Factors such as gambling regulation, the economic climate, and falling attendances have placed horse racing under increasing financial pressure in recent years. In an increasingly competitive leisure sector, the future of the sport does not look as secure as it once did.
Against this backdrop, it is refreshing to learn that the Jockey Club plans to invest heavily in the coming years. A total of £6 million has been earmarked to revive Epsom’s flagship Derby Festival, with tens of millions headed in the direction of Britain’s leading National Hunt venues, Cheltenham and Aintree.
As welcome as this news is for Epsom, Aintree, and Cheltenham, the picture isn’t quite so rosy for all of the nation’s biggest tracks. Rumours continue to circulate that the Jockey Club may be forced to sell one of its 15 racecourses in order to secure funding. Happily, the latest round of investment is not funded by confirmed or planned sales, but the future of one track in particular appears a little murky.
Kempton’s Fate in the Hands of Housing Developer
On the racing front, the month of December centres around the Sunbury-on-Thames track of Kempton Park. The Boxing Day highlight of the King George VI Chase has become synonymous with the festive period. On the list of Britain’s most popular staying chases, the three-mile, Grade 1 race lies behind only the Aintree Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The scene of remarkable performances by Desert Orchid, Kauto Star, and a host of other legends, Kempton and the King George are etched into racing history. The race simply wouldn’t be the same anywhere else.
However, in the lead-up to the 2025 King George, talk of who may come out on top has been replaced by the spectre of the race relocating elsewhere in future years. First mentioned eight years ago, the prospect of Kempton being flattened and turned into a housing complex has returned to the news.
It was back in January 2017 that the Jockey Club and developers Redrow announced plans to close Kempton Racecourse in order to build 3,000 new homes on the site. If granted planning permission, the deal would have earned the Jockey Club over £100 million.
Predictably unpopular with the racing community, the announcement was also met with strong resistance from the council and local community. Heeding the dissenting voices, those redevelopment plans were shelved in 2019.
Fast forward to 2025, and quotes from Jockey Club Chief Executive Jim Mullen have cast new uncertainty on the future of the iconic track. When asked to comment on the home of the King George, Mullen stated:
“Back in 2018, the Jockey Club and Redrow negotiated an option to develop Kempton, and that option was negotiated and transferred to Redrow.”
This option effectively means that if Redrow offers to pay the required sum between now and 2028, the Jockey Club must agree to sell the site.
While some may welcome the funds from a Kempton sale, the loss of Britain’s closest track to Central London is hard to view in a positive light. At a time of year when bottomless ground is the norm, Kempton regularly produces excellent racing ground, while its flat, right-handed layout adds significantly to the variety of the National Hunt programme. Away from the jumps track, Kempton is also a key player in the all-weather season, with the Polytrack course staging over 50 flat fixtures each year.
Henderson Leads Calls to Save Track
The revelation of the previously unmentioned Redrow option has triggered many leading lights to leap to the defence of the 147-year-old venue. Three-time King George winning trainer Nicky Henderson was among the first to voice his opposition, stating:
“You can’t replicate, change or rebuild that chase or hurdle track. It’s crucial to the future of jump racing,”
Before rallying the racing industry:
“We’ll have to jump up and down on this together and make a song and dance about it as we need to drum up plenty of support.”
Among those ready to jump up and down with Henderson is long-time rival Paul Nicholls, who has a record-setting 13 King George wins to his name. Reacting to Henderson’s comments, the Ditcheat handler said:
“The King George is a brilliant race, but they run lots of other important races there too. Nicky has said we need to muster some support to keep Kempton – well, I would be first in the queue.”
Others were more circumspect in their response. Referencing the government’s commitment to building 1.5 million new homes, Dan Skelton sounded resigned to Kempton’s fate when stating:
“They’re talking about whether we’ll lose Kempton, but we are going to lose it. It’s just a question of time. We’ve all got to accept that.”
With Gaelic Warrior, Fact To File, Jango Baie, and The Jukebox Man among the entries, the 2025 King George VI Chase is shaping up to be a cracker. How many more editions will be held at the traditional home of the great race?