bank in the post-Christmas lull. With seven races scheduled, it’s a perfect New Year pick-me-up for regular racegoers and newcomers alike. From festive jumpers to thrilling finishes and New Year bargains, Wincanton’s winter line-up offers something for everyone – and a warm welcome awaits. thejockeyclub.co.uk/wincanton
