With springtime fast approaching, the National Hunt spectaculars from Cheltenham, Aintree, and Punchestown understandably occupy the thoughts of racing fans. However, no sooner does the jumps season end than the Flat campaign begins, with the leading yards readying their challengers for Newmarket, Epsom, Ascot, and beyond.
While the Group 1 programme dominates the calendar, it isn’t all about the top-tier action. Looking further down the racing ladder reveals the usual collection of appealing and competitive flat racing fixtures. Included on that racing menu is one of the most popular racing innovations of recent years. Making its debut in 2021, the Sunday Series is back for a sixth time in 2026.
What is the Sky Bet Sunday Series?
The Sky Bet Sunday Series is a joint venture between sponsors Sky Bet, broadcaster ITV, the Racecourse Media Group, and the participating racecourses. Launched in 2021, the series aims to provide a quality programme of summertime Sunday fixtures for mid-tier horses.
Focusing on Class 3 and Class 4 handicaps, each Sunday Series fixture offers an excellent £200,000 in total prize money – significantly more than the average mid-level handicapping meeting. Such levels of prize money all but guarantee near-maximum field sizes, creating a compelling, competitive spectacle for fans at the track and those tuning in on TV.
All Sky Bet Sunday Series fixtures are shown live in their entirety on ITV or ITV4. Initially, all Sunday Series fixtures took place in the late afternoon/early evening twilight time slot, but recent editions have witnessed a selection of meetings with earlier start times.
Additional Prizes on Offer
In addition to the exceptional prize money, the Sunday Series provides further incentives and rewards for competing owners, trainers, jockeys, and stable staff. In previous seasons, prizes have included:
- £100,000 bonus for the first horse to win three races in the series
- £25,000 bonus for the top Sunday Series jockey
- £15,000 bonus for stable staff. Shared between the staff at the yards of the top three Sunday Series trainers
Family-Focused Racedays
As with most new racing fixtures, such as the Racing League and Friday Night Live, the Sky Bet Sunday Series aims to increase engagement with the sport. The prize money and bonuses are an undoubted boon to owners and staff, while the Sunday Series fixtures aim to cater to the family market. Held in a family-friendly time slot, the meetings offer additional entertainment, kids’ activities, and free or discounted entry for under-18s.
2026 Sunday Series Fixtures
| Date | Course | First Race | Last Race |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 12th | Musselburgh | 15:45 | 18:45 |
| May 17th | Hamilton | TBC | TBC |
| May 31st | Thirsk | TBC | TBC |
| August 2nd | Chelmsford City | 13:30 | 17:30 |
Launched in 2021, the Sunday Series organisers tested the waters with a three-meeting series, consisting of fixtures at Musselburgh, Haydock Park, and Sandown Park. Proving an immediate hit, the series expanded to six meetings in 2022 and has featured six spring/summer fixtures in each year since.
Looking ahead to 2026, the full slate of Sky Bet Sunday Series meetings is beginning to take shape, with the following fixtures all confirmed by the respective racecourses:
- Musselburgh, 12 April 2026 – Having staged a Sunday Series Fixture every year since the inaugural edition of 2021, Musselburgh joins the party once again. Gates open at 2:00pm ahead of the first race at 3:45pm, with the last of seven races getting underway at 6:45pm. As with all previous Sunday Series fixtures at this track, under-18s gain free entry
- Hamilton, 17 May 2026 – Staying north of the border, Hamilton has remained an ever-present on the Sunday Series programme since 2022. The track promises additional entertainment, including live music, free entry for under-18s, and a selection of great value hospitality packages at this twilight meeting
- Thirsk, 31 May 2026 – A second Sunday Series outing for this North Yorkshire track, which first appeared on the schedule in 2024. On top of a competitive card of action, racegoers can enjoy live music provided by The Flat Cap Brass Band. Thirsk also appears to be pulling out all the stops to keep the kids entertained, with additional entertainment including Inflatables, Fairground Stalls, a Laser Battle Zone, Games, Face Painting, and a Kids Disco. Adult tickets are available for £15, while under-18s go free
- Chelmsford City, 2 August 2026 – This Essex track became the first all-weather venue to stage a Sunday Series meeting in 2025. Following that sell-out occasion, Chelmsford unsurprisingly maintains its place in the line-up. This fixture gets underway a little earlier than a typical Sunday Series meeting, with the first race scheduled to start at 1:30pm and the last at 5:30pm. With the stated aim of turning the track into the “ultimate summer playground”, the additional entertainment is expected to include giant slides, inflatables, further children’s entertainment, live music, and a food village. Continuing the Sunday Series theme for 2026, all under-18s gain free entry
News is awaited on the final two fixtures. Having taken part in the series in 2022 and 2025, the wonderful track at York is a possible destination. Haydock Park, meanwhile, has welcomed the Sunday Series to Merseyside in all five previous editions, and seems a likely option to complete the list. The remaining tracks to have staged Sunday Series fixtures in previous years are Sandown Park, Pontefract, and Newmarket.
Offering great value to connections of the competing horses and fans, the Sky Bet Sunday Series is one of racing’s more successful innovations. With the Series opener edging closer, we look set for another exciting instalment in 2026.
